Cover Image

Testing the 231Pa/230Th paleocirculation proxy: a data versus 2D model comparison

Variations of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are believed to have crucially influenced Earth's climate due to its key role in the inter-hemispheric redistribution of heat and carbon. To assess its past strength, the sedimentary 231Pa/230Th proxy has been developed and im...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lippold, Jörg (Author) , Gherardi, Jeanne-Marie (Author) , Luo, Yiming (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 29 October 2011
In: Geophysical research letters
Year: 2011, Volume: 38, Issue: 20, Pages: 1-7
ISSN:1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2011GL049282
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL049282
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2011GL049282
Get full text
Author Notes:Jörg Lippold, Jeanne-Marie Gherardi, and Yiming Luo
Description
Summary:Variations of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are believed to have crucially influenced Earth's climate due to its key role in the inter-hemispheric redistribution of heat and carbon. To assess its past strength, the sedimentary 231Pa/230Th proxy has been developed and improved but also contested due to its sensitivity to other factors beyond ocean circulation. In order to provide a better basis for the understanding of the Atlantic 231Pa/230Th system, and therefore to shed light on the controversy, we compare new measurements of Holocene sediments from the north Brazilian margin to water column data and the output of a two-dimensional scavenging-circulation model, based on modern circulation patterns and reversible scavenging parameters. We show that sedimentary 231Pa/230Th data from one specific area of the Atlantic are in very good agreement with model results suggesting that sedimentary 231Pa/230Th is predominantly driven by the AMOC. Therefore, 231Pa/230Th represents an appropriate method to reconstruct past AMOC at least qualitatively along the western margin.
Item Description:Im Titel sind "231" und "230" hochgestellt
Gesehen am 19.09.2022
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2011GL049282

Similar Items