Holocene foraminiferal radiocarbon record of paleocirculation in the Santa Barbara Basin Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Differences in radiocarbon apparent ages between coexisting planktonic and benthic (B-P) foraminifers in the Santa Barbara Basin contain information about changes in the age (and thus the source) of water entering the basin. The Holocene sequence indicates a greater variability in circulation than previously detected. During the early Holocene, ca. 9 ka, B-P14C apparent age differences fluctuated between 220 and 56014C yr, similar to rapid variations seen during the Younger Dryas and the last glacial episode. During the relatively stable middle Holocene (8.5-2 ka), B-P14C apparent age differences averaged 44014C yr. After 2 ka, the average B-P14C apparent age difference increased to 62014C yr, which has persisted until the present. The shift in B-P14C apparent age differences likely represents a change in the strength or source of North Pacific Intermediate Water production and is concurrent with changes in regional climate patterns as well as with changes in temperature and accumulation rates measured in the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 ice core, suggesting large-scale changes in atmospheric circulation patterns.

published proceedings

  • GEOLOGY

author list (cited authors)

  • Roark, E. B., Ingram, B. L., Southon, J., & Kennett, J. P.

citation count

  • 27

complete list of authors

  • Roark, EB||Ingram, BL||Southon, J||Kennett, JP

publication date

  • April 2003