The influence of Antarctic subglacial volcanism on the global iron cycle during the Last Glacial Maximum

Marine sediment records suggest that episodes of major atmospheric CO 2 drawdown during the last glacial period were linked to iron (Fe) fertilization of subantarctic surface waters. The principal source of this Fe is thought to be dust transported from southern mid-latitude deserts. However, uncert...

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Veröffentlicht in:Nature communications Jg. 8; H. 1; S. 15425 - 9
Hauptverfasser: Frisia, Silvia, Weyrich, Laura S., Hellstrom, John, Borsato, Andrea, Golledge, Nicholas R., Anesio, Alexandre M., Bajo, Petra, Drysdale, Russell N., Augustinus, Paul C., Rivard, Camille, Cooper, Alan
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: London Nature Publishing Group UK 09.06.2017
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ISSN:2041-1723, 2041-1723
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Zusammenfassung:Marine sediment records suggest that episodes of major atmospheric CO 2 drawdown during the last glacial period were linked to iron (Fe) fertilization of subantarctic surface waters. The principal source of this Fe is thought to be dust transported from southern mid-latitude deserts. However, uncertainty exists over contributions to CO 2 sequestration from complementary Fe sources, such as the Antarctic ice sheet, due to the difficulty of locating and interrogating suitable archives that have the potential to preserve such information. Here we present petrographic, geochemical and microbial DNA evidence preserved in precisely dated subglacial calcites from close to the East Antarctic Ice-Sheet margin, which together suggest that volcanically-induced drainage of Fe-rich waters during the Last Glacial Maximum could have reached the Southern Ocean. Our results support a significant contribution of Antarctic volcanism to subglacial transport and delivery of nutrients with implications on ocean productivity at peak glacial conditions. Contributions of iron sources to Southern Ocean CO 2 sequestration during the last glacial period remain uncertain. Here, based on the biogeochemical analysis of subglacial calcites, the authors propose Antarctic volcanism, via subglacial drainage of Fe-rich waters, as a key contributor.
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ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/ncomms15425