Deepwater Formation in the North Pacific During the Last Glacial Termination

TitleDeepwater Formation in the North Pacific During the Last Glacial Termination
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsOkazaki, Y, Timmermann, A, Menviel, L, Harada, N, Abe-Ouchi, A, Chikamoto, MO, Mouchet, A, Asahi, H
JournalScience
Volume329
Issue5988
Pagination200 - 204
Date PublishedSep-07-2010
ISSN0036-8075
Abstract

Between ~17,500 and 15,000 years ago, the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation weakened substantially in response to meltwater discharges from disintegrating Northern Hemispheric glacial ice sheets. The global effects of this reorganization of poleward heat flow in the North Atlantic extended to Antarctica and the North Pacific. Here we present evidence from North Pacific paleo surface proxy data, a compilation of marine radiocarbon age ventilation records, and global climate model simulations to suggest that during the early stages of the Last Glacial Termination, deep water extending to a depth of ~2500 to 3000 meters was formed in the North Pacific. A switch of deepwater formation between the North Atlantic and the North Pacific played a key role in regulating poleward oceanic heat transport during the Last Glacial Termination.

URLhttp://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.1190612
DOI10.1126/science.1190612