Abstract
This study aims to provide a more detailed understanding of the behavior of 231Pa/230Th under varying ocean circulation regimes. The North Atlantic provides a unique sedimentary setting with its ice-rafted detritus (IRD) layers deposited during glacial times. These layers have been found north of 40° N (Ruddiman Belt) and are most pronounced during Heinrich Stadials. Most of these sediments have been recovered from the deep North Atlantic basin typically below 3000 m water depth. This study reports sedimentological and sediment geochemical data from one of the few sites at intermediate depth of the open North Atlantic (core SU90-I02, 45° N 39° W, 1965 m water depth) within the Ruddiman Belt. The time periods of Heinrich Stadials 1 and 2 of this core were identified with the help of the major element composition by XRF scanning and by IRD counting. Along the core profile, the sedimentary 231Pa/230Th activity ratio has been measured as a kinematic proxy for the circulation strength. The 231Pa/230Th record shows highest values during the Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum, above the natural production ratio of these isotopes. During Heinrich Stadials 1 and 2, when Atlantic meridional overturning circulation was most reduced, the 231Pa/230Th record shows overall lowest values below the production ratio. This behavior is contrary to classical findings of 231Pa/230Th from the northwestern Atlantic where a strong Holocene circulation is associated with low values. However, this behavior at the presented location is in agreement with results from simulations of the 231Pa/230Th-enabled Bern3D Earth system model.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Isabelle Billy from the University of Bordeaux and Claire Waelbroeck and Elisabeth Michel from the LSCE in Paris for providing the samples of SU90-I02 for the 231Pa/230Th and XRF analysis. XRF measurements were supported by Andreas Koutsodendris, and Siphon de Finès was always supportive during laboratory work. We acknowledge the constructive comments of two anonymous reviewers.
Funding
This study has been funded by the Emmy-Noether-Programm of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Grant Li1815/4.
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Süfke, F., Schulz, H., Scheen, J. et al. Inverse response of 231Pa/230Th to variations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic intermediate water. Geo-Mar Lett 40, 75–87 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-019-00634-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-019-00634-7