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Relationships between primary productivity and bottom-water oxygenation off northwest Africa during the last deglaciation

Filipsson, Helena LU orcid ; Romero, Oscar ; Stuut, Jan-Berend and Donner, Barbara (2011) In Journal of Quaternary Science 26(4). p.448-456
Abstract
Abstract in Undetermined
The upwelling region off northwest Africa is one of the most productive regions in the world ocean. This study details the response of surface-and deep-water environments off Mauritania, northwest Africa, to the rapid climate events of the last deglaciation, especially the Bolling-Allerod (15.5-13.5 ka BP) and Younger Dryas (13.5-11.5 ka BP). A high accumulation rate gravity core GeoB7926-2, recovered at similar to 20 degrees N, 18 degrees W, was analysed for the grain size distribution of the terrigenous sediment fraction, the organic carbon content, diatom and benthic foraminifera communities. Humid conditions were observed during the Bolling-Allerod with a high contribution of fluvial sediment input. During... (More)
Abstract in Undetermined
The upwelling region off northwest Africa is one of the most productive regions in the world ocean. This study details the response of surface-and deep-water environments off Mauritania, northwest Africa, to the rapid climate events of the last deglaciation, especially the Bolling-Allerod (15.5-13.5 ka BP) and Younger Dryas (13.5-11.5 ka BP). A high accumulation rate gravity core GeoB7926-2, recovered at similar to 20 degrees N, 18 degrees W, was analysed for the grain size distribution of the terrigenous sediment fraction, the organic carbon content, diatom and benthic foraminifera communities. Humid conditions were observed during the Bolling-Allerod with a high contribution of fluvial sediment input. During the Younger Dryas intensified trade winds caused a larger sediment input of aeolian dust from the Sahara and more intense upwelling with higher primary productivity, as indicated by high diatom concentrations. The abrupt and large increase of organic matter caused low oxygen conditions at the sea floor, reflected by the poor benthic foraminiferal fauna and the dominance of the low-oxygen-tolerant foraminiferal species Bulimina exilis. This is surprising since low-oxygen conditions have not been recorded during modern times at the sea floor in this region, despite present-day intensive upwelling and high primary productivity. After the Younger Dryas, more humid conditions returned, diatom abundance decreased and B. exilis was replaced by typical deep-sea species as found in the region today, indicating the return of more oxygenated conditions at the sea floor. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Younger Dryas, upwelling, benthic foraminifera, low-oxygen, NW Africa
in
Journal of Quaternary Science
volume
26
issue
4
pages
448 - 456
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000291595200009
  • scopus:79955975624
ISSN
1099-1417
DOI
10.1002/jqs.1473
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b2cb9d71-a27c-4969-afd4-6482314fd452 (old id 1496469)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:03:26
date last changed
2022-01-28 03:54:07
@article{b2cb9d71-a27c-4969-afd4-6482314fd452,
  abstract     = {{Abstract in Undetermined<br/>The upwelling region off northwest Africa is one of the most productive regions in the world ocean. This study details the response of surface-and deep-water environments off Mauritania, northwest Africa, to the rapid climate events of the last deglaciation, especially the Bolling-Allerod (15.5-13.5 ka BP) and Younger Dryas (13.5-11.5 ka BP). A high accumulation rate gravity core GeoB7926-2, recovered at similar to 20 degrees N, 18 degrees W, was analysed for the grain size distribution of the terrigenous sediment fraction, the organic carbon content, diatom and benthic foraminifera communities. Humid conditions were observed during the Bolling-Allerod with a high contribution of fluvial sediment input. During the Younger Dryas intensified trade winds caused a larger sediment input of aeolian dust from the Sahara and more intense upwelling with higher primary productivity, as indicated by high diatom concentrations. The abrupt and large increase of organic matter caused low oxygen conditions at the sea floor, reflected by the poor benthic foraminiferal fauna and the dominance of the low-oxygen-tolerant foraminiferal species Bulimina exilis. This is surprising since low-oxygen conditions have not been recorded during modern times at the sea floor in this region, despite present-day intensive upwelling and high primary productivity. After the Younger Dryas, more humid conditions returned, diatom abundance decreased and B. exilis was replaced by typical deep-sea species as found in the region today, indicating the return of more oxygenated conditions at the sea floor.}},
  author       = {{Filipsson, Helena and Romero, Oscar and Stuut, Jan-Berend and Donner, Barbara}},
  issn         = {{1099-1417}},
  keywords     = {{Younger Dryas; upwelling; benthic foraminifera; low-oxygen; NW Africa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{448--456}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Quaternary Science}},
  title        = {{Relationships between primary productivity and bottom-water oxygenation off northwest Africa during the last deglaciation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jqs.1473}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/jqs.1473}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}