Deglacial variations in South Atlantic deep water ventilation

New benthic-planktonic foraminiferal 14C results from the deep South Atlantic reveal significant variability in deep water ventilation during the last deglacial period. When combined with other proxies from the same core (carbonate preservation, benthic δ13C, Nd isotopes etc.) our new deep water results from core TNO57-21 (41.1° S, 7.8° E, 4981m) reflect the alternating influences of old, corrosive waters originating from within the Southern Ocean during the 'Mystery Interval' (17.5-14.5 kyr ago) versus newly ventilated waters originating in the North Atlantic during the Bolling/Allerod. Our results suggest very rapid (<500 yr) ventilation of the deep South Atlantic during the B/A. This is also reflected by greatly enhanced carbonate preservation during the same interval.