Variations in seawater Sr/Ca recorded in deep-sea bamboo corals
Abstract
A depth transect of deep-sea bamboo corals along the California margin provides evidence that coral strontium to calcium ratios (Sr/Cacoral) record seawater Sr/Ca ratios (Sr/Casw). A calibration was constructed utilizing Sr/Cacoral ratios and previously published Pacific Sr/Casw data (R2 = 0.53, n = 12, p < 0.01): Sr/Cacoral (mmol/mol) = 4.62*Sr/Casw (mmol/mol) - 36.64. Sr/Casw is ultimately governed by the remineralization of Sr-containing shells of surface water-derived marine organisms (e.g., Acantharia) at intermediate water depths. California margin Sr/Cacoral records from 792 and 1295 m document fluctuations in Sr/Casw that appear decadal-scale. These results suggest that Sr/Casw may not be as stable as previously assumed and may be influenced by surface productivity on short timescales.
- Publication:
-
Paleoceanography
- Pub Date:
- September 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1029/2011PA002260
- Bibcode:
- 2012PalOc..27.3202H
- Keywords:
-
- Acantharia;
- Sr/Ca;
- coral;
- decadal;
- strontium;
- Biogeosciences: Climate dynamics (1620);
- Biogeosciences: Paleoclimatology and paleoceanography (3344;
- 4900);
- Paleoceanography: Abrupt/rapid climate change (1605);
- Paleoceanography: Biogeochemical cycles;
- processes;
- and modeling (0412;
- 0414;
- 0793;
- 1615;
- 4805);
- Paleoceanography: Corals (4220)