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Sediment Redistribution, 230Thex- Normalization and Implications for the Reconstruction of Particle Flux and Export Paleoproductivity

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Use of Proxies in Paleoceanography

Abstract

The reconstruction of biogenic particle fluxes and export paleoproductivity from accumulation rates of biogenic proxies in late Quaternary marine sediments, besides other factors, greatly depends on the quantification of the amount of laterally redistributed sediment particles. This is particularly crucial in areas of highly dynamic bottom currents such as in the vicinity of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current System of the Southern Ocean but may also be important in environments with lower current speeds. The flux of the natural radionuclide 230Th to the sediments is expected to match its local production rate because of its very low oceanic residence time and high particle reactivity. Some uncertainties possibly affecting this assumed constant flux in areas of highly dynamic water masses and strong spacial contrasts of particle flux intensity have to be considered. Advective 230Th transport and particle size dependent relocation of particles may occur there. Sediment redistribution can therefore in these areas only be evaluated applying a normalization to 230Thex if its fluxes deviate significantly (>50%) from the expected values. It has been shown using this method that up to twelve times the vertical particle flux has been supplied laterally in areas such as the ACC. It is in turn possible to calculate realistic bulk accumulation rates (rain rates) as the basis for reconstructing proxy fluxes from marine sediments. A high variability of sediment redistribution intensity, and thus uncorrected proxy accumulation rates from one location to the other, but also within single cores, demonstrates the necessity of its quantification and correction before any paleoceanographic interpretations applying these accumulation rates may be carried out.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, 0X1 3PR, UK

    M. Frank

  2. Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 12 01 61, D-27515, Bremerhaven, Germany

    R. Gersonde

  3. Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften, INF 366, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    M. Frank & A. Mangini

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  1. M. Frank
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  2. R. Gersonde
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  3. A. Mangini
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  1. Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Klagenfurter Straße, D-28359, Bremen, Germany

    Gerhard Fischer  & Gerold Wefer  & 

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Frank, M., Gersonde, R., Mangini, A. (1999). Sediment Redistribution, 230Thex- Normalization and Implications for the Reconstruction of Particle Flux and Export Paleoproductivity. In: Fischer, G., Wefer, G. (eds) Use of Proxies in Paleoceanography. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-58646-0_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-58646-0_16

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