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Earth System Science: Bridging the Gaps between Disciplines

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences ((BRIEFSEARTHSYST))

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Abstract

After a brief introduction into the marine carbon cycle, the calcite compensation theory and the rain-ratio hypothesis, two theories that may explain glacial to interglacial changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations are presented. The validity of these theories in the Southern Ocean is tested with B/Ca-reconstructed carbonate ion concentrations of deep and intermediate waters. Deglacial [CO3 2−] excursions reveal a close relationship between changes in the oceanic inorganic carbon system and atmospheric CO2, which follow the predictions of the calcite compensation theory on glacial-interglacial timescales. Short-termed [CO3 2−] variations are likely due to the influence of the biological pump and/or changes in circulation patterns.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funding from MARUM. The North-GRIP project was directed and organized by the Department of Geophysics at the Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics, University of Copenhagen. It was supported by funding agencies in Denmark(SNF), Belgium (NFSR), France (IFRTP and INSU/CNRS), Germany (AWI), Iceland (RannIs), Japan (MECS), Sweden (SPRS), Switzerland (SNF) and the United States of America (NSF). We wish to thank all the funding bodies and field participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Gerrit Lohmann, Klaus Grosfeld, Dieter Wolf-Gladrow & Anna Wegner

  2. Institut für Umweltwissenschaften Universität Bremen, Otto-Hahn-Allee 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Justus Notholt

  3. Earth and Space Science School of Engineering and Science Jacobs University gGmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759, Bremen, Germany

    Vikram Unnithan

Authors
  1. Gerrit Lohmann
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  2. Klaus Grosfeld
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  3. Dieter Wolf-Gladrow
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  4. Anna Wegner
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  5. Justus Notholt
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  6. Vikram Unnithan
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Gerrit Lohmann , Franziska Kersten or Katrin Wolff .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Climate Sciences, Paleo-climate Dynamic, Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Bussestrasse 24, Bremerhaven, 27570, Germany

    Gerrit Lohmann

  2. , Climate Sciences, Alfred Wegener Institute, Bussestrasse 24, Bremerhaven, 27570, Germany

    Klaus Grosfeld

  3. , Biosciences, Alfred Wegener Institute, Am Handelshafen 12, Bremerhaven, 27570, Germany

    Dieter Wolf-Gladrow

  4. , School of Engineering and Science, Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH, Campus Ring 1, Bremen, 28759, Germany

    Vikram Unnithan

  5. , Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, 28334, Germany

    Justus Notholt

  6. , Geosciences, Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, 27568, Germany

    Anna Wegner

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Lohmann, G., Grosfeld, K., Wolf-Gladrow, D., Wegner, A., Notholt, J., Unnithan, V. (2013). Climate Archives. In: Lohmann, G., Grosfeld, K., Wolf-Gladrow, D., Unnithan, V., Notholt, J., Wegner, A. (eds) Earth System Science: Bridging the Gaps between Disciplines. SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32235-8_5

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