Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-vmclg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-17T12:56:32.231Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Last Ice Age Millennial Scale Climate Changes Recorded in Huon Peninsula Corals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Yusuke Yokoyama ,
Tezer M Esat ,
Kurt Lambeck  and
L Keith Fifield
Yusuke Yokoyama
Affiliation:
Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Tezer M Esat
Affiliation:
Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Department of Geology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Kurt Lambeck
Affiliation:
Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
L Keith Fifield
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Uranium series and radiocarbon ages were measured in corals from the uplifted coral terraces of Huon Peninsula (HP), Papua New Guinea, to provide a calibration for the 14C time scale beyond 30 ka (kilo annum). Improved analytical procedures, and quantitative criteria for sample selection, helped discriminate diagenetically altered samples. The base-line of the calibration curve follows the trend of increasing divergence from calendar ages, as established by previous studies. Superimposed on this trend, four well-defined peaks of excess atmospheric radiocarbon were found ranging in magnitude from 100% to 700%, relative to current levels. They are related to episodes of sea-level rise and reef growth at HP. These peaks appear to be synchronous with Heinrich Events and concentrations of ice-rafted debris found in North Atlantic deep-sea cores. Relative timing of sea-level rise and atmospheric 14C excess imply the following sequence of events: An initial sea-level high is followed by a large increase in atmospheric 14C as the sea-level subsides. Over about 1800 years, the atmospheric radiocarbon drops to below present ambient levels. This cycle bears a close resemblance to ice-calving episodes of Dansgaard-Oeschger and Bond cycles and the slow-down or complete interruption of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation. The increases in the atmospheric 14C levels are attributed to the cessation of the North Atlantic circulation.

Type
Comparison Records
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 42 , Issue 3 , 2000 , pp. 383 - 401
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Aldahan, A, Possnert, G. 1998. A high resolution 10Be profile from deep sea sediment covering the last 70 ka: indication for globally synchronized environmental events. Quaternary Geochronology 17:1023–32.Google Scholar
Andrews, JT. 1998. Abrupt changes (Heinrich Events) in late Quaternary North Atlantic marine environments: a history and review of data and concepts. Journal of Quaternary Sciences 13(1):3–16.3.0.CO;2-0>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Banner, JL, Wasserburg, GJ, Chen, JH, Humphery, JD. 1991. Uranium-series evidence on diagenesis and Hydrology in Pleistocene carbonates of Barbados, West Indies. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 107:129–37.Google Scholar
Bar-Matthews, M, Wasserburg, GJ, Chen, JH. 1993. Diagenesis of fossil coral skeletons: correlation between trace elements, textures and 234U/238U. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 57:257–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bard, E, Hamelin, B, Fairbanks, RG. 1990a. U-Th ages obtained by mass spectrometry in corals from Barbados: sea level during the past 130,000 years. Nature 346:456–8.Google Scholar
Bard, E, Hamelin, B, Fairbanks, RG, Zindler, A. 1990b. Calibration of the 14C timescale over the past 30,000 years using mass spectrometric U-Th ages from Barbados corals. Nature 345:405–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bard, E, Fairbanks, RG, Zindler, A, Mathieu, G, Arnold, M. 1990c. U/Th and 14C ages of corals from Barbados and their use for calibrating the 14C time scale beyond 9000 years B.P. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B52:461–68.Google Scholar
Bard, E, Fairbanks, RG, Hamelin, B, Zindler, A, Hoang, CT. 1991. Uranium-234 anomalies in corals older than 150,000 years. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 55:2385–90.Google Scholar
Bard, E, Arnold, M, Fairbanks, RG, Hamelin, B. 1993. 230Th-234U and 14C ages obtained by mass spectrometry on corals. Radiocarbon 35(1):191–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bard, E. 1998. Geochemical and geophysical implications of the radiocarbon calibration. Geochimical et Cosmochimica Acta 62:2025–38.Google Scholar
Bard, E, Arnold, M, Hamelin, B, Tisnerat-Laborde, N, Cabioch, G. 1998. Radiocarbon calibration by means of mass spectrometric 230Th/234U and 14C ages of corals. An updated data base including samples from Barbados, Mururoa and Tahiti. Radiocarbon 40(3):1085–92.Google Scholar
Bathurst, RGC. 1968. Precipitation of ooids and other aragonitic fabrics in warm seas. In: Müller, G, Friedman, G, editors. Recent development in carbonate sedimentology in Central Europe, Springer-Kerlag. 1–10.Google Scholar
Becker, B, Kromer, B. 1993. The continental tree-ring record-absolute chronology, 14C calibration and climatic change at 11 ka. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 103:67–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broecker, WS. 1997. Thermohaline circulation, the Achilles Heel of our climate system: will man-made CO2 upset the current balance? Science 278:1582–8.Google Scholar
Broecker, WS. 1998. Paleocean circulation during the last deglaciation: a bipolar seesaw? Paleoceanography 13(2):119–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, TA, Southon, JR. 1997. Corrections for contamination background in AMS 14C measurements. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B123:208–13.Google Scholar
Burr, GSE, Edwards, RL, Donahue, DJ, Druffel, ERM, Taylor, FW. 1992. Mass Spectrometric 14C and U-Th measurements in coral. Radiocarbon 34(3):611–18.Google Scholar
Chappell, J. 1974. Geology of coral terraces, Huon peninsula, New Guinea: a study for Quaternary tectonic movements and sea-level changes. Geological Society of America Bulletin 85:553–70.Google Scholar
Chappell, J, Omura, A, Esat, T, McCulloch, M, Pandolfi, J, Ota, Y, Pillans, B. 1996. Reconciliation of late Quaternary sea levels derived from coral terraces at Huon Peninsula with deep sea oxygene isotope records. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 141:227–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, JH, Curran, HA, White, B, Wasserburg, GJ. 1991. Precise chronology of the last interglacial period: 234U-230Th data from fossil coral reefs in the Bahamas. Geological Society of America Bulletin 103:82–97.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, PU, Alley, RB, Keigwin, LD, Licciardi, JM, Johnsen, SJ, Wang, H. 1996. Origin of the first global meltwater pulse following the last glacial maximum. Paleoceanography 11(2):563–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donahue, DJ, Linick, TW, Jull, AJT. 1990. Isotope-ratio and background corrections for accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon measurements. Radiocarbon 32(2):135–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, RL, Chen, JH, Wasserburg, GJ. 1986. 238U-234U-230Th-232Th systematics and precise measurement of time over the past 500,000 years. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 81:175–192.Google Scholar
Edwards, RL, Chen, JH, Ku, T-L, Wasserburg, GJ. 1987. Precise timing of the Last Interglacial Maximum from mass spectrometric determination of Thorium-230 in corals. Science 236:1547–53.Google Scholar
Edwards, RL, Taylor, FW, Wasserburg, GJ. 1988. Dating earthquakes with high-precision thorium-230 ages of very young corals. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 90:371–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, RL, Beck, JW, Burr, GS, Donahue, DJ, Chappell, JMA, Bloom, AL, Druffel, ERM, Taylor, FW. 1993. A large drop in atmospheric 14C/12C and reduced melting in the Younger Dryas, documented with 230Th ages of corals. Science 260:962–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Esat, T. 1995. Charge collection thermal ion mass spectrometry of thorium. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Processes 148:159–70.Google Scholar
Fifield, K, Allan, GL, Ophel, TR, Head, J. 1992. Accelerator mass spectrometry of 14C at The Australian National University. Radiocarbon 34(3):452–7.Google Scholar
Gallup, CD, Edwards, RL, Johnson, RG. 1994. The timing of high sea levels over the past 200,000 years. Science 263:796–800.Google Scholar
Hamelin, B, Bard, E, Zindler, A, Fairbanks, RG. 1991. 234U/238U mass spectrometry of corals: how accurate is the U-Th age of the last interglacial period? Earth and Planetary Science Letters 106:169–80.Google Scholar
Hotchkis, MAC, Fink, D, Hua, Q, Jacobsen, GE, Lawson, EM, Smith, AM, Tuniz, C. 1996. High-precision radiocarbon measurements at the ANTARES AMS centre. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B113:457–60.Google Scholar
Kitagawa, H, Masuzawa, T, Nakamura, T, Matsumoto, E. 1993. A batch preparation method for graphite targets with low background for AMS 14C measurements. Radiocarbon 35(2):295–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kitagawa, H, van der Plicht, J. 1998. Atmospheric radiocarbon calibration to 45,000 yr B.P.: late glacial fluctuations and cosmogenic isotope production. Science 279:1187–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klug, HP, Alexander, LR. 1974. X-ray diffraction procedures for polycrystalline and amorphous materials. John Wiley & Sons. 966 p.Google Scholar
Kromer, B, Spurk, M. 1998. Revision and tentative extension of the tree-ring 14C calibration 9200 to 11,900 cal BP. Radiocarbon 40(3):1117–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ku, T-L, Ivanovich, M, Luo, S. 1990. U-series dating of last interglacial high sea stands: Barbados revisited. Quaternary Research 33:129–47.Google Scholar
Lighty, RG. 1985. Preservation of internal reef porosity and diagenetic sealing of submerged early Holoncene Barrier Reef, Southeastern Florida shelf. In: Schneidermann, N, Harris, PM. editors. Carbonate Cements. Society of Economic Palaeontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication 36:123–51.Google Scholar
Lund, DC, Mix, AC. 1998. Millennial-scale deep water oscillations: reflections of the North Atlantic in the deep Pacific from 10 to 60 ka. Paleoceanography 13(1):10–19.Google Scholar
McNichol, AP, Gagnon, AR, Jones, GA, Osbone, EA. 1992. Illumination of a black box: analysis of gas composition during graphite target preparation. Radiocarbon 34(3):321–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, CH. 1989. Carbonate diagenesis and porosity; development in sedimentology. Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Nelson, DE, Korteling, RG, Stott, WR. 1977. Carbon-14: direct-detection at natural concentrations. Science 198:507–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Omura, A, Ise, A, Sasaki, K, Takashi, S, Hasebe, Y. 1995. Resolution and reliability of the α-spectrometric 230Th/234U Method for age determination. Quaternary Research (Japan) 34:195–207.Google Scholar
Ota, Y. 1994. Study on coral reef terraces of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea. Yokohama, Yokohama National University Press. 171p.Google Scholar
Rozanski, K, Stichler, W, Gonfiantini, R, Scott, EM, Beukens, RP, Kromer, B, van der Plicht, J. 1992. The IAEA 14C intercomparison exercise 1990. Radiocarbon 34(3):506–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schramm, A, Stein, M, Goldstein, SL. 2000. Calibration of the 14C time scale to >40 ka by 234U-230Th dating of Lake Lisan sediments (last glacial Dead Sea). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 175:27–40.Google Scholar
Siegenthaler, U, Heimann, M, Oeschger, H. 1980. 14C variations caused by changes in the global carbon cycle. Radiocarbon 22(2):177–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stein, M, Wasserburg, GJ, Aharon, P, Chen, JH, Zhu, ZR, Bloom, A, Chappell, J. 1993. TIMS U-series dating and stable isotopes of the last interglacial event in Papua New Guinea. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 57:2541–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stirling, CH, Esat, TM, McCulloch, MT, Lambeck, K. 1995. High-precision U-series dating of corals from Western Australia and implications for the timing and duration of the Last Interglacial. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 135:115–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stirling, CH. 1996. Hig-precision U-series dating of corals from Western Australia: implications for Last Interglacial sea-levels. The Australian National University.Google Scholar
Stirling, CH, Esat, TM, Lambeck, K, McCulloch, MT. 1998. Timing and duration of the Last Interglacial: evidence for a restricted interval of widespread coral growth. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 160:745–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stocker, TF, Write, DG. 1998. The effect of a succession of ocean ventilation changes on 14C. Radiocarbon 40(1):359–66.Google Scholar
Strasser, A, Strohmenger, C. 1997. Early diagenesis in Pleistocene coral reefs, southern Sinai, Egypt: response to tectonics, sea-level and climate. Sedimentology 44:537–58.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Polach, HA. 1977. Reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–63.Google Scholar
Veeh, HH, Veevers, JJ. 1970. Sea-level at −175m off the Great Barrier Reef 13,600 to 17,000 years ago. Nature 226:536–7.Google Scholar
Voelker, AHL, Sarnthein, M, Grootes, PM, Erlenkeuser, H, Laj, C, Mazaud, A, Nadeau, M-J, Schleicher, M. 1998. Correlation of marine 14C ages from th Nordic seas with the GISP2 isotope record: implications for radiocarbon calibration beyond 25 ka. Radiocarbon 40(1):517–34.Google Scholar
Vogel, JS, Southon, JR, Nelso, DE, Brown, TA. 1984. Performance of catalytically condensed carbon for use in accelerator mass spectrometry. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B5:289–93.Google Scholar
Zhu, ZR, Wyrwoll, K-H, Collins, LB, Chen, JH, Wasserburg, GJ, Eisenhauer, A. 1993. High-precision U-series dating of Last Interglacial events by mass spectrometry: Houtman Abrolhos Islands, western Australia. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 118:281–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar