Synchronous centennial abrupt events in the ocean and atmosphere during the last deglaciation

Abstract

Flushing the deep ocean Have changes in ocean circulation contributed to the sudden increases in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide that occurred during the last deglaciation? Chen et al. provide a high-resolution radiocarbon record for that time, derived from deep sea corals. This record shows that two deep ocean “flushing” events were accompanied by abrupt rises in carbon dioxide and Northern Hemispheric warming. There is a clear connection between these ocean processes and the atmosphere during this interval. Science , this issue p. 1537