Oxygen-18 of O 2 Records the Impact of Abrupt Climate Change on the Terrestrial Biosphere

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1169473
• Publication Date: 2009-06-11T21:50:59Z
• Authors: Jeffrey P. Severi...; Ross Beaudette; Melissa A. Headly; Kendrick Taylor; Edward J. Brook
• Keywords: δ18O; Ice core; Paleoclimatology

Photosynthesis and respiration occur widely on Earth's surface, the 18O/16O ratio of oxygen produced consumed varies with climatic conditions. As a consequence, history climate is reflected in deviation air (delta18Oatm) from seawater delta18O (known as Dole effect). We report variations delta18Oatm over past 60,000 years related to Heinrich Dansgaard-Oeschger events, two modes abrupt change observed during last ice age. Correlations cave records support hypothesis that effect primarily governed by strength Asian North African monsoons confirm widespread changes low-latitude terrestrial rainfall accompanied change. The rapid can also be used synchronize providing global time markers.