Stable isotope constraints on Holocene carbon cycle changes from an Antarctic ice core

Joachim Elsig, Jochen Schmitt, Daiana Leuenberger, Robert Schneider, Marc Eyer, Markus Leuenberger, Fortunat Joos, Hubertus Fischer and Thomas F. Stocker ()
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Joachim Elsig: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Jochen Schmitt: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Daiana Leuenberger: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Robert Schneider: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Marc Eyer: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Markus Leuenberger: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Fortunat Joos: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Hubertus Fischer: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Thomas F. Stocker: Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland

Nature, 2009, vol. 461, issue 7263, 507-510

Abstract: Holocene carbon cycle A new atmospheric δ13C record derived from measurements of air trapped in the EPICA Dome C Antarctic ice core, combined with a simple carbon model, provides a high-resolution view of the carbon cycle during the Holocene, the current interglacial period that started about 11,000 years ago. Previous reconstructions had revealed significant changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, but the processes responsible for these changes were unclear. The new data suggest that the 5 p.p.m.v. decrease in atmospheric CO2 during the early Holocene resulted from an uptake of about 290 gigatons of carbon by the land biosphere together with carbon release from the ocean in response to carbonate compensation of the terrestrial uptake at the end of the last ice age. The 20 p.p.m.v. increase of atmospheric CO2 during the later Holocene can be mostly explained in terms of carbonate compensation of earlier land biosphere uptake and coral reef formation, with a minor contribution from a small decrease of the land biosphere carbon inventory.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08393

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