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McCave, I Nick; Crowhurst, Simon J; Kuhn, Gerhard; Hillenbrand, Claus-Dieter; Meredith, Michael P (2014): Mean sortable silt values from Holocene and glacial Scotia Sea sediments [dataset publication series]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821238, Supplement to: McCave, IN et al. (2014): Minimal change in Antarctic Circumpolar Current flow speed between the last glacial and Holocene. Nature Geoscience, 7, 113–116, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2037

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Abstract:
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is key to the mixing and ventilation of the world's oceans. This current flows from west to east between about 45° and 70° S connecting the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and is driven by westerly winds and buoyancy forcing. High levels of productivity in the current regulate atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Reconstructions of the current during the last glacial period suggest that flow speeds were faster or similar to present, and it is uncertain whether the strength and position of the westerly winds changed. Here we reconstruct Antarctic Circumpolar Current bottom speeds through the constricting Drake Passage and Scotia Sea during the Last Glacial Maximum and Holocene based on the mean grain size of sortable silt from a suite of sediment cores. We find essentially no change in bottom flow speeds through the region, and, given that the momentum imparted by winds, and modulated by sea-ice cover, is balanced by the interaction of these flows with the seabed, this argues against substantial changes in wind stress. However, glacial flow speeds in the sea-ice zone south of 56° S were significantly slower than present, whereas flow in the north was faster, but not significantly so. We suggest that slower flow over the rough topography south of 56° S may have reduced diapycnal mixing in this region during the last glacial period, possibly reducing the diapycnal contribution to the Southern Ocean overturning circulation.
Coverage:
Median Latitude: -56.900352 * Median Longitude: -42.919939 * South-bound Latitude: -60.306000 * West-bound Longitude: -48.043333 * North-bound Latitude: -53.666660 * East-bound Longitude: -36.651170
Date/Time Start: 1992-09-13T18:24:00 * Date/Time End: 2005-05-14T05:20:00
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-3.0)
Size:
12 datasets

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Datasets listed in this publication series

  1. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core PS67/186-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821226
  2. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core PS67/197-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821227
  3. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core PS67/205-2. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821228
  4. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core PS67/219-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821229
  5. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core PS67/224-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821230
  6. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core PS2319-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821224
  7. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core PS2514-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821225
  8. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment cores TC290 and PC078. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821231
  9. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core TPC063. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821234
  10. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core TPC077. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821235
  11. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core TPC287. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821232
  12. McCave, IN; Crowhurst, SJ; Kuhn, G et al. (2014): Sortable silt mean grain size of sediment core TPC288. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.821233