Circumpolar deep water upwelling is a primary source of 10Be in Antarctic continental shelf sediments

Beryllium-10 (10Be) is proposed to be a potential proxy for investigating ice shelf presence and absence, or meltwater discharge in coastal polar environments. However, the sources and distribution of atmospherically produced meteoric-10Be in the Antarctic marine realm are yet to be fully characterized. We present a dataset of 9Be and 10Be concentrations, and 10Be/9Be ratios in seafloor surface sediments from the Antarctic continental shelf to assess the sources and processes contributing Be-isotopes to ice-sheet proximal marine settings. We show that upwelling waters (e.g. Circumpolar Deep Water) are a significant source of 10Be to continental shelf sediments. This limits the use of 10Be/9Be as a proxy for ice shelf environment or meltwater discharge, but instead provides a potential proxy for reconstructing Circumpolar Deep Water incursions onto Antarctic continental shelves.

Details

Publication status:
Published
Author(s):
Authors: Jeromson, Matthew R., Fujioka, Toshiyuki, Fink, David, Simon, Krista, Smith, James ORCIDORCID record for James Smith, Hillenbrand, Claus-Dieter ORCIDORCID record for Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, Kuhn, Gerhard, Post, Alexandra L., Sánchez-Palacios, Jose Tonatiuh, Blaxell, Marcello, Enge, T. Gabriel, White, Duanne A.

On this site: Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, James Smith
Date:
1 May, 2024
Journal/Source:
Global and Planetary Change / 236
Page(s):
11pp
Link to published article:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104424