Uranium, Thorium and Protactinium isotopes of ODP Site 172-1063

Ocean circulation may have undergone reductions and reinvigorations in the past closely tied to regional climate changes. Measurements of 231Pa/230Th ratios in a sediment core from the Bermuda Rise have been interpreted as evidence that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) was weakened or completely eliminated during a period of catastrophic iceberg discharges (Heinrich-Event 1, H1). Here we present new data from the Bermuda Rise that show further 231Pa/230Th peaks during Heinrich-2 (H2) and Heinrich-3 (H3). Additionally, a tight correlation between diatom abundances (biogenic silica) and 231Pa/230Th is discovered in this core. Our results redirect the interpretation of 231Pa/230Th from the Bermuda Rise as a proxy for ocean circulation towards a proxy that reacts highly sensitive to changes of particle composition and water mass properties.

(Table A1) Uranium and Thorium determination from IODP Site 310-M0007B

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 310 recovered drill cores from the drowned reefs around the island of Tahiti (17°40'S, 149°30'W), many of which contained samples of massive corals from the genus Porites. Herein we report on one well-preserved fossil coral sample: a 13.6 cm long Porites sp. dated by uranium series techniques at 9523 ± 33 years. Monthly delta18O and Sr/Ca determinations reveal nine clear and robust annual cycles. Coral delta18O and Sr/Ca determinations estimate a mean temperature of ca. 24.3°C (ca. 3.2°C colder than modern) for Tahiti at 9.5 ka; however, this estimate is viewed with caution since potential sources of cold bias in coral geochemistry remain to be resolved. The interannual variability in coral delta18O is similar between the 9.5 ka coral record and a modern record from nearby Moorea. The seasonal cycle in coral Sr/Ca is approximately the same or greater in the 9.5 ka coral record than in modern coral records from Tahiti. Paired analysis of coral delta18O and Sr/Ca indicates cold/wet (warm/dry) interannual anomalies, opposite from those observed in the modern instrumental record.

(Table 2) Uranium and thorium isotopic composition, activity ratios and ages of bivalvia shells in sediment core GIK14350, northern Germany

A new chemical procedure for cleaning marine carbonates was applied to remove detritus as well as metaloxide contaminations of marine shells from Eemian deposits and adjoining succession of a sediment core from Dagebüll, Schleswig- Holstein. Hence, one can significantly reduce the contamination with detrital uranium and thorium. Thermal ionisation mass spectrometry was applied to determine the uranium and thorium activities used for 230Th/U dating of these shells. At least ten samples of marine bivalves of five different core sections were analysed. Samples located below a five meter thick clay layer at 19-24 m yielded an average age of 132±18 ka. Shells located above the clays at 15-20 m depth were strongly influenced by percolating groundwaters of an open system. Therefore, a reliable dating of these samples was not possible.