Graphitization of small carbonate samples for paleoceanographic research at the godwin radiocarbon laboratory, University of Cambridge

AbstractA new radiocarbon preparation facility was set up in 2010 at the Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research, at the University of Cambridge. Samples are graphitized via hydrogen reduction on an iron powder catalyst before being sent to the Chrono Centre, Belfast, or the Australian National University for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) analysis. The experimental setup and procedure have recently been developed to investigate the potential for running small samples of foraminiferal carbonate. By analyzing background values of samples ranging from 0.04 to 0.6 mg C along with similar sized secondary standards, the setup and experimental procedures were optimized for small samples. “Background” modern 14C contamination has been minimized through careful selection of iron powder, and graphitization has been optimized through the use of “small volume” reactors, allowing samples containing as little as 0.08 mg C to be graphitized and accurately dated. Graphitization efficiency/fractionation is found not to be the main limitation on the analysis of samples smaller than 0.07 mg C, which rather depends primarily on AMS ion beam optics, suggesting further improvements in small sample analysis might yet be achieved with our methodology.We would like to thank James Rolfe for running the stable isotope measurements, as well as the Royal Society and NERC grant NE/L006421/1 for research support.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Cambridge University Press via http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2015.

A soil productivity index based upon predicted water depletion and root growth

Cover title."This research was carried out in 1978 and 1979 as part of University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Research Project 374, Soil Genesis, Classification and Interpretation"--Page 2 of cover.Includes bibliographical references (pages 25-26).Includes bibliographical references (pages 25-26)

Radiocarbon constraints on the glacial ocean circulation and its impact on atmospheric CO2

While the ocean’s large-scale overturning circulation is thought to have been significantly different under the climatic conditions of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the exact nature of the glacial circulation and its implications for global carbon cycling continue to be debated. Here we use a global array of ocean–atmosphere radiocarbon disequilibrium estimates to demonstrate a ∼689±53 14C-yr increase in the average residence time of carbon in the deep ocean at the LGM. A predominantly southern-sourced abyssal overturning limb that was more isolated from its shallower northern counterparts is interpreted to have extended from the Southern Ocean, producing a widespread radiocarbon age maximum at mid-depths and depriving the deep ocean of a fast escape route for accumulating respired carbon. While the exact magnitude of the resulting carbon cycle impacts remains to be confirmed, the radiocarbon data suggest an increase in the efficiency of the biological carbon pump that could have accounted for as much as half of the glacial–interglacial CO2 change

Atlantic Ocean ventilation changes across the last deglaciation and their carbon cycle implications

Changes in ocean ventilation, controlled by both overturning rates and air‐sea gas exchange, are thought to have played a central role in atmospheric CO2 rise across the last deglaciation. Here we constrain the nature of Atlantic Ocean ventilation changes over the last deglaciation using radiocarbon and stable carbon isotopes from two depth transects in the Atlantic basin. Our findings broadly cohere with the established pattern of deglacial Atlantic overturning change, and underline the existence of active northern sourced deep‐water export at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). We find that the western Atlantic was less affected by incursions of southern‐sourced deep water, as compared to the eastern Atlantic, despite both sides of the basin being strongly influenced by the air‐sea equilibration of both northern‐ and southern deep‐water end‐members. Ventilation at least as strong as modern is observed throughout the Atlantic during the Bølling‐Allerød (BA), implying a ‘flushing’ of the entire Atlantic water column that we attribute to the combined effects of AMOC reinvigoration and increased air‐sea equilibration of southern sourced deep‐water. This ventilation ‘overshoot’ may have counteracted a natural atmospheric CO2 decline during interstadial conditions, helping to make the BA a ‘point of no return’ in the deglacial process. While the collected data emphasize a predominantly indirect AMOC contribution to deglacial atmospheric CO2 rise, via far field impacts on convection in the Southern Ocean and/or North Pacific during HS1 and the YD, the potential role of the AMOC in centennial CO2 pulses emerges as an important target for future work

Radiocarbon constraints on the glacial ocean circulation and its impact on atmospheric CO2_2

While the ocean's large-scale overturning circulation is thought to have been significantly different under the climatic conditions of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the exact nature of the glacial circulation and its implications for global carbon cycling continue to be debated. Here we use a global array of ocean-atmosphere radiocarbon disequilibrium estimates to demonstrate a ~689±53 $^{14}$C-yr increase in the average residence time of carbon in the deep ocean at the LGM. A predominantly southern-sourced abyssal overturning limb that was more isolated from its shallower northern counterparts is interpreted to have extended from the Southern Ocean, producing a widespread radiocarbon age maximum at mid-depths and depriving the deep ocean of a fast escape route for accumulating respired carbon. While the exact magnitude of the resulting carbon cycle impacts remains to be confirmed, the radiocarbon data suggest an increase in the efficiency of the biological carbon pump that could have accounted for as much as half of the glacial-interglacial CO$_2$ change.This work was made possible by NERC grant NE/L006421/1, and was supported by NERC radiocarbon analysis allocation number 1245.1007, as well as the Royal Society and the Cambridge Isaac Newton Trust

ALDEHYDE VOLATILES FOR USE AS COYOTE ATTRACTANTS

This study was designed to evaluate the attractiveness of eight aldehyde volatiles (octanal, nonanal, decanal, undecanal, dodecanal, tridecanal, tetradecanal, and hexadecanal) found in sheep liver extract and coyote (Canis latrans) estrous urine to determine their potential for use as odor attractants in predator control. The odors were presented to captive coyotes at the Hopland Field Station and the length of time coyotes responded to the odors was recorded. Octanal, nonanal, decanal, and undecanal all elicited as much sniffing and rub-rolling as did a known coyote attractant, trimethylammo-nium decanoate (TMAD). Generally male and female coyotes were equally attracted to the odors; however, nonanal was preferred by males in summer and by females in winter. In comparison to TMAD, some alde-hydes were effective in eliciting sniffing and rub-rolling but ineffective in eliciting lick-chewing and biting. Thus, the aldehydes are probably best suited as odor attractants for use with capture devices such as the steel trap, and least suited for use with toxicant-delivery systems such as the M-44