Simulating Deglacial Radiocarbon Anomalies With pH‐Neutral Geologic Carbon

Abstract There is currently no explanation or carbon cycle model scenario for severe radiocarbon ( 14 C) depletion reconstructed in the intermediate depth eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean (ETNP) at the end of the last ice age. Here, we develop new constraints on hypothesized geologic carbon release based on the boron isotope pH proxy and regional refinement of a global carbon cycle model. We find that pH‐neutral release of ∼800 Pg C over 5,000 years can produce the radiocarbon anomalies in the ETNP while inducing neither a large pH anomaly nor CaCO 3 dissolution (as observed) and causing minimal atmospheric CO 2 rise. Mass‐balance considerations dictate that the anomalous carbon was concentrated near the geologic source in the ETNP without significantly affecting radiocarbon‐based reconstructions of global ocean circulation change.

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Publication Details

Journal
Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
Published
2026-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025pa005217
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
29.54

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article

Simulating Deglacial Radiocarbon Anomalies With pH‐Neutral Geologic Carbon

J R Southon, F. Pavia, P.A. Rafter, J. W. B. Rae et al.
1 citations
Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
29.54
article

Simulating Deglacial Radiocarbon Anomalies With pH‐Neutral Geologic Carbon

J R Southon, F. Pavia, P.A. Rafter, J. W. B. Rae, M. P. Hain, C. Sun, R. A. Green, M. Pelly, K. Thirumalai, C. Xu, W. R. Gray
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Abstract There is currently no explanation or carbon cycle model scenario for severe radiocarbon ( 14 C) depletion reconstructed in the intermediate depth eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean (ETNP) at the end of the last ice age. Here, we develop new constraints on hypothesized geologic carbon release based on the boron isotope pH proxy and regional refinement of a global carbon cycle model. We find that pH‐neutral release of ∼800 Pg C over 5,000 years can produce the radiocarbon anomalies in the ETNP while inducing neither a large pH anomaly nor CaCO 3 dissolution (as observed) and causing minimal atmospheric CO 2 rise. Mass‐balance considerations dictate that the anomalous carbon was concentrated near the geologic source in the ETNP without significantly affecting radiocarbon‐based reconstructions of global ocean circulation change.

Paleoceanography and PaleoclimatologyVol. 41(5)
Torrance Memorial Medical Center (US), University of Arizona (US), University of St Andrews (GB), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), University of Washington (US), University of California, Irvine (US), Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (FR), Irvine University (US), University of South Florida St. Petersburg (US), College of Marin (US), Stanford University (US)
National Science Foundation
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
29.54
DOISourceOpenAlex
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