Carbon-13/carbon-12 ratios in surface water and sea ice organic matter-variability and contributions to the sediments of the Ross Sea, Antarctica

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dc.contributor.advisorDunbar, Robert B.en_US
dc.creatorRogers, Jennifer Carolen_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T00:45:53Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-04T00:45:53Zen_US
dc.date.issued1995en_US
dc.description.abstractElemental and carbon isotopic analyses of suspended and sea ice particulate organic matter (POC) from Antarctica show enrichments in $\sp{13}$C unrelated to atmospheric CO$\sb2$ variations. Phytoplankton bloom-related POC from the southwestern Ross Sea during 1992 had a range in $\delta\sp{13}$C of 7$\rm\perthous.\ \delta\sp{13}C\sb{POC}$ collected from pack ice had an 11$\rm\perthous$ range, with highest values found in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas and lower values found in Ross Sea pack ice. Organic matter $\delta\sp{13}$C from phytoplankton blooms in the southwestern Ross Sea is strongly correlated with POC concentration, suggesting high rates of bloom-related CO$\sb2$(aqueous) drawdown that may cause disequilibrium as a result of stable stratification of the upper water column and partial isolation of the surface water CO$\sb2$ pool. Isotopic and organic carbon composition of surface sediments is similar to the upper water column, thus primary isotopic signals are preserved. Surface sediment $\delta\sp{13}$C values are 1 to 3$\rm\perthous$ enriched in $\sp{13}$C relative to surface water POC $\delta\sp{13}$C. Highest isotopic values were found in areas that receive large amounts of phytoplankton bloom detritus. Future downcore carbon isotopic analyses may prove useful as tracers of bloom dynamics and sea ice production.en_US
dc.format.extent95 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS GEOL. 1995 ROGERSen_US
dc.identifier.citationRogers, Jennifer Carol. "Carbon-13/carbon-12 ratios in surface water and sea ice organic matter-variability and contributions to the sediments of the Ross Sea, Antarctica." (1995) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13991">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13991</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/13991en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectBiochemistryen_US
dc.titleCarbon-13/carbon-12 ratios in surface water and sea ice organic matter-variability and contributions to the sediments of the Ross Sea, Antarcticaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEarth Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen_US
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