AMS Radiocarbon Measurements Aimed at Improving Our Understanding of the Events Associated with the Last Glacial Termination

Abstract ATM-9416597 Broecker, Wallace S. Columbia University Title: AMS Radiocarbon Measurements Aimed at Improving Our Understanding of the Events Associated with the Last Glacial Termination The objective of this project is to learn more about the nature of the climate changes which brought the Earth from full glacial to full interglacial conditions between 14,500 and 9,500 14C years ago. Two aspects are addressed. As heat transport to high latitudes depends critically on the pattern and rate of deep sea ventilation we need to learn more about paleo circulation. Radiocarbon measurements on coexisting planktic and benthic foraminifera from deep sea sediments offer important and as yet largely untapped information. Second, ocean circulation may have ceased between Heinrich layer #1 (14,300 14C years ago) and the onset of the Bolling (12,700 14C years ago). Evidence is accumulating that a pronounced trans-USA wet event following the pattern seen during El Ninos occurred during this time interval.