Evidence of Poor Bottom Water Ventilation during LGM in the Equatorial Indian Ocean

Abstract

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Multi-proxy approach for the reconstruction of paleo-redox conditions is attempted on a radiocarbon (14C) dated sediment core near the equatorial Indian Ocean. Based on the behavior and distribution of redox sensitive and productivity proxies, study demonstrates prevalence of anoxic bottom water conditions during LGM due to poorly ventilated bottom waters augmented by high surface productivity resulting in better preservation of organic carbon (OC). During early Holocene, the equatorial Indian Ocean witnessed high sedimentation rates resulting in high organic carbon (OC) with depleted redox sensitive elements thereby causing better preservation of OC. The study underscores poor bottom water ventilation during LGM and preservation of OC as a result of high sedimentation rate in early Holocene.

Keywords

• LGM
• anoxic bottom water
• holocene period
• redox sensitive elements
• organic carbon
• GEOTRACES