Abstract. At present, the Arabian Sea has a permanent oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) at water depths between about 100 and 1200 m. Active denitrification in the upper part of the OMZ is recorded by enhanced δ 15 N values in the sediments. Sediment cores show a δ 15 N increase during the middle and late Holocene, which is contrary to the trend in the other two regions of water column denitrification in the eastern tropical North and South Pacific. We calculated composite sea surface temperature (SST) and δ 15 N ratios in time slices of 1000 years of the last 25 kyr to better understand the reasons for the establishment of the Arabian Sea OMZ and its response to changes in the Asian monsoon system. Low δ 15 N values of 4-7 ‰ during the last glacial maximum (LGM) and stadials (Younger Dryas and Heinrich events) suggest that denitrification was inactive or weak during Pleistocene cold phases, while warm interstadials (ISs) had elevated δ 15 N. Fast changes in upwelling intensities and OMZ ventilation from the Antarctic were responsible for these strong millennial-scale variations during the glacial. During the entire Holocene δ 15 N values > 6 ‰ indicate a relatively stable OMZ with enhanced denitrification. The OMZ develops parallel to the strengthening of the SW monsoon and monsoonal upwelling after the LGM. Despite the relatively stable climatic conditions of the Holocene, the δ 15 N records show regionally different trends in the Arabian Sea. In the upwelling areas in the western part of the basin, δ 15 N values are lower during the mid-Holocene (4.2-8.2 ka BP) compared to the late Holocene (< 4.2 ka BP) due to stronger ventilation of the OMZ during the period of the most intense southwest monsoonal upwelling. In contrast, δ 15 N values in the northern and eastern Arabian Sea rose during the last 8 kyr. The displacement of the core of the OMZ from the region of maximum productivity in the western Arabian Sea to its present position in the northeast was established during the middle and late Holocene. This was probably caused by (i) reduced ventilation due to a longer residence time of OMZ waters and (ii) augmented by rising oxygen consumption due to enhanced northeast-monsoon-driven biological productivity. This concurs with the results of the Kiel Climate Model, which show an increase in OMZ volume during the last 9 kyr related to the increasing age of the OMZ water mass.
<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> At present the Arabian Sea has a permanent oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) at water depths between about 100&#8201;m and 1200&#8201;m. Active denitrification in this OMZ is recorded by enhanced &#948;<sup>15</sup>N values in the sediments. Sediment cores show a &#948;<sup>15</sup>N increase from early to late Holocene which is contrary to the trend in other regions of water column denitrification. We calculated composite sea surface temperature (SST) and &#948;<sup>15</sup>N in time slices of 1000 years of the last 25 ka to better understand the reasons for the establishment of the Arabian Sea OMZ and its response to changes in the Asian monsoon system. Pleistocene stadial &#948;<sup>15</sup>N values of 4&#8211;6&#8201;&#8240; suggest that denitrification was inactive or weak. During interstadials (IS) and the entire Holocene, &#948;<sup>15</sup>N values of >&#8201;7&#8201;&#8240; indicate enhanced denitrification and a stronger OMZ. This coincides with active monsoonal upwelling along the western margins of the basin as indicated by low SST. Stronger ventilation of the OMZ in the early to mid-Holocene period during the most intense southwest monsoon and vigorous upwelling is reflected in lower &#948;<sup>15</sup>N compared to the late Holocene. The displacement of the core of the OMZ from the region of maximum productivity in the western Arabian Sea to its present position in the northeast was established during the last 4&#8211;5&#8201;ka. This was probably caused by (i) rising oxygen consumption due to enhanced northeast monsoon driven biological productivity, in combination with (ii) reduced ventilation due to a longer residence time of OMZ waters.</p>
The summer rainfall zone (SRZ) in the South African interior experienced pronounced hydrological and vegetation changes during the Holocene inferred to be driven mainly by shifts in atmospheric and oceanic circulations systems. The exact mechanisms controlling these changes are still debated. To gain better insights into the Holocene environmental changes in the South African SRZ and their driving factors, we analysed compound-specific carbon and hydrogen isotopes of plant wax n-alkanes (δ13Cwax and δDwax) from a marine sediment core covering the last 9900 years. The core has been recovered offshore the mouth of the Orange River, predominantly draining the South African summer rainfall region. Our data indicate a dry early Holocene and a gradual increase of wetter conditions with a higher abundance of C4 vegetation towards the middle Holocene. Wettest conditions occurred around 3900 cal. yr BP. The last 3900 years were characterised by a gradual aridification overlain by variable wetter conditions. During the ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA: ca. 640–310 cal. yr BP), relatively dry conditions with elevated C4 plant contributions occurred. This opposite behaviour, that is, more C4 plant contribution during drier conditions compared to the remainder of the Holocene, points towards an influence of winter rainfall in the lower Orange River catchment during the late-Holocene and a decline in summer rainfall. We emphasise the importance of changes in the latitudinal insolation gradient (LIG) as a potentially important controlling mechanism for hydrologic and vegetation changes in the SRZ.
Laminated sediments of the continental slope off the Makran coast in the northern Arabian Sea are well-known climate archives and record productivity, as well as supply of material from land. Here, we studied sediment core 275KL off Pakistan in concert with sediment trap, dust and river samples in order to characterize and quantify land-derived material deposited in varves and event layers. We analysed grain sizes, mineral assemblages, bulk components and stable isotopes (δ 13 C, δ 18 O) of carbonates. In winter, enhanced river discharge is the main source of lithogenic matter contributing the major amounts to the total annual sedimentation of the northern Arabian Sea. During the late summer season, lithogenic matter accumulation is slightly enhanced, probably carried along with the south-eastward blowing Levar winds from the Balochistan and the Sistan Basins and the summer monsoon discharge maximum of perennial streams. C/N ratios and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes could not be used to distinguish between organic matter produced on land and in the ocean, whereas stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of carbonates suggest that sedimentation of event layers is dominated by direct inputs from land. Catastrophic denudation and storm events occur on average once every 50 years and lead to sedimentation rates that exceed the mean annual sedimentations of 983 g m −2 yr −1 by 6 to 10 times. Nevertheless, due to their rare occurrence, they contributed only 7% to the total sedimentation during the last ca. 5000 years. End-member modelling of grain sizes in accordance with lithogenic matter accumulation rates and event layer frequencies showed that arid conditions prevailed between 4000 and 5000 a BP while more humid conditions commenced around 2000 ka BP in accordance with the Pacific ENSO record.
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