Origin of the northern Atlantic's Heinrich events (original) (raw)

Abstract

As first noted by Heinrich, 1988, glacial age sediments in the eastern part of the northern Atlantic contain layers with unusually high ratios of ice-rafted lithic fragments to foraminifera shells. He estimated that these layers are spaced at intervals of roughly 10 000 years. In this paper we present detailed information documenting the existence of the upper five of these layers in ODP core 609 from 50° N and 24° W. Their ages are respectively 15 000 radiocarbon years, 20 000 radiocarbon years, 27 000 radiocarbon years, about 40 000 years, and about 50 000 years. We also note that the high lithic fragment to foram ratio is the result of a near absence of shells in these layers. Although we are not of one mind regarding the origin of these layers, we lean toward an explanation that the Heinrich layers are debris released during the melting of massive influxes of icebergs into the northern Atlantic. These sudden inputs may be the result of surges along the eastern margin of the Laurentide ice sheet.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, 10964, Palisades, NY, USA
   Wallace Broecker, Gerard Bond, Mieczyslawa Klas, Elizabeth Clark & Jerry McManus

Authors

1. Wallace Broecker
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2. Gerard Bond
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3. Mieczyslawa Klas
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4. Elizabeth Clark
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5. Jerry McManus
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Contribution to Clima Locarno — Past and Present Climate Dynamics; Conference September 1990, Swiss Academy of Sciences — National Climate Program

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Broecker, W., Bond, G., Klas, M. et al. Origin of the northern Atlantic's Heinrich events.Climate Dynamics 6, 265–273 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193540

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• Received: 07 March 1991
• Accepted: 12 April 1991
• Issue Date: January 1992
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193540

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