Pliocene–Pleistocene variability of upwelling activity, productivity, and nutrient cycling in the Benguela region

Research Article| October 01, 2009 Pliocene–Pleistocene variability of upwelling activity, productivity, and nutrient cycling in the Benguela region Johan Etourneau; Johan Etourneau 1Institute for Geosciences, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Philippe Martinez; Philippe Martinez 2UMR CNRS 5805 EPOC, University of Bordeaux 1, 33405 Talence, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Thomas Blanz; Thomas Blanz 1Institute for Geosciences, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ralph Schneider Ralph Schneider 1Institute for Geosciences, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Johan Etourneau 1Institute for Geosciences, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Philippe Martinez 2UMR CNRS 5805 EPOC, University of Bordeaux 1, 33405 Talence, France Thomas Blanz 1Institute for Geosciences, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Ralph Schneider 1Institute for Geosciences, University of Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 10 Dec 2008 Revision Received: 17 Apr 2009 Accepted: 04 May 2009 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2009 Geological Society of America Geology (2009) 37 (10): 871–874. https://doi.org/10.1130/G25733A.1 Article history Received: 10 Dec 2008 Revision Received: 17 Apr 2009 Accepted: 04 May 2009 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Johan Etourneau, Philippe Martinez, Thomas Blanz, Ralph Schneider; Pliocene–Pleistocene variability of upwelling activity, productivity, and nutrient cycling in the Benguela region. Geology 2009;; 37 (10): 871–874. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G25733A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract In this study we present combined high-resolution records of sea surface temperature (SST), phytoplankton productivity, and nutrient cycling in the Benguela Upwelling System (BUS) for the past 3.5 Ma. The SST record provided evidence that upwelling activity off Namibia mainly intensified ca. 2.4–2.0 Ma ago in response to the cooling of the Southern Ocean and the resultant strengthening of trade winds. As revealed by productivity-related proxies, BUS intensification led to a major transition in regional biological productivity when considering the termination of the Matuyama Diatom Maximum (a diatom high-production event). Major oceanic reorganization in the Benguela was accompanied by nutrient source changes, as indicated by a new nitrogen isotopic (δ15N) record that revealed a stepwise increase at ca. 2.4 and ca. 1.5 Ma ago. The change in source region likely resulted from significant changes in intermediate water formation tied to the reorganization of oceanic conditions in the Southern Ocean, which may have in turn mainly controlled the global ocean N cycle, and therefore the N isotopic composition of nutrients since 3.5 Ma ago. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.