THERMODYNAMIC INFLUENCES ON THE MARINE CARBON-ISOTOPE RECORD

Air-sea exchange represents an important controlling factor for the di stribution of carbon isotopes in the modern ocean, even below the surf ace mixed layer. Here we show that this thermodynamic influence varies between water masses with a magnitude which is large relative to the amplitude of typical deep sea sediment delta(13)C records. Thus, chang es in air-sea exchange processes must be regarded as a significant sou rce of variability for any marine delta(13)C signal.