This content discusses a study on sediment cores from the Ross Sea and open ocean in the Southern Ocean, with a focus on the age, composition, and properties of the cores. The study aimed to understand the changes in the environment and ocean conditions over the past 10,000 years.
The researchers collected 20 sediment cores from the Ross Sea and open ocean, with a total length of over 1,000 meters. The cores were collected using trigger core and box core, and were analyzed for their physical and geochemical properties, including lithology, magnetic susceptibility, smear slide analyses, and 14C dating. The 14C dates were used to determine the age of the cores, with a focus on the Holocene period.
The study found that the sediment cores were composed mainly of diatomaceous mud and diatom ooze, with some cores showing signs of erosion from ice shelves. The 14C dates indicated that the cores were deposited over a period of 10,000 years, with the oldest cores dating back to the last ice age.
The study also analyzed the organic carbon and mercury content of the cores, with results showing a decrease in OC and Hg concentrations over time. The study used a Monte Carlo simulation to assess the uncertainty in the source proportion calculation, and found that the results were robust and reliable.
Overall, the study provides new insights into the environmental and oceanographic changes in the Ross Sea and open ocean over the past 10,000 years, and highlights the importance of sediment cores in understanding the Earth’s climate and environmental history.