Laboratoire de Geologie de Lyon

Our study gives new constraints on the response of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) export to various forcings during the Last Glacial Inception. The decay corrected excess sedimentary (231Pa/230Th) activity ratio (hereafter referred to as (Pa/Th)) has been measured over that period in two deep cores from the Western (SU90-11, 44°04′N, 40°01′W, 3645 m) and Eastern (MD01-2446, 39°03′N, 12°37′W, 3547 m) basins of the North Atlantic. Both records display significant changes despite the relatively short half-life of 231Pa (∼ 32 kyr) compared to the period we investigate. The (Pa/Th) variability does not correlate to changes in local opal flux normalized to 230Th. Moreover, the (Pa/Th) profiles display a high degree of coherency with indirect proxies of AMOC activity such as the benthic foraminifera δ13C and the mid-latitude summer Sea Surface Temperature in nearby reference cores. These additional pieces of evidence support our interpretation of the (Pa/Th) as reflecting AMOC export. The (Pa/Th) repeatedly underwent rapid changes during the Last Glacial Inception associated with the extension of ice rafted detritus in the North Atlantic, highlighting the control of ice-sheet dynamics through freshwater forcing on AMOC export. AMOC export remains large during periods of ice-sheet growth and its decreases lag the Northern Hemisphere summer insolation forcing. AMOC modulation appears driven by ice-sheet dynamics, itself driven by the seasonal insolation gradient between low and high Northern Hemisphere latitudes and the associated intensity of the meridional oceanic and atmospheric circulation.

We investigate the time scales of magma genesis, melt evolution, crystal growth rates and magma degassing in the Erebus volcano magmatic system using measurements of 238U–230Th–226Ra–210Pb–210Po, 232Th–228Ra–228Th and 235U–231Pa–227Ac. These are the first measurements of 231Pa–227Ac in volcanic samples and represent the first set of data in a volcanic system to examine the entire suite of relevant 238U, 235U and 232Th decay series nuclides. Our sample suite consists of 22 phonolite volcanic bombs, erupted between 1972 and 2005, and five anorthoclase megacrysts separated from bombs erupted in 1984, 1989, 1993, 2004 and 2005. The 238U–230Th, 230Th–226Ra and 235U–231Pa systems are uniform over the 34 years examined. The anorthoclase megacrysts and phonolite glasses show complementary 226Ra/230Th disequilibria with (226Ra/230Th) ∼40 in the anorthoclase and ∼0·75 in the phonolite glass. In all samples, (210Pb/226Ra) is in radioactive equilibrium for both phases. In two phonolite glass samples (227Ac/231Pa) is unity. For the phonolite glasses (228Ra/232Th) is in equilibrium, whereas in the anorthoclase megacrysts it is significantly greater than unity. Instantaneous crystal fractionation, with magma residence times greater than 100 years and less than 10 kyr, can account for the measured 238U–230Th–226Ra–210Pb and 235U–231Pa–227Ac. However, the significant 228Ra/232Th disequilibria in the anorthoclase megacrysts preclude this simple interpretation. To account for this apparent discrepancy we therefore developed an open-system, continuous crystallization model that incorporates both nuclide ingrowth and decay during crystallization. This open-system model successfully reproduces all of the measured 238U and 232Th disequilibria and suggests that the shallow magma reservoir at Erebus is growing. The implication of this modeling is that when the time scale of crystallization is comparable with the half-life of the daughter nuclide of interest (e.g. 226Ra) the simple isochron techniques typically used in most U-series studies can provide erroneous ages. The observation that (210Pb/226Ra) and (227Ac/231Pa) are in radioactive equilibrium suggests that the residence time of the magmas is >100 years. When considering the effect of 222Rn degassing on 210Pb/226Ra, the data indicate that the majority of magma degassing is deep and long before eruption, consistent with melt inclusion data. Additionally, for the 2005 lava bomb, whose eruption date (16 December 2005) is known explicitly, 210Po was not completely degassed from the magma at the time of eruption. Incomplete degassing of 210Po is atypical for subaerially erupted lavas and suggests that the Erebus shallow magma degasses about 1% of its Po per day. The combined 238U and 232Th data further indicate that the pyroclasts ejected by Strombolian eruptions at Erebus have compositions that are close to what would be expected for a near-steady-state system, reflecting inmixing of degassed magmas, crystal fractionation, and aging.

The strength and geometry of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is tightly coupled to climate on glacial–interglacial and millennial timescales, but has proved difficult to reconstruct, particularly for the Last Glacial Maximum. Today, the return flow from the northern North Atlantic to lower latitudes associated with the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation reaches down to approximately 4,000 m. In contrast, during the Last Glacial Maximum this return flow is thought to have occurred primarily at shallower depths. Measurements of sedimentary 231Pa/230Th have been used to reconstruct the strength of circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean, but the effects of biogenic silica on 231Pa/230Th-based estimates remain controversial. Here we use measurements of 231Pa/230Th ratios and biogenic silica in Holocene-aged Atlantic sediments and simulations with a two-dimensional scavenging model to demonstrate that the geometry and strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation are the primary controls of 231Pa/230Th ratios in modern Atlantic sediments. For the glacial maximum, a simulation of Atlantic overturning with a shallow, but vigorous circulation and bulk water transport at around 2,000 m depth best matched observed glacial Atlantic 231Pa/230Th values. We estimate that the transport of intermediate water during the Last Glacial Maximum was at least as strong as deep water transport today.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a key feature of the climate system. However, its role during climate change is still poorly constrained particularly during an Interglacial to Glacial climate transition and the associated global cooling. We present here the first reconstruction of the evolution of the vertical structure of the rate of the AMOC from the Last Interglaciation to the subsequent glaciation (128,000–60,000 years ago) based on sedimentary (231Pa/230Th) records. We show a deep AMOC during the interglacial warmth Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5.5 and a shallower glacial one during glacial MIS 4. The change between these two patterns occurred mostly during the glacial inception, i.e. the transition from MIS 5.5 to MIS 5.4. Our data show that AMOC was enhanced during this latter transition as a consequence of a large increase of the overturning rate of the Intermediate Waters, above 2500 m. We suggest that this AMOC pattern required a reinforced Gulf Stream-North Atlantic Current system that ultimately supported ice-sheet growth by providing heat and moisture to the Northern high latitudes. From MIS 5.4 to MIS 5.1, the AMOC was broadly continuous below 2000 m and supported periods of ice-sheet growth. As a result, a glacial AMOC is triggered at the beginning of MIS 4 due to the extension of ice-sheet and the subsequent reorganization of deep-water formation. This study highlights the role of intermediate waters as a major player during climate change.► Unprecedented (231Pa/230Th) records covering the Last Interglaciation. ► Reconstruction of the evolution of the vertical structure of the AMOC export. ► AMOC was enhanced due to increased intermediate water export. ► AMOC transported moisture to the Northern high latitudes feeding ice-sheet growth.

The isotopic compositions of major elements in soils can help understand the mechanisms and processes that
control the evolution of soils and the nature and dynamics of the soil constituents. In this study, we investigated
the variations of the Fe concentrations and isotopic compositions combined with classical soil parameters,
such as granulometry, pH, and C and N concentrations. We selected three soils submitted to different
hydrodynamic functioning along a toposequence: a well-drained Cambisol and two hydromorphic soils, an
Albeluvisol and a Gleysol. In the Cambisol, the isotopic variations were small indicating little redistribution
of Fe which we attributed to centimetric-scale exchanges from the Si-bound to the weakly-bound iron
pools and insignificant subsurface Fe export. In contrast, the hydromorphic soils showed an overall variation
of 0.37‰for δ56Fe (δ56Fe (‰) = [(56Fe / 54Fe)sample / (56Fe / 54Fe)IRMM-014 − 1] × 1000) and an inverse correlation
between the Fe isotopic compositions and the oxide-bound Fe concentrations. We suggest that, in
the uppermost horizon, the mobilisation of oxide-bound Fe was due to the reducing conditions and predominantly
involved the light Fe isotopes. Similarly, within the Bt horizon of the Albeluvisol, the fluctuations of
the water table level induced changes in the redox conditions and thus Fe dissolution and transport of isotopically
light Fe. The Fe isotopic composition profile in the B/C horizon of the Gleysol is dominated by the signature
of the parental material. Overall, the variations of the underground water table combined with
topography-driven water flow were suggested to be the main mechanisms of Fe translocation in these hydromorphic
soils. Finally, the comparison between Fe isotope profiles in worldwide soils allows us to show that
Fe isotopic variations can help discriminate between various mechanisms and scales of Fe transfer in soils
and, accordingly, provide information on the evolution of soils, when used in combination with pedological,
geochemical, geographical, and environmental characterisations.

The Crozet Plateau is a 54 Ma-old volcanic plateau that supports five islands characterized by recent volcanic manifestations that are the surface expression of a deep-mantle plume. Due to their remote location and difficult access, the Crozet Islands are poorly sampled. Both the petrological descriptions and geochemical data are scarce. Thus, the sources of the Crozet plume are still under debate. Similarly, the interactions between the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) and the Crozet plume remain questioned. Here, we present a new set of isotopes (Pb, Sr, Nd and He), major and trace elements data on basalts from three islands of the Crozet Archipelago: Penguins, East, and Possession Islands. Our main purpose is to characterize the sources of the Crozet plume and to test its influence at regional scale. Two groups of lavas can be distinguished based on the isotopic data: East and Possession lavas, and Penguins lavas. Principal component analyses on our high-precision Pb isotopes data and literature data show that two mantle sources can explain most of the geochemical variability measured in Crozet lavas. A third minor contribution is however needed to fully explain the data. The entire set of isotopic compositions (Pb, Sr, Nd and He) can be explained by a mixing between three mantle sources: (1) a FOZO (Focus Zone) component, with 206 Pb/ 204 Pb higher than 19.5 and high 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, 208 Pb/ 204 Pb 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, 143 Nd/ 144 Nd and R/R a (R/R a = 3 He/ 4 He sample / 3 He/ 4 He atmosphere) ratios, that is mainly sampled Penguins lavas, (2) a component called "East-Possession" that is mostly sampled by the East-Possession lava group and which presents Pb, Sr and Nd isotope signatures similar to those of the Reunion-Mauritius Islands, and (3) a third minor contribution of the local Depleted MORB Mantle (DMM). The new He isotopes data on the Crozet plume allow us to propose that Crozet plume material is present in the segment of the Southwest Indian Ridge located between the Indomed (ITF) and Gallieni (GTF) transform faults. This hypothesis is confirmed by a mixing model based on trace-elements and isotopes data from the ITF-GTF segment of the SWIR and Crozet. We propose that the shallow mantle below the ITF-GTF segment of the SWIR is contaminated by deep material from the Crozet plume.