Annual Periodicity of the 18O16O and 13C12C ratios in the coral Montastrea annularis

Authors

Richard G. Fairbanks, Columbia UniversityFollow
Richard E. Dodge, Yale UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1979

Publication Title

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

Keywords

Montastrea annularis

ISSN

0016-7037

Volume

43

Issue/No.

7

First Page

1009

Last Page

1020

Abstract

The isotopic ratios ¹⁸O/¹⁶O and ¹³C/¹²C show an annual periodicity in the coral Montastrea annularis from Bermuda, Jamaica and Barbados. The abundances of ¹⁸O and ¹³C are positively correlated in the Jamaica and Barbados samples, but inversely related in the Bermuda sample. Annual high density growth bands are formed during the season of warmest water temperature at all 3 sites and are enriched in ¹⁶O. M. Annularis has a constant displacement from oxygen isotopic equilibrium and accurately records seasonal temperature variations via the temperature-dependent aragonite-water fractionation factor. Light intensity, through the activity of the coral's endosymbiotic algae, regulates the depth-dependent and seasonal variations in the skeletal carbon isotopic composition.

Comments

©Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979.

Additional Comments

Department of Energy contract #: 79EV10041.000; NSF grant #: OCE 77-25976

NSUWorks Citation

Fairbanks, Richard G., and Richard E. Dodge. 1979. "Annual periodicity of the 18O16O and 13C12C ratios in the coral Montastrea annularis." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta no. 43 (7):1009-1020. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(79)90090-5.

DOI

10.1016/0016-7037(79)90090-5