Coral's chilling tale: Ancient reefs may resolve an ice-age paradox

Journal Article · Sat Feb 19 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Science News (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3977919· OSTI ID:7074694

Monastersky, R

At the end of the Pleistocene epoch, the peak of the last ice age, the land that would become New York City lay hidden beneath a sheet of ice more than twice the height of the Empire State Building. However, researchers have found contradictory evidence about how the low latitudes fared during the ice age. Deep sea sediments seem to indicate that the tropical seas weathered the glacial epoch with remarkable stability while the continental record indicates evidence of marked cooling. This discrepancy is a problem for climate researchers because it raises the possibility that climate models may lack a critical element that will hinder their ability to accurately predict future changes. However, studies of an ancient coral species may help. The coral occasionally incorporates strontium into its shell, a situation which occurs more frequently in cold water. Looking at the ratio of strontium to calcium in coral, researchers have proposed that the surface waters off Barbados were 5[degree]C colder than today. The article discusses the scientific debate set off by this finding.

• OSTI ID: 7074694
• Journal Information: Science News (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science News (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 145:8; ISSN SCNEBK; ISSN 0036-8423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
BARBADOS
CALCIUM
CENOZOIC ERA
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CNIDARIA
COELENTERATA
CORALS
ELEMENTS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GLOBAL ASPECTS
INVERTEBRATES
ISLANDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
LESSER ANTILLES
METALS
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
PLEISTOCENE EPOCH
QUATERNARY PERIOD
STRONTIUM
WEST INDIES