TY - JOUR KW - 4802 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Anoxic environments KW - 4815 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Ecosystems KW - structure KW - dynamics KW - and modeling KW - 4850 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Marine organic chemistry KW - 4912 Paleoceanography: Biogeochemical cycles KW - processes KW - and modeling KW - 4950 Paleoceanography: Paleoecology KW - isotopes KW - organic biomarkers KW - sapropel AU - E.J. Rohling AU - E. Hopmans AU - J. e AB - Marine organic-rich sediments are important for long-term carbon sequestration, and as a source of fossil hydrocarbons, but the processes underlying their formation remain elusive. We present a multiproxy analysis of a relatively recent, well-preserved Mediterranean organic-rich deposit known as sapropel S5, which formed 124\textendash119 thousand years ago (ka B.P., where B.P. references year 1950). Combining planktonic foraminiferal abundance records with stable isotope and organic biomarker data, we reconcile the apparently contradicting coexistence of deep-dwelling foraminiferal faunas with green sulphur bacteria that indicate photic zone euxinia. S5 started with a rapid freshwater-induced increase of density stratification that inhibited vertical mixing and deepwater ventilation. Through the first 900 years, anoxic to euxinic deepwater conditions developed and extended up to roughly 200 m water depth. Then followed a 4100-year period of variability in the depth/intensity of winter mixing with a roughly 1400-year periodicity, coincident with fluctuations in water column stability. S5 terminated with a marked decrease in density stratification and consequently renewed convective overturn. BT - Paleoceanography M1 - 2 N2 - Marine organic-rich sediments are important for long-term carbon sequestration, and as a source of fossil hydrocarbons, but the processes underlying their formation remain elusive. We present a multiproxy analysis of a relatively recent, well-preserved Mediterranean organic-rich deposit known as sapropel S5, which formed 124\textendash119 thousand years ago (ka B.P., where B.P. references year 1950). Combining planktonic foraminiferal abundance records with stable isotope and organic biomarker data, we reconcile the apparently contradicting coexistence of deep-dwelling foraminiferal faunas with green sulphur bacteria that indicate photic zone euxinia. S5 started with a rapid freshwater-induced increase of density stratification that inhibited vertical mixing and deepwater ventilation. Through the first 900 years, anoxic to euxinic deepwater conditions developed and extended up to roughly 200 m water depth. Then followed a 4100-year period of variability in the depth/intensity of winter mixing with a roughly 1400-year periodicity, coincident with fluctuations in water column stability. S5 terminated with a marked decrease in density stratification and consequently renewed convective overturn. PB - AGU PY - 2006 SN - 0883-8305 EP - PA2018 T2 - Paleoceanography TI - Water column dynamics during the last interglacial anoxic event in the Mediterranean (sapropel S5) UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005PA001237 VL - 21 ER -