The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Sr isotope fractionation in benthic foraminifers reflects seawater carbonate saturation
ID:253 Oral Presentation

2027-01-12 15:50 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 4 - Ocean Biogeochemistry Across Timescales: Past, Present, Future

Abstract
Seawater carbonate chemistry regulates ocean-atmosphere carbon exchange and stabilizes Earth’s climate, yet its evolution remains challenging to reconstruct. In this talk, we present the stable strontium isotope compositions (δ88/86Sr) of multiple benthic foraminiferal taxa from core-top samples across multiple ocean basins with diverse bottom-water carbonate chemistries. The δ88/86Sr values for two of these taxa, the epifaunal C. wuellerstorfi and surficial C. pachyderma, robustly correlate with the degree of seawater carbonate saturation (Δ[CO32-]). Given that Δ[CO32-] exerts a first-order control on calcification rate, these results are consistent with a precipitation rate-dependent kinetic isotope fractionation. Building from these δ88/86Sr observations, we reconstructed bottom-water [CO32-] over the past 20,000 years by applying the C. pachyderma calibration to a tropical Atlantic core. The record closely matches a complementary B/Ca-based reconstruction. We propose that benthic foraminiferal δ88/86Sr values provide a robust, independent proxy for reconstructing past seawater carbonate chemistry.
Speaker
Jiuyuan Wang Peking University

Author
Jiuyuan Wang Peking University

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027