Distribution of Dissolved Oxygen in the North Atlantic Ocean and Underlying Sediments

Author

Alexandra Szyndler, Coastal Carolina UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-9-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Marine Science

College

College of Science

First Advisor

April Abbott

Abstract/Description

Marine sediments provide an archive of past ocean and climate conditions, making them incredibly important records of Earth’s history. To reconstruct past climates, scientists rely on accurate geochemical proxies from the sediment record, such as neodymium isotopes (ε_Nd). Nd isotopes are often used to trace ocean circulation patterns, but certain sedimentary processes can complicate the interpretation of these proxies. One such process, the flux of dissolved substances out of the sediments, or a ‘benthic flux,’ can alter the ε_Nd signature. Like many sedimentary processes, such a benthic flux may be driven by redox processes and the availability of oxygen. As part of a larger ongoing effort to understand Nd behavior in the North Atlantic Ocean, here I focus on the dissolved oxygen concentrations in sedimentary pore water and water column dissolved oxygen across eight different sites in the North Atlantic. I aim to demonstrate the variability of oxygen penetration into pore water across the North Atlantic and evaluate potential drivers of this variability at each site. This data will provide insight into the geochemical conditions that control trace metal budgets in the ocean, specifically helping to understand the behavior of ε_Nd in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Recommended Citation

Szyndler, Alexandra, "Distribution of Dissolved Oxygen in the North Atlantic Ocean and Underlying Sediments" (2025). Honors Theses. 498.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/honors-theses/498