Santa Barbara Basin Nitrogen Isotope Paleoclimate Records

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology archives bulk and compound-specific nitrogen isotope data from the Eastern Pacific Ocean's Santa Barbara Basin. The dataset contains parameters for paleoceanography studies, with a time period measured in calendar years before present. It is maintained by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information under the World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing past marine productivity and nutrient utilization by analyzing bulk nitrogen isotope ratios.
• Investigating sources of organic matter and food web dynamics using compound-specific nitrogen isotope data.
• Correlating isotopic shifts in sediment cores with known climate events to establish chronological markers.
• Calibrating regional climate models by comparing isotope-derived paleo-temperature proxies with other sediment records.

Strengths

• Data is archived and curated by the authoritative NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
• Includes both bulk and compound-specific nitrogen isotope measurements, providing multiple analytical perspectives.

Limitations

• Exact temporal coverage (begin and end dates) and sample count are unavailable from the provided metadata.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single basin in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, restricting broader regional analysis.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology.

Time Range

Calendar years before present (BP); specific begin and end dates are unavailable.

Geography

Eastern Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara Basin.