Research report 2013 - Max Planck Institute for Chemistry

Glass sponges – a new paleoclimate archive

Authors
Jochum, Klaus Peter; Andreae, Meinrat O.
Departments
Biogeochemie
Summary
Scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz have investigated up to 2.70 m long giant spicules of the deep-sea glass sponge Monorhaphis chuni by new microanalytical techniques. They showed that the lifespan of these biogenic silica structures can be up to 13,000 years. Giant spicules therefore offer a unique opportunity to record changes of past oceanic and climatic conditions.

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