Carbon isotopic record of foraminifers in surface sediments from the South China Sea and its significance

The study is based on stable carbon isotopic measurements of 112 foraminiferal samples from surface sediments at 40 sites in the South China Sea (SCS). δ 13C of foraminifers and ?δ C between planktonic and benthic 13 foraminiferal species exhibit a low value area at the north- eastern and southern ends of the SCS. It is correlated with the nutrient distributional pattern in the SCS and circumja- cent area, the influence of the northeastern and southwestern monsoons on water flow and water chemistry in the SCS. The monsoons have not only brought nutrients to the upper part of the sea but also disturbed water and decreased dif- ference between the surface and bottom water. Its influence is most obvious at both ends, which resulted in the low value areas in δ 13C and ?δ 13C at the ends. The distributional pat- tern of the stable carbon isotope in the SCS is a reflection of the East Asian monsoons.

The study is based on stable carbon isotopic measurements of 112foraminiferal samples from surface sediments at 40 sites in the South China Sea (SCS). delta^(13)Cof foraminifers and triangle open delta^(13)C between planktonie and benthie foraminiferal speciesexhibit a low value area at the northeastern and southern ends of the SCS. It is correlated with thenutrient distributional pattern in the SCS and circumjacent area, the influence of the northeasternand southwestern monsoons on water flow and water chemistry in the SCS. The monsoons have not onlybrought nutrients to the upper part of the sea but also disturbed water and decreased differencebetween the surface and bottom water. Its influence is most obvious at both ends, which resulted inthe low value areas in delta^(13)C and open delta^(13)C at the ends. The distributional pattern ofthe stable carbon isotope in the SCS is a reflection of the East Asian monsoons.