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Atmospheric CO2 variability on the glacial–interglacial (G–IG) timescale reflects a balance between oceanic and terrestrial processes involving carbon uptake and release. The Southern Ocean CO2 uptake is considered as an important modulator for the G–IG atmospheric CO2 variability, while the role of tropical ocean ventilation remains enigmatic. We present critical evidence for CO2 ventilation from the tropical Indian Ocean through the reconstruction of the Arabian Sea‐surface pCO2 for the past ∼136 ka utilizing boron isotope (δ11B) record of planktic foraminifera, Globigerinoides ruber. Our site in the Arabian Sea presently acts as a significant source of CO2. The reconstructed ΔpCO2 (ΔpCO2 = pCO2 Seawater − pCO2 Atmosphere) record shows an enhanced CO2 degassing up to ∼50 ppm during the major cooling events, such as the Last Glacial Maximum, Younger Dryas, and Heinrich‐Stadials. Our investigation based on multiproxy records of sea‐surface temperature, salinity, and productivity suggests that the northward invasion and shoaling of southern source CO2‐rich water, coupled with stronger upwelling, resulted in CO2 degassing during these cold intervals. This finding is in align with the tropical Atlantic which also demonstrated an enhanced CO2 degassing during the cold intervals; however, most of the upwelled CO2 was consumed as the water moved away from the upwelling sites. Therefore, our finding, when considered alongside tropical Atlantic records, suggests that tropical oceans played a minor role in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels during the cold intervals of the last glacial cycle, supporting the prevailing hypothesis. Key Points: Foraminifera δ11B‐based CO2 record of Arabian Sea surface for the past ∼136 kaEnhanced CO2 degassing during the cold climate events, that is, Heinrich‐Stadials, Younger Dryas, and Last Glacial MaximumThis degassing was caused by more export of southern‐sourced water and its upwelling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic CO2 emission has resulted in lowering of surface ocean pH referred as ‘Ocean acidification (OA)’ which posed a serious threat to calcifying marine organisms. Several attempts have been made to assess the role of anthropogenic CO2 forcing against oceanographic factors/processes contributing to the recent OA trend; however, such attempts were hindered by the dearth of long-term pH records. Boron isotopic composition (δ11B) of corals has been used as a robust proxy for seawater pH records. In the present study, we have compiled available coral δ11B-pH records from the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans and assessed regional trends, variability, forcing factors and their relative roles. Most of these δ11B-pH records show a discernable decline trend in recent decades with large variability. Our assessment of the Pacific records reveals that atmospheric CO2 forcing explains maximum pH variability followed by physical oceanographic factors/processes modulated by Pacific oscillations, e.g., ENSO and PDO. In addition, coral metabolic processes might control a large portion of the pH variability; however, they require detailed laboratory-based studies. Further, our investigation reveals a significant increase in pH variability (pH extremes) since ~1970s associated with ENSO events which might be critical for the resilience and adaptability of corals and other calcifiers. Research Highlights: Since the industrial era (~1850), Coral δ11B-pH records show a discernible decreasing trend and a rapid decline since 1970. Oceanographic processes control large inter-annual pH variability, whereas the long-term declining trend is driven by atmospheric CO2 forcing. The pH extremes are predicted to increase in future warming scenarios, a threat to coral ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment samples from a 50-m-long core representing ~100 ka of deposition, taken from the Ganga Plain on the campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, were analyzed for Sr and Nd isotope compositions. Both [sup.87]Sr/[sup.86]Sr and [[epsilon].sub.Nd] vary significantly with depth in the core, 0.72701-0.76708 and -14.4 to-16.6, respectively, within the range for silicate rocks of the Higher and the Lesser Himalaya. The variations in the isotope compositions reflect variations in the mixing proportion of sediments from the Higher and Lesser Himalaya, the two major sediment sources to the Ganga. The opposite trends in [sup.87]Sr/[sup.86]Sr and [[epsilon].sub.Nd] depth profiles further confirm this hypothesis. The isotope profiles exhibit two major excursions, ca. 20 ka and ca. 70 ka ago, coinciding with periods of precipitation minima and larger glacial cover. These excursions are the result of a decrease in the proportion of sediment from the Higher Himalaya due to a decrease in monsoon precipitation and an increase in glacial cover that are in turn caused by lower solar insolation. This study highlights the significant influence of climate on erosion in the Himalaya.

Dissolved major ions, Sr concentrations and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 10 coastal lakes from the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica have been studied to constrain their solute sources, transport and glacial weathering patterns in their catchments. In absence of perennial river/streams, lakes serve as only reliable archive to study land surface processes in these low‐temperature regions. The lake water chemistry is mostly Na‐Cl type and it does not show any significant depth variations. Sr isotope compositions of these lakes vary from 0.7110 to 0.7211 with an average value of 0.7145, which is higher than modern seawater value. In addition to oceanic sources, major ions and Sr isotopic data show appreciable amount of solute supply from chemical weathering of silicate rocks in lake catchments and dissolution of Ca‐Mg rich salts produced during the freezing of seawaters. The role of sulphide oxidation and carbonate weathering are found to be minimal on lake hydro‐chemistry in this part of Antarctica. Inverse model calculations using this chemical dataset provide first‐order estimates of dissolved cations and Sr; they are mostly derived from oceanic (seawater + snow) sources (cations approximately 76%) and (Sr approximately 92%) with minimal supplies from weathering of silicates (cations approximately 15%); (Sr approximately 2%) and Ca‐rich minerals (cations approximately 9%); (Sr approximately 7%). The silicate weathering rate and its corresponding atmospheric CO2 consumption rate estimates for Scandrett lake catchment (3.6 ± 0.3 tons/km2/year and 0.5 × 105 moles/km2/year), are lower than that of reported values for the average global river basins (5.4 tons/km2/year and 0.9 × 105 tons/km2/year) respectively. The present study provides a comprehensive report of chemical weathering intensity and its role in atmospheric CO2 consumption in low‐temperature pristine environment of Antarctica. These estimates underscore the importance of Antarctica weathering on atmospheric CO2 budget, particularly during the past warmer periods when the large area was exposed and available for intense chemical weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]