The 7% carbon-13 depletion in cold water phytoplankton provides a striking signal that is traceable in deep-sea cores taken in high latitude regions of the Southern hemisphere. This signal may be weakened by noise due to (1) terrestrially derived debris in areas close to the continents; (2) changing current patterns resulting in varying settling trajectories; (3) erosion and redeposition and (4) maturation-diagenetic effects. Data for two cores taken southwest of Australia are evaluated with respect to these interferences.

Supplement to: Sackett, William M (1986): d13C signatures of organic carbon in southern high latitude deep sea sediments; paleotemperature implications. Organic Geochemistry, 9(2), 63-68