Figures: A) Location of the samples cited in the text and schematic patterns of the oceanic currents. 1: Martinique 2: Cariaco basin (Guilderson et al., 2005); 3: Puerto- Rico (Kilbourne et al., 2007); 4: Belize (Druffel, 1980); 5: Gulf of Mexico (Wagner et al., 2005); 6: Florida (Druffelet Linick, 1978; Druffel, 1980, 1982); 7: Bahamas (Fernandez et al., 2012); 8: Bermuda North shore (Druffel, 1989; 1997); 9: Bermuda South shore (Goodkin et al., 2012); 10: Santa Helena (Lewis et al., 2008). NEC: North Equatorial current; NECC: North equatorial undercurrent; NBC: North Brazil current; GC: Guiana Current; SEC: South Equatorial current; EAW: East Atlantic current; CC: Caribbean current; GS: Gulf Stream. The 1000m isobath is represented. B)Values of the sea surface reservoir ages R (years) off Martinique and at the sites located on Figure 1A as a function of calendar years (AD). Grey box figures out the 2yr long eruption of Montagne Pelée.
Sea surface reservoir ages (R) are reported from 14C measurements of the annual growth bands of coral Siderastrea siderea collected on the Atlantic coast off Martinique Is., in the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc. Mean values of R are similar between 1835 and 1845 during pre-anthropogenic times at 385 ± 30 years and between 1895 and 1905 at 382 ± 20 years when there was a huge eruption from the Montagne Pelée volcano in 1902-1903. They are very similar to values of R in the Caribbean Sea, Mexico Gulf and Florida Strait. Limited 14C aging of sea surface (~40 years) may be due to enhanced volcanic activity, although within the statistical variability.
Variability of R is slightly greater during 1835-1845 than during 1895- 1905. It is linked to a moderate increase of ∆14C of 5‰, strengthened by a clear increase of
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