Abstract. We present a compilation of 127 time series δ13C records from
Cibicides wuellerstorfi spanning the last deglaciation
(20–6 ka) which is
well-suited for reconstructing large-scale carbon cycle changes, especially
for comparison with isotope-enabled carbon cycle models. The age models for
the δ13C records are derived from regional planktic
radiocarbon compilations (Stern and Lisiecki, 2014). The
δ13C records were stacked in nine different regions and then
combined using volume-weighted averages to create intermediate, deep, and
global δ13C stacks. These benthic δ13C stacks
are used to reconstruct changes in the size of the terrestrial biosphere and
deep ocean carbon storage. The timing of change in global mean
δ13C is interpreted to indicate terrestrial biosphere
expansion from 19–6 ka. The δ13C gradient between the
intermediate and deep ocean, which we interpret as a proxy for deep ocean
carbon storage, matches the pattern of atmospheric CO2 change
observed in ice core records. The presence of signals associated with the
terrestrial biosphere and atmospheric CO2 indicates that the compiled
δ13C records have sufficient spatial coverage and time
resolution to accurately reconstruct large-scale carbon cycle changes during
the glacial termination.