Journal article
El Nino-Southern Oscillation-like variability in a late Miocene Caribbean coral
Geology (Boulder), Vol.45(7), pp.643-646
05/01/2017
DOI: 10.1130/G38796.1
Abstract
Reconstructions of Pliocene sea-surface temperature (SST) gradients and thermocline depths suggest that the zonal temperature gradient of the tropical Pacific was distinct from the modern. However, the nature of any El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability superimposed on this mean state is difficult to determine. We developed monthly resolved multidecadal stable isotopic time series from an extremely well preserved central Caribbean coral dating to the Miocene-Pliocene transition, prior to closure of the Central American Seaway (CAS). Paleoceanographic modeling suggests that the flow of water associated with El Nino and La Nina events through the CAS allowed Caribbean corals to record the ENSO-related SST anomalies. Spectral analysis of coral oxygen isotope ratios reveals periodicities similar to modern ENSO signatures, suggesting that ENSO-like variability characterized the Miocene-Pliocene transition.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- El Nino-Southern Oscillation-like variability in a late Miocene Caribbean coral
- Creators
- Thomas L Weiss - Cornell CollegeRhawn F Denniston - Cornell CollegeAlan D Wanamaker - Iowa State UniversityGabriele Villarini - University of IowaAnna S von der Heydt - Utrecht University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geology (Boulder), Vol.45(7), pp.643-646
- Publisher
- Geological Society of America (GSA)
- DOI
- 10.1130/G38796.1
- ISSN
- 0091-7613
- eISSN
- 1943-2682
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/01/2017
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Earth and Environmental Sciences; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984197221602771
Metrics
7 Record Views