ALBERT

Description: The data comprise measurements of magnetic susceptibility and brightness (L*) for Site Me68-91 and Site Me68-89, water content data for Site Me68-89, and XRF elemental counting intensities for Site Me68-196. Furthermore, geochemical data were collected in the form of metal concentrations including rare earth elements (measured with ICP-QMS), carbonate contents, and neodymium isotope compositions (measured with MC-ICP-MS) in the authigenic sediment fraction extracted via weak sediment leaching and dissolution of picked foraminifera, and in the detrital sediment fraction. The data were interpreted in terms of sedimentology, rare earth element exchange between seawater and sediment, and past ocean circulation. Radiocarbon data (measured with MICADAS) from planktic foraminifera were measured for age model construction.

Description: Changes in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) strength exert a major influence on global atmospheric circulation patterns. However, the pacing and mechanisms of low-latitude responses to high-latitude forcing are insufficiently constrained so far. To elucidate the interaction of atmospheric and oceanic forcing in tropical South America dur-ing periods of major AMOC reductions (Heinrich Stadial 1 and the Younger Dryas) we gen-erated a high-resolution foraminiferal multi-proxy record from off the Orinoco River based on Ba/Ca and Mg/Ca ratios, as well as stable isotope measurements. The data clearly indi-cate a three-phased structure of HS1 based on the reconfiguration of ocean currents in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The initial phase (HS1a) is characterized by a diminished North Brazil Current, a southward displacement of the ITCZ, and moist conditions dominating northeastern Brazil. During subsequent HS1b, the NBC was even more diminished or yet reversed and the ITCZ shifted to its southernmost position. Hence, dryer conditions pre-vailed in northern South America, while eastern Brazil experienced maximally wet condi-tions. During the final stage, HS1c, conditions are similar to HS1a. The YD represents a smaller amplitude version of HS1 with a southward-shifted ITCZ. Our findings imply that the low-latitude continental climate response to high-latitude forcing is mediated by recon-figurations of surface ocean currents in low latitudes. Our new records demonstrate the ex-treme sensitivity of the terrestrial realm in tropical South America to abrupt perturbations in oceanic circulation during periods of unstable climate conditions.