ALBERT

Description: Insight into past changes of upper ocean stratification, circulation, and nutrient signatures rely on our knowledge of the apparent calcification depth (ACD) and ecology of planktonic foraminifera, which serve as archives for paleoceanographic relevant geochemical signals. The ACD of different species varies strongly between ocean basins, but also regionally. We constrained foraminiferal ACDs in the Western Pacific Warm Pool (Manihiki Plateau) by comparing stable oxygen and carbon isotopes (δ18Ocalite, δ13Ccalcite) as well as Mg/Ca ratios from living planktonic foraminifera to in-situ physical and chemical water mass properties (temperature, salinity, δ18Oseawater, δ13CDIC). Our analyses point to Globigerinoides ruber as the shallowest dweller, followed by Globigerinoides sacculifer, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Pulleniatina obliquiloculata and Globorotaloides hexagonus inhabiting increasing greater depths. These findings are consistent with other ocean basins; however, absolute ACDs differ from other studies. The uppermost mixed-layer species G. ruber and G. sacculifer denote mean calcification depths of ~95mand ~120 m, respectively. These Western Pacific ACDs are much deeper than in most other studies and most likely relate to the thick surface mixed layer and the deep chlorophyll maximum in this region. Our results indicate that N. dutertrei appears to be influenced by mixing waters from the Pacific equatorial divergence, while P. obliquiloculata with an ACD of ~160 m is more suitable for thermocline reconstructions. ACDs of G. hexagonus reveal a deep calcification depth of ~450 m in oxygen-depleted, but nutrient-rich water masses, consistent to other studies. As the δ13C of G. hexagonus is in near-equilibrium with ambient seawater, we suggest this species is suitable for tracing nutrient conditions in equatorial water masses originating in extra-topical regions.

Description: The Intermediate Waters formed in the Southern Ocean are critical for ventilating the thermocline in the Southern Hemisphere Gyres and transporting climatic signals from high to low latitudes on glacial- interglacial time-scales. Despite the importance of the Southern Ocean Intermediate Waters (SOIWs), information on past changes in SOIWs formation is fragmentary, and its impact on the South Pacific Gyre (SPG)’s thermocline largely unknown. Here, we present a 200 kyr record of paired Mg/Ca ratios and stable oxygen isotope from surface and deep dwelling planktonic foraminifera, from the SPG. On average, the Globigerina bulloides Mg/Ca-derived sea surface temperatures show similar conditions during the LGM and Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 (9.4 ◦ C versus 9.8 ◦ C). In contrast, the subsurface temperatures derived from the Mg/Ca values of Globorotalia inflata and Globorotalia truncatulinoides suggest that LGM is ∼3 to ∼2 ◦C colder than MIS 6. Furthermore, at subsurface depths the reconstructed δ18Osw-ivc record (proxy for relative local salinity changes) suggests opposite glacial conditions, with slightly saltier- than-Holocene waters during MIS 6, and fresher-than-Holocene waters during LGM. Contrasting glacial scenarios, plausibly due to changes in the presence of SOIWs at the study site, suggest variable formation and/or advection of SOIWs to the SPG during different glacial stages. The variability in SOIWs is probably driven by the changes in the intensity of the Southern Westerly Winds.

Description: Subtropical Gyres are an important constituent of the ocean–atmosphere system due to their capacity to store vast amounts of warm and saline waters. Here we decipher the sensitivity of the (sub)surface North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre with respect to orbital and millennial scale climate variability between ~ 140 and 70 ka, Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. Using (isotope) geochemical proxy data from surface and thermocline dwelling foraminifers from Blake Ridge off the west coast of North America (ODP Site 1058) we show that the oceanographic development at subsurface (thermocline) level is substantially different from the surface ocean. Most notably, surface temperatures and salinities peak during the penultimate deglaciation (Termination II) and early MIS 5e, implying that subtropical surface ocean heat and salt accumulation might have resulted from a sluggish northward heat transport. In contrast, maximum thermocline temperatures are reached during late MIS 5e when surface temperatures are already declining. We argue that the subsurface warming originated from intensified Ekman downwelling in the Subtropical Gyre due to enhanced wind stress. During MIS 5a-d a tight interplay of the subtropical upper ocean hydrography to high latitude millennial-scale cold events can be observed. At Blake Ridge, the most pronounced of these high latitude cold events are related to surface warming and salt accumulation in the (sub)surface. Similar to Termination II, heat accumulated in the Subtropical Gyre probably due to a reduced Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Additionally, a southward shift and intensification of the subtropical wind belts lead to a decrease of on-site precipitation and enhanced evaporation, coupled to intensified gyre circulation. Subsequently, the northward advection of this warm and saline water likely contributed to the fast resumption of the overturning circulation at the end of these high latitude cold events.