Sarnthein, Michael; Bartoli, Gretta; Prange, Matthias; Schmittner, Andreas; Schneider, Birgit; Weinelt, Mara; Andersen, Nils; Garbe-Schönberg, Dieter (2009): Stable carbon and oxygen isotope record of foraminifera of IODP Site 303-1307 [dataset publication series]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841136, Supplement to: Sarnthein, M et al. (2009): Mid-Pliocene shifts in ocean overturning circulation and the onset of Quaternary-style climates. Climate of the Past, 5, 269-283, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-5-269-2009
Always quote citation above when using data! You can download the citation in several formats below.
Abstract:
A major tipping point of Earth's history occurred during the mid-Pliocene: the onset of major Northern-Hemisphere Glaciation (NHG) and of pronounced, Quaternary-style cycles of glacial-to-interglacial climates, that contrast with more uniform climates over most of the preceding Cenozoic and continue until today (Zachos et al., 2001, doi:10.1126/science.1059412). The severe deterioration of climate occurred in three steps between 3.2 Ma (warm MIS K3) and 2.7 Ma (glacial MIS G6/4) (Lisiecki and Raymo, 2005, doi:10.1029/2004PA001071). Various models (sensu Driscoll and Haug, 1998, doi:10.1126/science.282.5388.436) and paleoceanographic records (intercalibrated using orbital age control) suggest clear linkages between the onset of NHG and the three steps in the final closure of the Central American Seaways (CAS), deduced from rising salinity differences between Caribbean and the East Pacific. Each closing event led to an enhanced North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and this strengthened the poleward transport of salt and heat (warmings of +2-3°C) (Bartoli et al., 2005, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2005.06.020). Also, the closing resulted in a slight rise in the poleward atmospheric moisture transport to northwestern Eurasia (Lunt et al., 2007, doi:10.1007/s00382-007-0265-6), which probably led to an enhanced precipitation and fluvial run-off, lower sea surface salinity (SSS), and an increased sea-ice cover in the Arctic Ocean, hence promoting albedo and the build-up of continental ice sheets. Most important, new evidence shows that the closing of the CAS led to greater steric height of the North Pacific and thus doubled the low-saline Arctic Throughflow from the Bering Strait to the East Greenland Current (EGC). Accordingly, Labrador Sea IODP Site 1307 displays an abrupt but irreversible EGC cooling of 6°C and freshening by ~2 psu from 3.25/3.16-3.00 Ma, right after the first but still reversible attempt of closing the CAS.
Project(s):
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 58.505875 * Median Longitude: -46.400725 * South-bound Latitude: 58.505783 * West-bound Longitude: -46.400900 * North-bound Latitude: 58.505967 * East-bound Longitude: -46.400550
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-3.0)
Size:
7 datasets
Download Data
Datasets listed in this publication series
- Sarnthein, M; Bartoli, G; Prange, M et al. (2009): Stable isotope record of some benthic foraminifera species of IODP Site 303-U1307, raw data. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841129
- Sarnthein, M; Bartoli, G; Prange, M et al. (2009): Stable isotope record of Cibicides and Cibicidoides species of IODP Site 303-U1307, raw data. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841131
- Sarnthein, M; Bartoli, G; Prange, M et al. (2009): Stable isotope record of Elphidium excavatum of IODP Site 303-U1307, raw data. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841133
- Sarnthein, M; Bartoli, G; Prange, M et al. (2009): Stable isotope record of Hoeglundina elegans of IODP Site 303-U1307, raw data. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841132
- Sarnthein, M; Bartoli, G; Prange, M et al. (2009): Stable isotope record of Melonis pompilioides and M. barleeanus of IODP Site 303-U1307, raw data. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841134
- Sarnthein, M; Bartoli, G; Prange, M et al. (2009): Stable isotope record of Neogloboquadrina atlantic of IODP Site 303-U1307, raw data. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841128
- Sarnthein, M; Bartoli, G; Prange, M et al. (2009): Stable isotope record of Uvigerina peregrina of IODP Site 303-U1307, raw data. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841135