Subcentennial-Scale Climatic and Hydrologic Variability in the Gulf of Mexico During the Early Holocene

Authors

Jenna M. LoDico, University of South Florida
Benjamin P. Flower, University of South FloridaFollow
Terrence M. Quinn, University of South FloridaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-29-2006

Keywords

early Holocene, climate variability, hydrologic variability

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1029/2005PA001243

Abstract

An early Holocene record from the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) reveals climatic and hydrologic changes during the interval from 10.5 to 7 thousand calendar years before present from paired analyses of Mg/Ca and δ¹⁸O on foraminiferal calcite. The sea surface temperature record based on foraminiferal Mg/Ca contains six oscillations and an overall ∼1.5°C warming that appears to be similar to the September–March insolation difference. The δ¹⁸O of seawater in the GOM (δ¹⁸O_GOM) record contains six oscillations, including a −0.8‰ excursion that may be associated with the “8.2 ka climate event” or a broader climate anomaly. Faunal census records from three GOM cores exhibit similar changes, suggesting subcentennial‐scale variability in the incursions of Caribbean waters into the GOM. Overall, our results provide evidence that the subtropics were characterized by decadal‐ to centennial‐scale climatic and hydrologic variability during the early Holocene.

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, v. 21, issue 3, art. PA3015

Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.

Scholar Commons Citation

LoDico, Jenna M.; Flower, Benjamin P.; and Quinn, Terrence M., "Subcentennial-Scale Climatic and Hydrologic Variability in the Gulf of Mexico During the Early Holocene" (2006). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 26.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/26