HR: 1340h
AN: PP23B-1335    [Abstracts]
TI: Mid-Pliocene Sea-Surface Temperature Variability in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean
AU: * Caballero, R P
EM: rociopc247@gmail.com
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, 926A National Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
AU: Dowsett, H J
EM: hdowsett@usgs.gov
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, 926A National Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
AB: A pronounced east-west sea-surface temperature (SST) gradient exists in the modern equatorial Pacific Ocean; upwelling of warmer water in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific (EEP) and hence a reduction in the zonal temperature gradient characterizes El Nino conditions. Published alkenone-derived temperature estimates as well as Mg/Ca paleothermometry provide evidence of higher than present day SST in the east during the mid-Pliocene. We present new faunal-based SST estimates from the EEP that, together with existing geochemical data, provide the basis for a new mid-Pliocene low-latitude Pacific SST reconstruction. Our reconstruction suggests the persistence of upwelling through the mid-Pliocene, albeit of warmer than modern waters. This investigation is a part of the U.S. Geological Survey‘s PRISM3 global SST reconstruction.
DE: 1600 GLOBAL CHANGE
DE: 4900 PALEOCEANOGRAPHY (0473, 3344)
DE: 4954 Sea surface temperature
SC: Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology [PP]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting