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ENSO reconstructions over the past 60 ka using giant clams ( Tridacna sp.) from Papua New Guinea
Author(s) -
Driscoll Robin,
Elliot Mary,
Russon Tom,
Welsh Kevin,
Yokoyama Yusuke,
Tudhope Alexander
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl061446
Subject(s) - holocene , el niño southern oscillation , geology , oceanography , peninsula , new guinea , quaternary , glacial period , last glacial maximum , climatology , paleontology , geography , archaeology , ethnology , history
We present 12 seasonally resolved δ 18 O profiles of giant clams ( Tridacna sp.) from the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea, spanning discrete periods of time (9–38 years) over the past 60 ka. The interannual anomaly time series of these shells are used to reconstruct interannual variability which can predominantly be attributed in the modern climate to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in this region. We have found a significant reduction in interannual δ 18 O variance during the early Holocene, whereas during Marine Isotope Stage 3 there were at least some periods with variance not significantly different to the twentieth century. We show that ENSO variability seen during the late twentieth century is rare but not unprecedented within glacial climates.