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Holocene subsurface temperature variability in the eastern Antarctic continental margin
Author(s) -
Kim JungHyun,
Crosta Xavier,
Willmott Veronica,
Renssen Hans,
Bonnin Jérôme,
Helmke Peer,
Schouten Stefan,
Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S.
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1029/2012gl051157
Subject(s) - geology , oceanography , continental shelf , thermohaline circulation , circumpolar deep water , holocene , continental margin , climatology , temperature record , antarctic bottom water , latitude , north atlantic deep water , paleontology , tectonics , geodesy
We reconstructed subsurface (∼45–200 m water depth) temperature variability in the eastern Antarctic continental margin during the late Holocene, using an archaeal lipid‐based temperature proxy (TEX 86 L ). Our results reveal that subsurface temperature changes were probably positively coupled to the variability of warmer, nutrient‐rich Modified Circumpolar Deep Water (MCDW, deep water of the Antarctic circumpolar current) intrusion onto the continental shelf. The TEX 86 L record, in combination with previously published climatic records, indicates that this coupling was probably related to the thermohaline circulation, seasonal variability in sea ice extent, sea temperature, and wind associated with high frequency climate dynamics at low‐latitudes such as internal El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This in turn suggests a linkage between centennial ENSO‐like variability at low‐latitudes and intrusion variability of MCDW into the eastern Antarctic continental shelf, which might have further impact on ice sheet evolution.