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Faunal re-evaluation of Mid-Pliocene conditions in the western equatorial Pacific

U.S. Geological Survey, 926A National Center, Reston, VA 20192

Mid-Pliocene low-latitude Pacific faunal (planktic foraminifer) sea surface temperature (SST) estimates are normally based upon the Modern Analog Technique (MAT). In the Eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP), where upwelling of cool water predominates, MAT can be used to discern both cooling and warming in Neogene records. SST today is ~30°C in the western equatorial Pacific (WEP) warm pool, the upper limit of the modern calibration data, and past warming above that level is difficult to assess using faunal methods. Mid-Pliocene fossil samples from the WEP have been analyzed using several variations of MAT with different outcomes and associated levels of confidence. While SST above ~30°C in the WEP during the mid-Pliocene cannot be ruled out due to the limitations of the method, temperatures this warm seem unlikely. In addition to the mid-Pliocene, planktic foraminifer assemblages from the coretop, last glacial maximum, last interglacial and the penultimate glacial (Marine Isotope Stage 6) show striking similarity to each other which suggests little to no change in the region between times of global climate extremes. There is generally good agreement between the Mg/Ca paleothermometer and MAT derived faunal SST estimates. Both suggest stability of the WEP warm pool.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. J Dowsett and M. M Robinson Mid-Pliocene equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature reconstruction: a multi-proxy perspective Phil Trans R Soc A, January 13, 2009; 367(1886): 109 - 125. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G Bonham, A. M Haywood, D. J Lunt, M. Collins, and U. Salzmann El Nino-Southern Oscillation, Pliocene climate and equifinality Phil Trans R Soc A, January 13, 2009; 367(1886): 127 - 156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]