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Largely continuous millennial-scale records of benthic δ 18 O, Mg/Ca-based temperature, and salinity variations in bottom waters were obtained from Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 548 (East Atlantic continental margin near Ireland, 1250 m water depth) for the period 3.7-3.0 Ma ago. High ε Nd values of −10.7 to −9 show that this site monitored changes in Mediterranean Outfl ow Water (MOW) throughout the mid-Pliocene. Bottom water variability at Ocean Drilling Progam (ODP) Site 978 (Alboran Sea, 1930 m water depth) provides a complementary record of MOW composition near its West Mediterranean source. Both sites show a singular and persistent rise in bottom water salinities by 0.7-1.4 psu, and in densities by ~1 kg m -3 from 3.5 to 3.3 Ma ago, which is matched by an ~3 °C increase in bottom water temperature at Site 548. This event suggests the onset of strongly enhanced deep-water convection in the Mediterranean Sea and a related increase in MOW fl ow as a result of major aridifi cation in the Mediterranean source region. In harmony with model suggestions, the enhanced MOW fl ow has possibly intensifi ed Upper North Atlantic Deep Water formation.

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