Productivity modes in the Mediterranean Sea during Dansgaard–Oeschger (20,000–70,000yr ago) oscillations

Ten Years of Paleoceanographic Studies at ODP Site 963 (Central Mediterranean Sea)

“…Cacho et al [7] developed two alternative age models for the last 50 kyr in the Alboran Sea, respectively based on calibrated radiocarbon datings and synchronization of alkenone-based sea surface temperatures with 18 O data from Greenland ice cores, which are remarkably in agreement. The ODP 963 site supports the validity of the teleconnection assumption between Mediterranean and Greenland climatic fluctuations, through the comparison of the age of ODP1 tephra, respectively estimated at 45.0 ± 0.9 ka by the constrain of Dansgaard-Oeschger oscillations [16,39] and high resolution 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating at 45.7 ± 1.0 [58].…”

“…Calcareous nannofossil analysis was carried out on 1121 samples [13][14][15][16][37][38][39] by observation with a polarized microscope at about 1250 X magnification. Rippled smear slides were prepared following the standard procedure [40].…”

“…A total of 2188 samples [13,14,16,38,39] were dried and washed on a 63 m sieve for planktonic foraminifera analysis. The relative abundance of each species was obtained from splits of about 300 specimens, in the residue greater than 125 m. Taxonomic concepts follow Bolli et al [45] and Hemleben et al [46].…”

“…(2 and 3), which have been built by joining data from Site 963 Hole D and Hole A [13][14][15][16][37][38][39]. The climatic fluctuations are identified by variations in the planktonic foraminifera and oxygen isotopic curves (Fig.…”

“…During the last glacial period, the interval between MIS 4 and MIS 2, many Stadials are characterized by increased relative abundances of Miscellaneous taxa (Fig. 3), such as Helicosphaera carteri and S. histrica [39]. Florisphaera profunda peaks can be seen in most of the Interstadials throughout the sedimentary sequence (Fig.…”