Late Pliocene variations of the Mediterranean outflow ...

• Main Authors: Khélifi, Nabil, Sarnthein, Michael, Frank, Martin, Andersen, Nils, Garbe-Schönberg, Dieter
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2014
• Subjects: Deep Sea Drilling Project DSDP; Ocean Drilling Program ODP; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.863957; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.863957

Late Pliocene changes in the advection of Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) derivates were reconstructed at northeast Atlantic DSDP/ODP sites 548 and 982 and compared to records of WMDW at West Mediterranean Site 978. Neodymium isotope (epsilon-Nd) values more positive than ~10.5/~ 11 reflect diluted MOW derivates that spread almost continuously into the northeast Atlantic from 3.7 to 2.55 Ma, reaching Rockall Plateau Site 982 from 3.63 to 2.75 Ma. From 3.4 to 3.3 Ma average MOW temperature and salinity increased by 2°-4 °C and ~1 psu both at proximal Site 548 and distal Site 982. The rise implies a rise in flow strength, coeval with a long-term rise in both west Mediterranean Sea surface salinity by almost 2 psu and average bottom water salinity (BWS) by ~1 psu, despite inherent uncertainties in BWS estimates. The changes were linked with major Mediterranean aridification and a drop in African monsoon humidity. In contrast to model expectations, the rise in MOW salt discharge after 3.4 Ma did not translate ... : Supplement to: Khélifi, Nabil; Sarnthein, Michael; Frank, Martin; Andersen, Nils; Garbe-Schönberg, Dieter (2014): Late Pliocene variations of the Mediterranean outflow. Marine Geology, 357, 182-194 ...