Summary: | Here we present 340 kyr long records of Globigerinoides ruber Mg/Ca-derived sea surface temperature (SST) and Globoconella inflata Mg/Ca-derived thermocline water temperature (TWT) from ODP Site 994C which is located within the Gulf Stream upstream region in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. These records were used in studying changes in Gulf Stream's heat transportation. The SST and TWT generally show glacial-interglacial variations. However, during the glacial period Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 8, the SST and TWT are anomalously higher, warmer even than during some interglacial times, which we interpret as a result of a more intense Gulf Stream. We suggest that the lower continental icesheet volume in the northern hemisphere in MIS 8 compared to other glacial times is likely responsible for the anomalous strong Gulf Stream.
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