Abstract
Tropical south-western Pacific temperatures are of vital importance to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the role of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the growth of the GBR since the Last Glacial Maximum remains largely unknown. Here we present records of Sr/Ca and δ 18O for Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial corals that show a considerably steeper meridional SST gradient than the present day in the central GBR. We find a 1-2 °C larger temperature decrease between 17° and 20°S about 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. The result is best explained by the northward expansion of cooler subtropical waters due to a weakening of the South Pacific gyre and East Australian Current. Our findings indicate that the GBR experienced substantial meridional temperature change during the last deglaciation, and serve to explain anomalous deglacial drying of northeastern Australia. Overall, the GBR developed through significant SST change and may be more resilient than previously thought.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 4102 |
| Journal | Nature Communications |
| Volume | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 17 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Chemistry(all)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
Cite this
Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum. / Felis, Thomas; McGregor, Helen V.; Linsley, Braddock K.; Tudhope, Alexander W.; Gagan, Michael K.; Suzuki, Atsushi; Takeuchi, Mayuri; Thomas, Alexander L.; Esat, Tezer M.; Thompson, William G.; Tiwari, Manish; Potts, Donald C.; Mudelsee, Manfred; Yokoyama, Yusuke; Webster, Jody M.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 5, 4102, 17.06.2014.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum
AU - Felis, Thomas
AU - McGregor, Helen V.
AU - Linsley, Braddock K.
AU - Tudhope, Alexander W.
AU - Gagan, Michael K.
AU - Suzuki, Atsushi
AU - Takeuchi, Mayuri
AU - Thomas, Alexander L.
AU - Esat, Tezer M.
AU - Thompson, William G.
AU - Tiwari, Manish
AU - Potts, Donald C.
AU - Mudelsee, Manfred
AU - Yokoyama, Yusuke
AU - Webster, Jody M.
PY - 2014/6/17
Y1 - 2014/6/17
N2 - Tropical south-western Pacific temperatures are of vital importance to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the role of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the growth of the GBR since the Last Glacial Maximum remains largely unknown. Here we present records of Sr/Ca and δ 18O for Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial corals that show a considerably steeper meridional SST gradient than the present day in the central GBR. We find a 1-2 °C larger temperature decrease between 17° and 20°S about 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. The result is best explained by the northward expansion of cooler subtropical waters due to a weakening of the South Pacific gyre and East Australian Current. Our findings indicate that the GBR experienced substantial meridional temperature change during the last deglaciation, and serve to explain anomalous deglacial drying of northeastern Australia. Overall, the GBR developed through significant SST change and may be more resilient than previously thought.
AB - Tropical south-western Pacific temperatures are of vital importance to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the role of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the growth of the GBR since the Last Glacial Maximum remains largely unknown. Here we present records of Sr/Ca and δ 18O for Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial corals that show a considerably steeper meridional SST gradient than the present day in the central GBR. We find a 1-2 °C larger temperature decrease between 17° and 20°S about 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. The result is best explained by the northward expansion of cooler subtropical waters due to a weakening of the South Pacific gyre and East Australian Current. Our findings indicate that the GBR experienced substantial meridional temperature change during the last deglaciation, and serve to explain anomalous deglacial drying of northeastern Australia. Overall, the GBR developed through significant SST change and may be more resilient than previously thought.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84902778411&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/ncomms5102
DO - 10.1038/ncomms5102
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84902778411
VL - 5
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
M1 - 4102
ER -