Abstract
Sea-surface temperature (SST), salinity gradients, and enhanced productivity of coastal upwelling regions leave a marked imprint on the oxygen and carbon stable isotopic composition of foraminiferal shells. For a better understanding of these isotopic signals, we systematically analyzed planktonic and benthic species from surface sediment samples and plankton tows from the eastern Atlantic continental margin (12–35°N). Due to seasonal variations of the Trade Wind regime, centers of coastal upwelling where SST is much below normal migrate markedly in latitude, from ti~12°N during late winter to ~30°N during late summer, and continue to be active throughout the year at 20–23°N. As a result, nearshore seasonal temperature variations are low north of 20°N, but unusually high near 15°N. The δ18O values of shells of Globigerinoides sacculifer and Globigerinoides ruber (pink and white) delineate the pattern of SST during summer and δ18o values for Globorotalia inflata reflect the SST during winter. Oxygen isotopes of Globigerina bulloides document the temperature ranges of the upwelling seasons. The combined isotopic record of G. ruber white and G. inflata clearly reveals the latitudinal variations of seasonality and the annual mean SST, thus documenting the longterm position of upwelling cells during the different seasons in the sediments.
Tests of G. ruber pink and G. inflata show a depletion of 13C in regions of summer and winter upwelling, respectively. The latitudinal variation of δ13C values for G. ruber white, G. saeculifer, and G. buZloides is not related to upwelling intensity. A decrease in δ13C also occurs in the benthic species Uvigerina finisterrensis and U. peregrina in water depths near 500 m where supply of organic carbon is strongest.
The nutrient-rich, less saline South Atlantic Central Water which feeds the southern and central upwelling zones off northwest Africa can be distinguished from more nutrient-depleted North Atlantic Central Water by low δ180 values in living (stained) shells of Uvigerina sp. and Hoeglundina elegans.
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Ganssen, G., Sarnthein, M. (1983). Stable-Isotope Composition of Foraminifers: The Surface and Bottom Water Record of Coastal Upwelling. In: Suess, E., Thiede, J. (eds) Coastal Upwelling Its Sediment Record. NATO Conference Series, vol 10B. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6651-9_6
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