Multisite Record of Climate Change from Indian Ocean Corals
Coral records from coastal East Africa spanning 2° to 7°S (Kiwayu, Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa, Kisite, and Mafia) demonstrate that isotopic tracers preserved within coral aragonite accurately record intraseasonal to interannual changes in sea surface temperature. The strong seasonal signal observed at all six sites most likely reflects sea surface temperature variability forced by ocean circulation and reversals in wind direction associated with the Indo-African Monsoon. Strong southwesterly winds during the Southwest Monsoon initiate evaporative cooling and mixing, resulting in a sea surface temperature minimum in the late boreal summer. Coral δ180 values are higher during this period. Reproducibility in the coral δ180 signal between sites indicates that an individual coral isotope records from the coast of East Africa can be used to reconstruct regional climatic conditions. We present the first multisite analysis of sea surface temperature variability along the East African coast as recorded in the isotopic composition of reef corals.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Proceedings Paper biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2000-10
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| Subjects: | Climate change, Coral reefs, Environmental impact, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/679 |
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| Summary: | Coral records from coastal East Africa spanning
2° to 7°S (Kiwayu, Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa,
Kisite, and Mafia) demonstrate that isotopic tracers preserved
within coral aragonite accurately record
intraseasonal to interannual changes in sea surface temperature.
The strong seasonal signal observed at all six
sites most likely reflects sea surface temperature variability
forced by ocean circulation and reversals in wind
direction associated with the Indo-African Monsoon.
Strong southwesterly winds during the Southwest Monsoon
initiate evaporative cooling and mixing, resulting in
a sea surface temperature minimum in the late boreal
summer. Coral δ180 values are higher during this period.
Reproducibility in the coral δ180 signal between sites indicates
that an individual coral isotope records from the
coast of East Africa can be used to reconstruct regional
climatic conditions. We present the first multisite analysis
of sea surface temperature variability along the East African
coast as recorded in the isotopic composition of reef
corals. |
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