The coral sclerochronology perspective of Panaman gateway dynamcis and climate change

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Climate models for the Neogene suggest a permanent El Niño state with an enhanced variability. Proxy records of Neogene climate, however, usually resolve thousands of years only and little is known, therefore, with regard to real Neogene atmosphere dynamics. So far, only few multidecadal records from zooxanthellate corals (z-corals) of Neogene age are available to test climate model predictions (1, 2). With this new research, we produce seasonally resolved proxy records (δ18O, δ13C, Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca etc.) from Neogene z-corals and bivalves of the Caribbean region. In the present-day, this area is particularly sensitive to the AO/NAO/AMO and ENSO, and our data will allow tracking back in time the history of this type of atmospheric variability in relationship with the closure of the Panama strait. A second research application to be submitted in the near future will be designed to study the effects of sea strait closure on eastern Atlantic climate and neritic oceanography.