Indian Ocean response to rising sea-level (INDOCRISIS)

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Coastal regions offshore west Sumatra are critical for the development of largescale climate anomalies across the Indian Ocean. Changes in local sea surface and thermocline temperatures affect atmospheric convection and rainfall not only in this region but also across the globe. Simulations of future and past climate of the Indian Ocean and the surrounding landmasses remain uncertain in large part because of the deficiencies of the models in reproducing climate conditions here. In particular, the role of sea-level in shaping climate conditions since the Last Glacial Maximum is disputed, both in simulations and in reconstructions of the Indian Ocean climate. It is proposed to reconstruct mean annual sea surface and thermocline temperatures together with rainfall isotopes in three sedimentary records offshore west Sumatra since the Last Glacial Maximum. In addition, the range of sea surface and thermocline temperatures will be measured in five different sea-level stands in order to assess the range (or stability) of these parameters during those periods. This endeavor allows detecting whether changes in sea-level were capable of changing the ocean and atmosphere conditions in this region that are capable of triggering basin-wide anomalies in circulation and rainfall.