Impact of Low Latitude Gateway on the Formation of Warm Water Pools, Ocean Circulation and Climate

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The theme focusses on the Miocene to Pliocene closure of low-latitude oceanic passages and their impact on changes in ocean circulation and climate... We plan to examine (1) the scenarios of an open and closed Isthmus of Panama (7.5-4.0 Ma) and their effects on the formation of the W-Atlantic Warm Pool and an already existing W-Pacific Warm Pool, and (2) the constriction of the Indonesian Gateway and its effect on the formation of the W-Pacific Warm Pool (20-6 Ma). Stable isotope studies on shallow and deep-dwelling planktic foraminifers in conjunction with foraminiferal Mg/Ca temperature reconstructions will provide information about the thermocline depth... Other proxy data ... will reflect changes in marine productivity and hence, changes in surface circulation patterns. With benthic oxygen isotopes we intend to expand the isotope stratigraphy into the Miocene. Benthic carbon isotopes will help to reconstruct changes in deep-water ventilation that are triggered by changes of deep water formation and by changes in the sill depths of subtropical gateways...