Equatorial Pacific coral geochemical records show recent weakening of the Walker Circulation

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dc.contributor.authorCarilli, JEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMcGregor, HVen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGaudry, JJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorDonner, SDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGagan, MKen_AU
dc.contributor.authorStevenson, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWong, HKYen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFink, Den_AU
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-21T01:42:54Zen_AU
dc.date.available2016-06-21T01:42:54Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2014-11-10en_AU
dc.date.statistics2016-06-21en_AU
dc.description.abstractEquatorial Pacific ocean-atmosphere interactions affect climate globally, and a key component of the coupled system is the Walker Circulation, which is driven by sea surface temperature (SST) gradients across the equatorial Pacific. There is conflicting evidence as to whether the SST gradient and Walker Circulation have strengthened or weakened over the late twentieth century. We present new records of SST and sea surface salinity (SSS) spanning 1959–2010 based on paired measurements of Sr/Ca and δ18O in a massive Porites coral from Butaritari atoll in the Gilbert Islands, Republic of Kiribati, in the central western equatorial Pacific. The records show 2–7 year variability correlated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and corresponding shifts in the extent of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool, and decadal-scale signals related to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the Pacific Warm Pool Index. In addition, the Butaritari coral records reveal a small but significant increase in SST (0.39°C) from 1959 to 2010 with no accompanying change in SSS, a trend that persists even when ENSO variability is removed. In contrast, larger increases in SST and SSS are evident in coral records from the equatorial Pacific Line Islands, located east of Butaritari. Taken together, the equatorial Pacific coral records suggest an overall reduction in the east-west SST and SSS gradient over the last several decades, and a recent weakening of the Walker Circulation. © 2014, American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationCarilli, J. E., McGregor, H. V., Gaudry, J. J., Donner, S. D., Gagan, M. K., Stevenson, S., Wong, H. & Fink, D. (2014). Equatorial Pacific coral geochemical records show recent weakening of the Walker Circulation. Paleoceanography, 29(11), 1031-1045. doi:10.1002/2014pa002683en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc6732en_AU
dc.identifier.issn2572-4525en_AU
dc.identifier.issue11en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitlePaleoceanographyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination1031-1045en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014pa002683en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/7049en_AU
dc.identifier.volume29en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAmerican Geophysical Unionen_AU
dc.subjectSeasen_AU
dc.subjectClimatesen_AU
dc.subjectSalinityen_AU
dc.subjectCoralsen_AU
dc.subjectSouthern Oscillationen_AU
dc.subjectIslandsen_AU
dc.titleEquatorial Pacific coral geochemical records show recent weakening of the Walker Circulationen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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