South Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late Miocene
Abstract The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is a major driver of global ocean circulation and climate. To better understand the interplay between long-term atmospheric and ocean variability in the Southern Ocean since the late Miocene, we present sea surface temperature (SST) and carbonate pres...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62037-w |
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| author | Antje Wegwerth Helge W. Arz Jérôme Kaiser Gisela Winckler Lester Lembke-Jene Vincent Rigalleau Nicoletta Ruggieri Henrik Sadatzki Frank Lamy |
| author_facet | Antje Wegwerth Helge W. Arz Jérôme Kaiser Gisela Winckler Lester Lembke-Jene Vincent Rigalleau Nicoletta Ruggieri Henrik Sadatzki Frank Lamy |
| author_sort | Antje Wegwerth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is a major driver of global ocean circulation and climate. To better understand the interplay between long-term atmospheric and ocean variability in the Southern Ocean since the late Miocene, we present sea surface temperature (SST) and carbonate preservation records from the Subantarctic Eastern South Pacific (IODP Site U1543), along with an extended ACC strength record from Central South Pacific Site U1541. We focus on long-term eccentricity-scale variations showing decreased (increased) SST with enhanced (reduced) CaCO3 preservation, and stronger (weaker) ACC strength, particularly during the Pliocene. These changes coincide with stronger (weaker) South Pacific SST gradients, possible northward (southward) migration of Southern Ocean fronts, strengthened (weakened) westerlies, and atmospheric CO2 release. These patterns contrast with Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles. Reduced Pacific-Atlantic exchange through the Drake Passage may have weakened Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation during warming at Site U1543 across the intensification of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation. Simultaneous stronger ACC and higher CaCO3 deposition in the high-latitude Pacific suggest a strengthened basin-wide Pacific overturning circulation during parts of the Pliocene. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-027c9bc061e04f16be34cbfa61529509 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-027c9bc061e04f16be34cbfa615295092025-08-20T03:46:20ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-62037-wSouth Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late MioceneAntje Wegwerth0Helge W. Arz1Jérôme Kaiser2Gisela Winckler3Lester Lembke-Jene4Vincent Rigalleau5Nicoletta Ruggieri6Henrik Sadatzki7Frank Lamy8Marine Geology, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)Marine Geology, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)Marine Geology, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia UniversityHelmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener InstituteAbstract The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is a major driver of global ocean circulation and climate. To better understand the interplay between long-term atmospheric and ocean variability in the Southern Ocean since the late Miocene, we present sea surface temperature (SST) and carbonate preservation records from the Subantarctic Eastern South Pacific (IODP Site U1543), along with an extended ACC strength record from Central South Pacific Site U1541. We focus on long-term eccentricity-scale variations showing decreased (increased) SST with enhanced (reduced) CaCO3 preservation, and stronger (weaker) ACC strength, particularly during the Pliocene. These changes coincide with stronger (weaker) South Pacific SST gradients, possible northward (southward) migration of Southern Ocean fronts, strengthened (weakened) westerlies, and atmospheric CO2 release. These patterns contrast with Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles. Reduced Pacific-Atlantic exchange through the Drake Passage may have weakened Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation during warming at Site U1543 across the intensification of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation. Simultaneous stronger ACC and higher CaCO3 deposition in the high-latitude Pacific suggest a strengthened basin-wide Pacific overturning circulation during parts of the Pliocene.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62037-w |
| spellingShingle | Antje Wegwerth Helge W. Arz Jérôme Kaiser Gisela Winckler Lester Lembke-Jene Vincent Rigalleau Nicoletta Ruggieri Henrik Sadatzki Frank Lamy South Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late Miocene Nature Communications |
| title | South Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late Miocene |
| title_full | South Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late Miocene |
| title_fullStr | South Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late Miocene |
| title_full_unstemmed | South Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late Miocene |
| title_short | South Pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late Miocene |
| title_sort | south pacific sea surface temperature and global ocean circulation changes since the late miocene |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62037-w |
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