Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum

Thomas Felis; Helen V. McGregor; Braddock K. Linsley; Alexander W. Tudhope; Michael K. Gagan; Atsushi Suzuki; Mayuri Inoue; Alexander L. Thomas; Tezer M. Esat; William G. Thompson; Manish Tiwari; Donald C. Potts; Manfred Mudelsee; Yusuke Yokoyama; Jody M. Webster

doi:10.1038/ncomms5102

Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum

Thomas Felis^*, Helen V. McGregor, Braddock K. Linsley, Alexander W. Tudhope, Michael K. Gagan, Atsushi Suzuki, Mayuri Inoue, Alexander L. Thomas, Tezer M. Esat, William G. Thompson, Manish Tiwari, Donald C. Potts, Manfred Mudelsee, Yusuke Yokoyama, Jody M. Webster

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tropical south-western Pacific temperatures are of vital importance to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the role of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the growth of the GBR since the Last Glacial Maximum remains largely unknown. Here we present records of Sr/Ca and δ 18 _O for Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial corals that show a considerably steeper meridional SST gradient than the present day in the central GBR. We find a 1-2 °C larger temperature decrease between 17° and 20°S about 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. The result is best explained by the northward expansion of cooler subtropical waters due to a weakening of the South Pacific gyre and East Australian Current. Our findings indicate that the GBR experienced substantial meridional temperature change during the last deglaciation, and serve to explain anomalous deglacial drying of northeastern Australia. Overall, the GBR developed through significant SST change and may be more resilient than previously thought.

Original language	English
Article number	4102
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5102
Publication status	Published - 17 Jun 2014

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Felis, T., McGregor, H. V., Linsley, B. K., Tudhope, A. W., Gagan, M. K., Suzuki, A., Inoue, M., Thomas, A. L., Esat, T. M., Thompson, W. G., Tiwari, M., Potts, D. C., Mudelsee, M., Yokoyama, Y., & Webster, J. M. (2014). Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum. Nature Communications, 5, Article 4102. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5102

@article{b6c5d2d208eb47f3afc3d33a7fdec7be,

title = "Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum",

abstract = " Tropical south-western Pacific temperatures are of vital importance to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the role of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the growth of the GBR since the Last Glacial Maximum remains largely unknown. Here we present records of Sr/Ca and δ 18 O for Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial corals that show a considerably steeper meridional SST gradient than the present day in the central GBR. We find a 1-2 °C larger temperature decrease between 17° and 20°S about 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. The result is best explained by the northward expansion of cooler subtropical waters due to a weakening of the South Pacific gyre and East Australian Current. Our findings indicate that the GBR experienced substantial meridional temperature change during the last deglaciation, and serve to explain anomalous deglacial drying of northeastern Australia. Overall, the GBR developed through significant SST change and may be more resilient than previously thought.",

author = "Thomas Felis and McGregor, {Helen V.} and Linsley, {Braddock K.} and Tudhope, {Alexander W.} and Gagan, {Michael K.} and Atsushi Suzuki and Mayuri Inoue and Thomas, {Alexander L.} and Esat, {Tezer M.} and Thompson, {William G.} and Manish Tiwari and Potts, {Donald C.} and Manfred Mudelsee and Yusuke Yokoyama and Webster, {Jody M.}",

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Felis, T, McGregor, HV, Linsley, BK, Tudhope, AW, Gagan, MK, Suzuki, A, Inoue, M, Thomas, AL, Esat, TM, Thompson, WG, Tiwari, M, Potts, DC, Mudelsee, M, Yokoyama, Y & Webster, JM 2014, 'Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum', Nature Communications, vol. 5, 4102. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5102

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AU - Felis, Thomas

AU - McGregor, Helen V.

AU - Linsley, Braddock K.

AU - Tudhope, Alexander W.

AU - Gagan, Michael K.

AU - Suzuki, Atsushi

AU - Inoue, Mayuri

AU - Thomas, Alexander L.

AU - Esat, Tezer M.

AU - Thompson, William G.

AU - Tiwari, Manish

AU - Potts, Donald C.

AU - Mudelsee, Manfred

AU - Yokoyama, Yusuke

AU - Webster, Jody M.

PY - 2014/6/17

Y1 - 2014/6/17

N2 - Tropical south-western Pacific temperatures are of vital importance to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the role of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the growth of the GBR since the Last Glacial Maximum remains largely unknown. Here we present records of Sr/Ca and δ 18 O for Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial corals that show a considerably steeper meridional SST gradient than the present day in the central GBR. We find a 1-2 °C larger temperature decrease between 17° and 20°S about 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. The result is best explained by the northward expansion of cooler subtropical waters due to a weakening of the South Pacific gyre and East Australian Current. Our findings indicate that the GBR experienced substantial meridional temperature change during the last deglaciation, and serve to explain anomalous deglacial drying of northeastern Australia. Overall, the GBR developed through significant SST change and may be more resilient than previously thought.

AB - Tropical south-western Pacific temperatures are of vital importance to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the role of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the growth of the GBR since the Last Glacial Maximum remains largely unknown. Here we present records of Sr/Ca and δ 18 O for Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial corals that show a considerably steeper meridional SST gradient than the present day in the central GBR. We find a 1-2 °C larger temperature decrease between 17° and 20°S about 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. The result is best explained by the northward expansion of cooler subtropical waters due to a weakening of the South Pacific gyre and East Australian Current. Our findings indicate that the GBR experienced substantial meridional temperature change during the last deglaciation, and serve to explain anomalous deglacial drying of northeastern Australia. Overall, the GBR developed through significant SST change and may be more resilient than previously thought.

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Intensification of the meridional temperature gradient in the Great barrier reef following the last glacial maximum

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