Coccolithophore response to Abrupt and short-term climate changes in the Gulf of Lions (Western Mediterranean) during the last climatic cycle

Cores PRGL-1 (310 m long) and MD99-2348 (21.5 m long) were recovered in the Gulf of Lions (42.690N; 03.838 E) at 298.48 m water depth, during the PROMESS 1 campaign (SRV Bavenit drilling vessel) and IMAGES V (RV Marion Dufresne, Calypso piston core), respectively. The high sedimentation rates -estimated by robust 14C dating- have given us an excellent opportunity to perform high resolution analyses on these materials. In this study we present data from the last 25 kys. The retrieved sediments consist of silty-clay terrigenous material mixed with a small amount of calcareous microfossils. Quantitative analyses of coccolithophore assemblages allow us to identify significant changes in sea surface temperature in this period. Cold peaks are marked by increases in the proportion of Gephyrocapsa muellerae and large morphotypes of Emiliania huxleyi (>5 m); some of the most significant can be correlated with Heinrich events. The high sedimentation rates observed during most of the studied interval also allow us to identify an overprinted multicentennial scale pattern related to Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles. The combined analyses of coccolithophores and planktonic foraminifers permits to produce a sea surface temperature (SST) record in which sharp fluctuations of around 4º C in amplitude have been detected. These abrupt changes in SST are also linked to changes in surface productivity and in the deep and intermediate water dynamics, probably related with variations in the atmospheric pattern (NAO-like oscillations). PROMESS 1 is funded by the European Community (EVR1-T-40024).