Abrupt variations of the radiolarian fauna at Mid-Pleistocene climate transition in the South China Sea

Abstract

Based on a detailed study of the radiolarian fauna, the abundance pattern of planktic foraminifera as well as on isotope and sedimentological records, the Mid-Pleistocene climate transition as a multiple transition phenomenon could be recognized at Core 17957-2 from the South China Sea. Distinct changes in the radiolarian/foraminfera ratio, the coarse fraction and the radiolarian assemblages can be related to the global climate cooling observed at the Mid-Pleistocene revolution (MPR) around 900 ka. A pronounced southward shift of the North Equatorial Current that leads to lower sea-surface temperatures in the South China Sea is documented by the shift of tropical to subtropical radiolarian assemblages at 900 ka. Increasing radiolarian abundance after the MPR can be interpreted as a result of stronger upwelling and nutrient supply. These abrupt variations could result from the northern trade wind system and East Asian monsoon circulation.