Climate variability since last glacial maximum based on distribution of foraminifera in North Papua Waters, Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Foraminifera distribution is one of the proxies used to reconstruct climatic conditions and paleoceanography. Specific species or groups of foraminifera can be associated with certain oceanographic parameters. As one of the entrances of Indonesia Through Flow (ITF), North Papua Waters has the role of channeling water masses from the Pacific Ocean to the Indonesian Waters. It is also influenced by global thermohaline circulation and ENSO. In this study, observations were made of changes in the distribution of foraminifera to reconstruct paleoclimate and paleoceanographic conditions in the North Papua Waters and their relation to global climate conditions. The analysis was performed on 246 cm core sediments with eight cm foraminifera observation intervals at sample depths 246-126 cm and four cm at sample depths of 126-0 cm. Pulleniatina spp., Neogloboquadrina spp., and Globorotalia spp., are used for radiocarbon dating. Planktonic abundant species of foraminifera are Pulleniatina obliqueloculata, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Globorotalia menardii, Globigerinoides ruber, Globigerinoides trilobus, and the benthonic are Melonis pompilideus, Pullenia bulloides, Oolina sp., Planulina bradyii, Oridorsalis umbonatus, Cibicides subhaidingerii, Eggrela bradyii, Planulina wuelestroffi, and Quinqueloculina spp.,. Division according to cluster analysis can show the difference between Holocene and Pleistocene, which is then more detailed divided into 17 clusters. Based on biozonation there are some events that can be observed: climate variability since Late Pleistocene, record Pleistocene-Holocene boundary based on the significant variability of foraminifera distribution, and records some of the global climate events such as Last Glacial Maximum (~19-17 kyr), Younger Dryas (~11-9 kyr), and 8,2K event.