Reduced‐dimension reconstruction of the equatorial Pacific SST and zonal wind fields over the past 10,000 years using Mg/Ca and alkenone records

Abstract

We develop a multiproxy, reduced-dimension methodology to blend magnesium-calcium (Mg/Ca) and alkenone (U 37k) paleo sea surface temperature (SST) records from the eastern and western equatorial Pacific, to recreate snapshots of full field SSTs and zonal winds from 10 to 2 ka B.P. in 2000 year increments. Single-proxy reconstructions (Mg/Ca only versus U 37K′ only) reveal differences in the timing and duration of maximum cooling across the east-central equatorial Pacific. The largest zonal temperature differences (average west Pacific SST minus average east Pacific SST) occur at 6 ka B.P. for the Mg/Ca-only reconstruction (0.61°C) and at 10 and 4 ka for the U 37K′-only reconstruction (0.55°C and 0.47°C, respectively). Disagreements between SST trends suggested by each proxy call for methods that can resolve the common patterns between each and have motivated the work presented in this study. In combining inferences from these proxies, we treat both Mg/Ca and U 37K′ reconstructions of SST as annual average values, but we recognize that they may be sensitive to different seasons. In the multiproxy reconstruction, the zonal SST difference is largest at 10 ka (0.26°C), with coldest SST anomalies of ∼ −0.9°C in the eastern equatorial Pacific and concurrent easterly maximum zonal wind anomalies of 7 m s−1 throughout the central Pacific. From 10 to 2 ka, the entire equatorial Pacific warms, but at a faster rate in the east than the west, and the average central Pacific easterly winds weaken gradually to approximately 2 m s−1. These patterns are broadly consistent with previous inferences of reduced El Nino-Southern Oscillation variability associated with a “La Nina-like” state during the early to middle Holocene.