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NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Palmyra Island,Fanning Island,Kiritimati Island - Line Islands Coral SST and d18Osw Reconstructions

browse graphicPaleoclimatology - Coral and Sclerosponge
This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Kiribati, Central Pacific Ocean. The time period coverage is from -22 to -55 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.
  • Cite as: Nurhati, I.S.; Cobb, K.M.; Charles, C.D.; Dunbar, R.B. (2009-07-01): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Palmyra Island,Fanning Island,Kiritimati Island - Line Islands Coral SST and d18Osw Reconstructions. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/x5sp-6y18. Accessed [date].
  • Please refer to Credit tab for full citation information.
noaa-coral-8609
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DistributorNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Data Center Contact
NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology
828-271-4800
paleo@noaa.gov
Coverage DescriptionDate Range: 1972 CE to 2005 CE; Date Range: -22 cal yr BP to -55 cal yr BP;
Time Period1972 to 2005
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 5.87
S: 1.87
E: -157.4
W: -162.12
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Late 20th century warming and freshening in the central tropical Pacific
    • Associated Reference published 2009
      Nurhati, I.S., K.M. Cobb, C.D. Charles, and R.B. Dunbar, 2009: Late 20th century warming and freshening in the central tropical Pacific. Geophysical Research Letters, 36, 2209-2212, 10.1029/2009GL040270
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2009-07-01
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress StatusComplete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency Data update frequency not available
Supplemental Information
STUDY NOTES: This dataset contains coral-derived sea-surface temperature (SST, via Sr/Ca) and salinity (SSS, via d18Osw) reconstructions from Palmyra, Fanning, and Christmas Islands, Line Islands, central tropical Pacific, for the period 1972-1998 (to 2005 for Fanning). Cobb et al. [2001] presented the century-long oxygen isotopic (d18O) record from Palmyra, and we present new d18O records from Fanning and Christmas, in addition to new Sr/Ca records from Palmyra, Fanning, and Christmas. We measured coral d18O values on a GV Isoprime-Multiprep mass spectrometer with an analytical precision of ± 0.06‰ (1ó), and Sr/Ca ratios with a Jobin Yvon Ultima 2C Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) with an analytical precision of ± 0.08-0.24% or ± 0.11-0.27ºC (1ó) using the nearest-neighbor correction method from Schrag [1999]. We used the monthly 1ºx1º IGOSS SST dataset [Reynolds et al., 2002] to calibrate Sr/Ca ratios via reduced major axis regression, where (SST)palm = 130.43 – 11.39 x (Sr/Ca)palm (Nov 1981-Mar 1998; R=-0.71; CI > 99%), (SST)fann = 166.81 – 15.47 x (Sr/Ca)fann (Nov 1981-June 2005; R=-0.79; CI > 99%), (SST)chrs = 141.57 – 12.66 x (Sr/Ca)chrs (Nov 1981-Mar 1998; R=-0.80; CI > 99%). The Fanning d18O and Sr/Ca records were constructed by splicing records from two separate coral cores (spliced at 1984) in order to avoid diagenesis evident in one of the cores. We derive the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater (d18Osw) by subtracting the Sr/Ca-derived SST contribution from coral d18O following the method outlined in Ren et al. [2003]. Fairbanks et al. [1997] find an empirical linear relationship between d18Osw and SSS in the central tropical Pacific, so we use the d18Osw records to reconstruct SSS variability associated with changes in the hydrological balance. Note for Palmyra: d18O, Sr/Ca-derived SST and d18Osw records from 1972 to 1998 were used in the trend calculations reported in the paper, while Sr/Ca record from 1981-1998 was used for the Sr/Ca-SST calibration. Note for Fanning: d18O, Sr/Ca-derived SST and d18Osw records from 1972 to 1998 were used in the trend calculations reported in the paper, while Sr/Ca record from 1981-2005 was used for the Sr/Ca-SST calibration. Spliced Fanning timeseries are constructed by splicing Fanning core 1 to Fanning core 2 at time 1984. These are the records used in the calibration and trend analyses, and in the construction of the Fanning d18Osw record. Note for Christmas Island: d18O, Sr/Ca-derived SST and d18Osw records from 1972 to 1998 were used in the trend calculations reported in the paper, while Sr/Ca record from 1981-1998 was used for the Sr/Ca-SST calibration.
ABSTRACT SUPPLIED BY ORIGINATOR: Global climate models and analyses of instrumental datasets provide a wide range of scenarios for future tropical Pacific climate change, limiting the accuracy of regional climate projections. Coral records provide continuous reconstructions of tropical Pacific climate trends that are difficult to quantify using the short, sparse instrumental datasets available from the tropical Pacific. Here, we present coral-based reconstructions of late 20th century sea-surface temperature and salinity trends from several islands in the central tropical Pacific. The coral data reveal warming trends that increase towards the equator, implying a decrease in equatorial upwelling in the last decades. Seawater freshening trends on the southern edge of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone suggest a strengthening and/or an equatorward shift of the convergence zone. Together, the new coral records support a late 20th century trend towards “El Niño-like” conditions in the tropical Pacific, in line with the majority of coupled global climate model projections.
PurposeRecords of past climate and ocean environment derived from stable isotope, trace metal, and other measurements made on corals and sclerosponges. Parameter keywords describe what was measured in this dataset. Additional summary information can be found in the abstracts of papers listed in the dataset citations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Nurhati, I.S.; Cobb, K.M.; Charles, C.D.; Dunbar, R.B. (2009-07-01): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Palmyra Island,Fanning Island,Kiritimati Island - Line Islands Coral SST and d18Osw Reconstructions. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/x5sp-6y18. Accessed [date].
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Cited Authors
  • Nurhati, I.S.
  • Cobb, K.M.
  • Charles, C.D.
  • Dunbar, R.B.
Originators
  • Nurhati, I.S.
  • Cobb, K.M.
  • Charles, C.D.
  • Dunbar, R.B.
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Biological Records > Coral Deposits
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Ocean/Lake Records > Coral Deposits
  • Earth Science > Paleoclimate > Ocean/Lake Records > Coral Deposits
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > climate reconstructions|corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > climate reconstructions|corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > climate reconstructions|corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges > trace metals
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges > oxygen isotopes
  • Sea Surface Temperature Reconstruction
Paleoenvironmental Standard Terms (PaST) Thesaurus
  • What: strontium/calcium; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: delta 18O; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: delta 18O; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: strontium/calcium; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: strontium/calcium; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: strontium/calcium; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: delta 18O; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: delta 18O; Material: Porites sp.
  • What: sea surface temperature; Material: strontium/calcium
  • What: delta 18O; Material: delta 18O|sea water|strontium/calcium
Data Center keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Kiribati > Fanning Island > LATITUDE 3.85 > LONGITUDE -159.35
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Kiribati > Kiritimati Island > LATITUDE 1.87 > LONGITUDE -157.4
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Palmyra Island West Reef Flat > LATITUDE 5.87 > LONGITUDE -162.12
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Nurhati, I.S.; Cobb, K.M.; Charles, C.D.; Dunbar, R.B. (2009-07-01): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Palmyra Island,Fanning Island,Kiritimati Island - Line Islands Coral SST and d18Osw Reconstructions. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/x5sp-6y18. Accessed [date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
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Last Modified: 2025-07-29
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