Seasonality and interannual climate variability in the Caribbean during the last interglacial from coral records

• Applicant: Dr. Thomas Felis
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2014 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 256607970

The last interglacial was slightly warmer than present. Thus, this period ~125,000 years ago has been suggested to serve as partial analogue for 1-2 °C global warming scenarios that consider no further increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. The last interglacial is recent enough to obtain well-preserved and accurately dated climate records and offers a window to study the potential consequences of contemporary global warming. We suggest reconstructing the range of seasonality and interannual climate variability in the Caribbean during the last interglacial by analysing fossil corals from Bonaire. Sr/Ca and oxygen isotope ratios in coral skeletons will provide monthly resolved reconstructions of temperature and hydrologic balance at the sea surface for short time intervals, robustly resolving the annual cycle. Combined with climate model simulations performed by a collaborating group, we will identify forcing mechanisms of climate variability observed in the coral archives. Our approach will contribute to quantify the range of natural climate variability in the Caribbean during a period slightly warmer than today on timescales relevant for society.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Gerrit Lohmann; Professor Dr. Denis Scholz