Monthly Strontium/Calcium oscillations in symbiotic coral aragonite: Biological effects limiting the precision of the paleotemperature proxy

  1. Anders Meibom1,
  2. Morten Stage2,
  3. Joseph Wooden3,
  4. Brent R. Constantz4,
  5. Robert B. Dunbar1,
  6. Art Owen5,
  7. Nancy Grumet1,
  8. Charles R. Bacon3,
  9. C. Page Chamberlain1

Article first published online: 15 APR 2003

DOI: 10.1029/2002GL016864

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Meibom, A., M. Stage, J. Wooden, B. R. Constantz, R. B. Dunbar, A. Owen, N. Grumet, C. R. Bacon, and C. P. Chamberlain (2003), Monthly Strontium/Calcium oscillations in symbiotic coral aragonite: Biological effects limiting the precision of the paleotemperature proxy, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1418, doi:10.1029/2002GL016864, 7.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, USA

  2. 2

    Danish Geotechnical Institute, Denmark

  3. 3

    United States Geological Survey, USA

  4. 4

    Biomechanical Engineering Division, Stanford University, USA

  5. 5

    Department of Statistics, Stanford University, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 APR 2003
  2. Article first published online: 15 APR 2003
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 12 MAR 2003
  4. Manuscript Revised: 10 FEB 2003
  5. Manuscript Received: 31 DEC 2002

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[1] In thermodynamic equilibrium with sea water the Sr/Ca ratio of aragonite varies predictably with temperature and the Sr/Ca ratio in coral have thus become a frequently used proxy for past Sea Surface Temperature (SST). However, biological effects can offset the Sr/Ca ratio from its equilibrium value. We report high spatial resolution ion microprobe analyses of well defined skeletal elements in the reef-building coral Porites lutea that reveal distinct monthly oscillations in the Sr/Ca ratio, with an amplitude in excess of ten percent. The extreme Sr/Ca variations, which we propose result from metabolic changes synchronous with the lunar cycle, introduce variability in Sr/Ca measurements based on conventional sampling techniques well beyond the analytical precision. These variations can limit the accuracy of Sr/Ca paleothermometry by conventional sampling techniques to about 2°C. Our results may help explain the notorious difficulties involved in obtaining an accurate and consistent calibration of the Sr/Ca vs. SST relationship.

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