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Increased seasonality in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, recorded in the oxygen isotope record of aPorites lutea coral

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Abstract

At Aqaba in the Northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, the stable oxygen isotope record of aPorites lutea coral colony was studied. From a vertical and a horizontal core two parts from the base of the colony (10 years of coral growth), and two parts from the living surface (12 years of coral growth) were analysed with a monthly sampling resolution. The results show that seasonality of sea surface temperatures (SST) in the northern Gulf of Aqaba has increased since the early 19th century, mainly due to higher summer temperatures. δ18O-ratios indicate that SST increased by at least 1.3°C. Horizontal and vertical cores display different variations in the modern parts, probably caused by the very shallow water depth of the youngest part of the vertical core.

Kurzfassung

Bei Aqaba im nördlichen Golf von Aqaba, Rotes Meer, wurde die Zusammensetzung der stabilen Sauerstoffisotope in einer Kolonie der SteinkorallePorites lutea untersucht. Aus einem vertikalen und einem horizontalen Bohrkern wurden jeweils ein Abschnitt von der Basis der Kolonie (10 Jahre Korallenwachstum), sowie je ein Abschnitt mit 12 Jahren Korallenwachstum bis zur lebenden Oberfläche mit einer monatlichen Beprobungsauflösung analysiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die Saisonalität der Meerwassertemperatur im nördlichen Golf von Aqaba seit dem frühen 19. Jh. deutlich verstärkt ist, was vor allem auf erhöhte Sommertemperaturen zurückzuführen ist. Die δ18O-Werte lassen daraufschließen, daß die Temperatur um mindestens 1.3°C gestiegen ist. Die jungen Abschnitte des horizontalen und vertikalen Kerns zeigen unterschiedliche Variationen sowohl in der langfristigen Erwärmung als auch in der verstärkten Saisonalität, die auf die sehr geringe Wassertiefe des jüngsten Teils im vertikalen Kern zurückgeführt werden.

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  1. Georg A. Heiss

    Present address: Centre des Faibles Radioactivités, Laboratoire Mixte CNRS-CEA, Domaine du CNRS, F-91198, Gif sur Yvette cedex, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. GEOMAR, Wischhofstr. 1-3, D-24148, Kiel, Germany

    Georg A. Heiss, Wolf-Christian Dullo & John J. G. Reijmer

  2. CEREGE, B.P.80, F-13545, Aix-en-Provence cedex 4, France

    Michael M. Joachimski

  3. Institut für Geologie und Mineralogie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossgarten 5, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Helmut Schuhmacher

  4. Institut für Ökologie, Universität Essen, Abt. Hydrobiologie, Postfach 103764, D- 45141, Essen, Germany

    Helmut Schuhmacher

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  1. Georg A. Heiss
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Heiss, G.A., Dullo, WC., Joachimski, M.M. et al. Increased seasonality in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, recorded in the oxygen isotope record of aPorites lutea coral. Senckenbergiana maritima 30, 17–26 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03042826

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