Planktonic foraminifera evidence for surface-water conditions off Southern Portugal during Mid-Pleistocene marine isotope stages 20 to 24 (790 – 940 ky)

Abstract

Characterized by a drastic change in the deep thermohaline circulation, the Mid Pleistocene Transition (MPT) was a global climatic event resulted in more intense and longer lasting glacial periods and cooler sea -surface temperatures. The present study's objective is characterized surface -water variations during the MPT interval at the mid -latitude southern Portuguese margin using planktonic foraminifera faunal data from Site U1387. Stratigraphy records reveals dominantly tropical and subtropical species interrupted by incursions of subpolar waters when the North Atlantic's subarctic front moved to southernmost position during the MPT.