Comparison of Mg/Ca- and alkenone-based sea surface temperature estimates in the fresh water-influenced Gulf of Guinea, eastern equatorial Atlantic

This study presents a comparison of sea surface temperature (SST) estimates based on Mg/Ca ratios of Globigerinoides ruber and alkenone unsaturation index (U37K′) in core sediment recovered from the Gulf of Guinea, eastern equatorial Atlantic. Mg/Ca‐ and U37K′‐based SST estimates yield fairly comparable results for the time interval 21,000–14,500 years and for the late Holocene. The early and middle Holocene, however, are largely characterized by a discrepant trend, with warm Mg/Ca and cold U37K′ based SST estimates. This discrepant SST trend is accompanied by low sea surface salinity estimates (high riverine runoff) and biogenic sediment, which is characterized by high biogenic opal content, low carbonate content, and relatively low alkenone concentration. We hypothesize that the discrepancy in the reconstructed SSTs during the middle and early Holocene presumably suggests a period of elevated riverine input of dissolved silica and dominantly siliceous phytoplankton bloom in a low saline and warm surface water, while alkenone producers were likely prevalent in a season of cold SST and low riverine silica input. This study suggests that changes in the local hydrography and nutrient input have strong influence on the U37K′‐based SST estimate that may be unraveled by combining different SST proxies.