SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE ESTIMATES FROM THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC BASED ONPLANKTONIC-FORAMINIFERA AND OXYGEN ISOTOPES

Planktonic foraminiferal census data were collected on 34 surficial se diment samples from east of New Zealand, Sea surface temperature estim ates were derived from the data using the modern analogue technique (M AT) and compared to data From CLIMAPs FA-20 equation. They were also c omputed from oxygen isotope analyses of Globigerina bulloides. Tile te mperature estimates compared well between the three methods and were f ound to correlate closely with the appropriate seasonal sea-surface te mperature as measured by satellite. The foraminiferal assemblages and derivative temperatures clearly identify the major watermasses and oce anic fronts in the region, and thus can be applied to palaeoceanograph ic analysis of Southwest Pacific sediments. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.