Changes in meridional temperature and salinity gradients in the North Atlantic Ocean (30 degrees-72 degrees N) during the last interglacial period

Eight deep-sea sediment cores from the North Atlantic Ocean ranging from 31 degrees to 72 degrees N are studied to reconstruct the meridional gradient s in surface hydrographic conditions during the interval of minimum ice vol ume within the last interglacial period. Using benthic foraminiferal delta( 18)O measurements and estimates of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Sea Su rface Salinity (SSS), we show that summer SSTs and SSSs decreased gradually during the interval of minimum ice volume at high-latitude sites (52 degre es-72 degrees N) whereas they were stable or increased during the same time period at low-latitude sites (31 degrees-41 degrees N). This increase in m eridional gradients of SSTs and SSSs may have been due to changes in the la titudinal distribution of summer and annual-average insolation and associat ed oceanic and atmospheric feedbacks. These trends documented for the Eemia n ice volume minimum period are similar to corresponding changes observed d uring the Holocene and may have had a similar origin.