Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles and the California Current System: Planktonic foraminiferal response to rapid climate change in Santa Barbara Basin, Ocean Drilling Program hole 893A

High-resolution planktonic foraminiferal census data from Santa Barbara Bas in (Ocean Drilling Program hole 893A) demonstrate major assemblage switches between 25 and 60 ka that were associated with Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles. Stadials dominated by Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral), and Globiger inoides glutinata suggest a strong subpolar California Current influence, w hile interstadials marked by abundant N. pachyderma (dextral) and G. bulloi des indicate a relative increase in subtropical countercurrent influence. M odern analog technique and transfer function (F-20RSC) temperature reconstr uctions support delta(18)O evidence of large rapid (70 years or less) sea s urface temperature shifts (3 degrees to 5 degrees C) between stadials and i nterstadials. Changes in the vertical temperature gradient and water column structure (thermocline depth) are recorded by planktonic faunal oscillatio ns suggest bimodal stability in the organization of North Pacific surface o cean circulation. Santa Barbara Basin surface water demonstrates the rapid response of the California Current System to reorganization of North Pacifi c atmospheric circulation during rapid climate change.