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Surface Circulation of the Indian Ocean during the Last Glacial Maximum, Approximately 18,000 yr B.P.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Warren L. Prell ,
William H. Hutson ,
Douglas F. Williams ,
Allan W.H. Bé ,
Kurt Geitzenauer  and
Barbara Molfino
Warren L. Prell
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912 USA
William H. Hutson*
Affiliation:
School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA
Douglas F. Williams
Affiliation:
University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208 USA
Allan W.H. Bé
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964 USA
Kurt Geitzenauer
Affiliation:
Atlantic Richfield, Houston, Texas 77005 USA
Barbara Molfino
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964 USA
*
1Presently at Bell Laboratories, Whippany, New Jersey 07981.
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Abstract

A seasonal reconstruction of the Indian Ocean during the last glacial maximum (∼18,000 yr B.P.) reveals that its surface circulation and sea surface temperature patterns were significantly different from the modern Indian Ocean. This reconstruction is based on the planktonic foraminiferal biogeography and estimated sea surface temperatures in 42 Indian Ocean samples. Compared to modern conditions, the polar front was 5° to 10° latitude further north during the last glacial maximum; the Subtropical Convergence was 2° to 5° latitude further north. The West Australian Current was more intense as part of the West Wind Drift was deflected northward along the coast of Australia. The Agulhas Current was cooler and weaker during the summer and more saline and subtropical during the winter. In general, the low latitudes underwent little temperature change. The western Arabian Sea was warmer which implies less upwelling and a weaker Southwest Monsoon. On the average, the Indian Ocean was 1.9°C cooler in February and 1.7°C cooler in August during the last glacial maximum.

Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , November 1980 , pp. 309 - 336
Copyright
University of Washington

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