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PANGAEA.
Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science

Matos, Lelia; Mienis, Furu; Wienberg, Claudia; Frank, Norbert; Kwiatkowski, Cornelia; Groeneveld, Jeroen; Thil, François; Abrantes, Fatima F; Cunha, Marina Ribeiro; Hebbeln, Dierk (2015): Cape Lookout cold-water coral area, coral ages and environmental parameters for the last glacial cycle. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.866943, Supplement to: Matos, L et al. (2015): Interglacial occurrence of cold-water corals off Cape Lookout (NW Atlantic): First evidence of the Gulf Stream influence. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 105, 158-170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.09.003

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Abstract:
Climatic and oceanographic changes, as occurring at a glacial-interglacial scale, may alter the environmental conditions needed for the development of prolific cold-water coral reefs and mounds. Studies constraining the temporal distribution of cold-water corals in the NE Atlantic suggested the cyclic changes of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation as the main driver for the development and dispersal of cold-water coral ecosystems. However, conclusions were hindered by lack of data from the NW Atlantic. Aiming to overcome this lack of data, the temporal occurrence of cold-water corals in the Cape Lookout area along the southeastern US margin was explored by U-series dating. Furthermore, the local influence of the regional water masses, namely the Gulf Stream, on cold-water coral proliferation and occurrence since the Last Glacial Maximum was examined. Results suggest that the occurrence of cold-water corals in the Cape Lookout area is restricted to interglacial periods, with corals being present during the last ~7 kyr and also during the Eemian (~125 ka). The reconstructed local environmental conditions suggest an offshore displacement of the Gulf Stream and increased influence from the Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf waters during the last glacial period. During the deglacial sea level rise, the Gulf Stream moved coastward providing present-day-like conditions to the surface waters. Nevertheless, present-day conditions at the ocean sea floor were not established before 7.5 cal ka BP once the ultimate demise of the Laurentide ice-sheet caused the final sea level rise and the displacement of the Gulf Stream to its present location. Occasional presence of the Gulf Stream over the site during the Mid- to Late Holocene coincides with enhanced bottom current strength and a slightly higher bottom water temperature, which are environmental conditions that are favorable for cold-water coral growth.
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 34.221848 * Median Longitude: -75.866637 * South-bound Latitude: 34.198967 * West-bound Longitude: -75.911100 * North-bound Latitude: 34.324480 * East-bound Longitude: -75.788100
Date/Time Start: 2010-05-31T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2010-06-07T00:00:00
Size:
5 datasets

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