Late Quaternary benthic foraminiferal records testifying lateral variability of the Cape Blanc upwelling signal

We reconstructed the Late Quaternary productivity record of two cores of the NW Africa upwelling area. Cores SEDORQUA 20bK and 17aK contain a continuous record down to isotopic stage 7 and show the lateral variability of the palaeoproductivity signal. Several palaeo-environmental proxies, using benthic foraminiferal compositions, have been applied and are confronted with geochemical pro,ties. In both cores the highest values of palaeoproductivity were registered in glacial stages. These differences between the two cores show that the intensity of upwelling cells descreased to the deeper location core and also that the quality of the input of organic flux becomes predominantly refractory. ((C) Academie des sciences/ Elsevier, Paris.).