Sea surface temperature estimates from the Southwest Pacific based on planktonic foraminifera and oxygen isotopes

Planktonic foraminiferal census data were collected on 34 surficial sediment samples from east of New Zealand, Sea surface temperature estimates were derived from the data using the modern analogue technique (MAT) and compared to data From CLIMAPs FA-20 equation. They were also computed from oxygen isotope analyses of Globigerina bulloides. The temperature estimates compared well between the three methods and were found to correlate closely with the appropriate seasonal sea-surface temperature as measured by satellite. The foraminiferal assemblages and derivative temperatures clearly identify the major watermasses and oceanic fronts in the region, and thus can be applied to palaeoceanographic analysis of Southwest Pacific sediments. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.