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Strontium-calcium thermometry in coral skeletons
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 27, 1979
Summary
Coral skeletons record temperature using strontium to calcium ratios in their aragonite skeletons. This method allows for careful reconstruction of past ocean temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Geochemistry
- Paleoclimatology
Background:
- Reef-building corals precipitate aragonite skeletons.
- Skeletal composition can reflect environmental conditions.
- Understanding elemental incorporation is key to paleoclimate proxies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between strontium (Sr) to calcium (Ca) ratios in coral aragonite and environmental factors.
- To determine if coral aragonite Sr/Ca ratios can be used as a proxy for past temperatures.
- To compare Sr/Ca partitioning in biogenic aragonite versus inorganic aragonite.
Main Methods:
- Culturing three genera of reef-building corals under controlled temperature and seawater Sr/Ca ratios.
- Measuring the Sr/Ca ratios in the precipitated skeletal aragonite.
- Analyzing the distribution coefficients of Sr/Ca in coral aragonite.
Main Results:
- The Sr/Ca ratio in coral skeletal aragonite is a simple function of both temperature and the Sr/Ca ratio of the surrounding water.
- The distribution coefficient for Sr/Ca in coral aragonite differs from that of inorganically precipitated aragonite.
- Coral skeletons exhibit potential as reliable recorders of past environmental temperatures.
Conclusions:
- Coral aragonite Sr/Ca ratios are sensitive to temperature, making them valuable paleothermometers.
- Biogenic aragonite formation in corals involves different partitioning mechanisms than inorganic precipitation.
- Careful calibration allows coral skeletons to serve as accurate archives of past sea surface temperatures.
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