Evaporation-precipitation changes in the eastern Arabian Sea for the last 68 ka: Implications on monsoon variability

Variations in sea surface temperature (SST), delta(18)O of sea water (delta(18)Ow), and salinity were reconstructed for the past 68 ka using a sediment core (AAS9/21) from the eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) in order to understand the changes in evaporation and precipitation associated with the monsoon system. The Mg/Ca-derived SST record varies by similar to 4 degrees C; it shows that marine isotope stage (MIS) 4 was warmer than MIS 3, that the Last Glacial Maximum was 4 degrees C cooler than the present, and that there was a 2 degrees C increase within the Holocene. MIS 4 records higher delta(18)Ow and salinity values than MIS 2, suggesting variable flow of low-salinity Bay of Bengal flow into the EAS during glacial periods. The transition from MIS 4 to MIS 3 was marked with a conspicuous shift from higher to lower delta(18)Ow values, which reflects a decrease in the evaporation-precipitation budget in the EAS, perhaps due to the strengthening of southwest monsoon. Monsoon reconstructions based on delta(18)Ow reveal that monsoon-driven precipitation was higher during MIS 3 and MIS 1 and was lower during MIS 2 and MIS 4. This is consistent with earlier monsoon reconstructions based on upwelling indices from the western Arabian Sea. However, the amplitude of monsoon fluctuations derived through upwelling indices and delta(18)Ow varies significantly, which may indicate spatial variability of monsoon rainfall.