Variation of deepwater convection in the western Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lion) during the last 28 ka

The oxygen and carbon isotopes record from fossil foraminifera in deep-sea sediments are commonly used as proxy for global thermohaline and productivity changes. The last 28 ka record of oxygen and carbon isotopes are characterized by a slow transfer of isotopic signal from surface to deep Mediterranean at the beginning of Heinrich events (H2 and H1) and during the Bolling/Allerod. These changes in deep waters properties occur some 180 years later, indicating a decrease of ventilation in the beginning of these events. The slowing of the thermohaline convection is more marked in the early Holocene, characterized by less than 500 years of lag-time between the isotopic signals. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.