Variability of the Indonesian Throughflow and Australian monsoon across the mid Pleistocene transition (IODP 363, Site U1483)

The Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT) between -1200 and -800 ka was associated with a major shift in global climate and was marked by a change in glacial/interglacial periodicity from -41 to -100 kyr that resulted in higher-amplitude sea-level variations and intensified glacial cooling. The sensitivity of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), and the Asian-Australian Monsoon dynamics to changing MPT climate remains controversial, although its understanding is important to constrain future climate projections. In this study, we analyzed radiolarian assemblages in core top samples retrieved during the RV Sonne Expedition 257 and in downcore samples from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1483 to estimate the variability in regional sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and to explore ITF dynamics in relation to glacio-eustatic sea-level variations and tropical monsoon strength during the MPT. Our results suggest that tropical monsoon strength and glacioeustatic sea-level change influenced SST variations at Site U1483. Comparisons with SST data from the mid latitudes off Northwest Australia and the South China Sea suggest that SST variations at Site U1483 and in the ITF outflow into the Timor Sea are highly dependent on prevailing climate changes in the source region of the ITF, rather than on southern hemisphere. atmospheric circulation. In addition, comparisons of radiolarian abundances with X-ray fluorescence-scanning elemental data indicate that until -980 ka radiolarian productivity was higher during strong interglacial summer monsoons, likely because of the riverine runoff generated by monsoonal precipitation. However, at -980 ka pronounced winter monsoon cooling was associated with a reorganization of radiolarian production patterns in the Timor Sea.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the response of the Indonesian Throughflow and Asian-Australian Monsoon to global climate change and found that these responses are influenced by glacioeustatic sea-level variations and tropical monsoon strength. The variations in radiolarian assemblages associated with climate changes in the source region had a significant impact on sea surface temperatures and the Indonesian Throughflow.