Paleoceanography of the Strait of Hormoz and its link to paleoclimate changes since the mid-Holocene

This paper presents the paleocurrent evolution of Persian Gulf deep water (PGDW) during last 5000 years using faunal (foraminiferal assemblage) and non-faunal (magnetic susceptibility, sediment grain size, number coarse relict particles physicochemical characteristics) indicators from a 133 cm long core retrieved Strait Hormoz (SH). Our results suggest that precession-related insolation change solar variability induced long-term short-term sea surface temperature (SST) rise fall resulted in variation PGDW outflow strength. Two periods decreasing SST (5000–4300 2000–1450 cal yr BP), accompanied by wetter conditions Middle East, are related to reduction current velocity. A combination high sedimentation rate (0.72 mm yr−1, due terrigenous input) with relatively low bottom flow energy cause settling finer sediments providing favourable environment for expansion benthic foraminifera (dominated infaunal taxa). On contrary, velocity strengthens increase (4300–2000 1450 BP present) (0.15–0.34 river discharge). During both high-velocity currents, accumulation decreases. However, as brings amount dissolved oxygen (3.25 mg/l summer 4.79 winter) phytodetritus particles, compared surrounding water, some particular (especially robust suspension feeder epifaunal taxa) evolved. increase, intensified anthropically caused global warming, may lead intensification future.