The Flower Garden Banks <i>Siderastrea siderea</i> coral as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series

The proposed Anthropocene Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) candidate site of West Flower Garden Bank (27.8762°N, 93.8147°W) is an open ocean location in the Gulf Mexico with a submerged coral reef few direct human impacts. Corals contain highly accurate precise (&lt;±1 year) internal chronologies, similar to tree rings, their exoskeletons are formed aragonite can be preserved rock record. Here we present results from large Siderastrea siderea (core 05WFGB3; 1755–2005 CE) sampled annual monthly resolutions that show clear markers global regional Atmospheric nuclear bomb testing by-products ( 14 C, 239+240 Pu) have increases this starting 1957 for C first increase 1956 Pu (potential bases GSSP). Coral δ 13 declined especially after consistent Suess effect resulting burning fossil fuels. skeletal 15 N starts 1963 corresponding agricultural fertilizers. Hg concentrations (1933–1980) loosely track fluctuations industrial pollution Ba/Ca 1965–1983 when offshore oil operations expand 1947. temperature proxies 20th-century warming trend whereas growth declines during interval.