Millennial scale changes in sea surface temperature and ocean circulation in the northeast Pacific, 10–60 kyr BP

[1] A new centennial-scale Mg/Ca temperature record from the California margin (ODP Site 1017E) reveals large millennial-scale oscillations between 10 to 60 kyr. This record indicates that sea surface temperature on the California Margin warmed rapidly on the deglacial by 7.4 0.8 C, and was preceded by a pre-Bølling temperature oscillation of 2.6 1.2 C. Millennial-scale events of the last glacial episode were marked by sea surface temperature oscillations of between 3 and 7 C on the California margin, and interstadials were associated with an increase in surface water salinity. The data are consistent with evidence for a glacial southward shift in the polar jet stream and concomitant strengthening of the relatively cold, fresh California Current during stadial events. The data also support previous hypotheses suggesting a tight coupling between the North Atlantic and northeast Pacific response to climate instability of the last glacial episode.