The relation between productivity and temperature in the Pliocene North Atlantic at the onset of northern hemisphere glaciation: a palynological study

High resolution palynological analysis of DSDP Cores 607/607A shows for the interval between 2.8 and 2.2 Ma B.P. (which includes the onset of major northern hemisphere glaciations) a 41 ka cyclicity characterised by much higher palynomorph concentrations for the cooler intervals than for the warmer ones. Variation in dilution and concentration of palynomorphs can neither be explained by differential input of terrigenous clastics or carbonate, nor by differences in sedimentation rate, sediment density or selective preservation of palynomorphs. Subdivision of the palynomorph record in terms of autochthonous and allochthonous components, provides a way to detect changes in open ocean productivity and transport through time. It seems that a negative correlation between productivity and temperature in the latest Pleistocene open Atlantic had already been established before the major onset of northern hemisphere glaciations. A conceptual model is proposed to explain the observed lead of the palynological record relative to the isotope and carbonate records is proposed. This early response can result from changes in North Atlantic surface ocean circulation induced by changing atmospheric circulation.