Mg/Ca Thermometry in Coral Skeletons

• DOI: 10.1126/science.274.5289.961
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:45:50Z
• Authors: Takehiro Mitsuguchi; Eiji Matsumoto; Osamu Abe; Tetsuo Uchida; Peter J. Isdale
• Keywords: Porites

The magnesium-to-calcium (Mg/Ca) ratio of coral skeletons from Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, closely tracked sea surface temperature (SST) over an 8-year period. Measurements were made with the fast technique inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. variation Mg/Ca SST change is about four times that current, widely used strontium-to-calcium ratio. temporal and geographic seawater Mg2+/Ca2+ probably has little influence on variation. Results indicate potential to provide fast, precise, high-resolution proxies for past tropical SSTs.