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An increased number of climate proxy records and more refined interpretation of proxy data are crucial to improve projections of future climate at high latitudes, where internal feedbacks amplify warming and established high-resolution climate archives are especially sparse. Encrusting coralline algae are being developed as a mid- to high-latitude marine climate archive. These long-lived algae form a solid high-Mg calcite skeleton with annual growth bands similar to those of trees and tropical corals. The oxygen isotope ratio of the algal skeleton (δ18Oalg) records local environmental and climatic factors, notably sea surface temperature and seawater δ18O. Here we assess the δ18Oalg–climate relationship in diverse environments across the algal habitat range utilizing two species of coralline algae from the genus Clathromorphum. Clathromorphum is widely distributed from the cold-temperate North Atlantic and Pacific to the Arctic Ocean and has recently yielded numerous climate reconstructions of up to 650 years in length. In this study, we calibrate δ18Oalg of four specimens to gridded temperature and salinity data, the latter a proxy for seawater δ18O. These specimens were collected from a variety of algal growth environments across the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere: two specimens from the Aleutian Archipelago, one from the Canadian Arctic, and one from the Gulf of Maine. Low winter temperatures and insolation restrict the months when algae record local climate in the δ18O of their skeletons; we therefore determine these response seasons by correlating monthly temperature and salinity anomalies with annual δ18Oalg anomalies at each site. We then average gridded data over months that correlate significantly (95% confidence interval) for regression with δ18Oalg. While the timing and nature of the climate signal vary across sites, we find significant relationships between δ18Oalg and either temperature or salinity averaged over the response season at three sites. Variation in local climatology among the four sites provides a physical explanation for calibration differences, compounded by uncertainties stemming from the proxy chronology, biological variability, temporal coverage, and sparse historical climate data. This work takes an essential step toward reconstructing high-latitude marine climate patterns with coralline algal δ18O and developing algae proxy system models.

The geochemistry of tropical coral skeletons is widely used in paleoclimate reconstructions. However, sub‐aerially exposed corals may be affected by diagenesis, altering the aragonite skeleton through partial dissolution, or infilling of secondary minerals like calcite. We analyzed the impact of intra‐skeletal calcite on the geochemistry (δ18O, Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, Li/Mg, Li/Ca, U/Ca, B/Ca, Ba/Ca, and Mn/Ca) of a sub‐aerially exposed Porites sp. coral. Each micro‐milled coral sample was split into two aliquots for geochemistry and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to quantify the direct impact of calcite on geochemistry. We modified the sample loading technique for XRD to detect low calcite levels (1%–2%; total uncertainty = 0.33%, 2σ) in small samples (∼7.5 mg). Calcite content ranged from 0% to 12.5%, with higher percentages coinciding with larger geochemical offsets. Sr/Ca, Li/Mg, Li/Ca, and δ18O‐derived sea‐surface temperature (SST) anomalies per 1% calcite were +0.43°C, +0.24°C, +0.11°C, and +0.008°C, respectively. A 3.6% calcite produces a Sr/Ca‐SST signal commensurate with local SST seasonality (∼1.5°C), which we propose as the cut‐off level for screening calcite diagenesis in paleo‐temperature reconstructions. Inclusion of intra‐skeletal calcite decreases B/Ca, Ba/Ca, and U/Ca values, and increases Mg/Ca values, and can therefore impact reconstructions of paleoclimate and the carbonate chemistry of the semi‐isolated calcifying fluid in corals. This study emphasizes the importance of quantifying fine‐scale calcite diagenesis to identify coral preservation levels and assure robust paleoclimate reconstructions. Key Points: The modified sample loading technique adopted for X‐ray diffraction significantly reduced the uncertainty of calcite measurement down to 0.33%Temperature reconstructions based on Sr/Ca, Li/Mg, and Li/Ca are significantly affected by low levels of intra‐skeletal calcite (1%–2%)Impact of low levels of intra‐skeletal calcite on δ18O, Ba/Ca, Mn/Ca, and U/Ca is not significant [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Models and observations disagree regarding sea surface temperature (SST) trends in the eastern tropical Pacific. We present a new Sr/Ca‐SST record that spans 1940–2010 from two Wolf Island corals (northern Galápagos). Trend analysis of the Wolf record shows significant warming on multiple timescales, which is also present in several other records and gridded instrumental products. Together, these data sets suggest that most of the eastern tropical Pacific has warmed over the twentieth century. In contrast, recent decades have been characterized by warming during boreal spring and summer (especially north of the equator), and subtropical cooling during boreal fall and winter (especially south of the equator). These SST trends are consistent with the effects of radiative forcing, mitigated by cooling due to wind forcing during boreal winter, as well as intensified upwelling and a strengthened Equatorial Undercurrent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increased number of climate proxy records and more refined interpretation of proxy data are crucial to improve projections of future climate at high latitudes, where internal feedbacks amplify warming and established high-resolution climate archives are especially sparse. Encrusting coralline algae are being developed as a mid- to high-latitude marine climate archive. These long-lived algae form a solid high-Mg calcite skeleton with annual growth bands similar to those of trees and tropical corals. The oxygen isotope ratio of the algal skeleton (δ 18 O alg ) records local environmental and climatic factors, notably sea surface temperature and seawater δ 18 O. Here we assess the δ 18 O alg –climate relationship in diverse environments across the algal habitat range utilizing two species of coralline algae from the genus Clathromorphum . Clathromorphum is widely distributed from the cold-temperate North Atlantic and Pacific to the Arctic Ocean and has recently yielded numerous climate reconstructions of up to 650 years in length. In this study, we calibrate δ 18 O alg of four specimens to gridded temperature and salinity data, the latter a proxy for seawater δ 18 O. These specimens were collected from a variety of algal growth environments across the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere: two specimens from the Aleutian Archipelago, one from the Canadian Arctic, and one from the Gulf of Maine. Low winter temperatures and insolation restrict the months when algae record local climate in the δ 18 O of their skeletons; we therefore determine these response seasons by correlating monthly temperature and salinity anomalies with annual δ 18 O alg anomalies at each site. We then average gridded data over months that correlate significantly (95% confidence interval) for regression with δ 18 O alg . While the timing and nature of the climate signal vary across sites, we find significant relationships between δ 18 O alg and either temperature or salinity averaged over the response season at three sites. Variation in local climatology among the four sites provides a physical explanation for calibration differences, compounded by uncertainties stemming from the proxy chronology, biological variability, temporal coverage, and sparse historical climate data. This work takes an essential step toward reconstructing high-latitude marine climate patterns with coralline algal δ 18 O and developing algae proxy system models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]