Miocene Sea Surface Dynamics in the Western Equatorial Pacific Based on Calcareous Nannofossil Records

Calcareous nannofossil in the sediments from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 806B in the Ontong Java Plateau have been examined to reconstruct surface water condition in the western equatorial Pacific (WEP) throughout the Miocene. By using quantitative techniques, 107 sediment samples have been prepared into nannofossil slides and observed under microscope. Changes in Reticulofenestra size variations, Discoaster relative abundance and nannofossil accumulation rates (NAR) suggest that WEP surface water was dynamic. During early to middle Miocene from 18 to 14 Ma, the surface water was warm and depleted in nutrient with deep thermocline due to warm period of the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum. Temperature cooled, nutrient increased and thermocline shoaled at 14 Ma during the East Antarctic Ice Sheet Expansion (EAIE). Surface water warmed and thermocline deepened after 13.2 Ma as the western Pacific warm pool (WPWP) began to established. At 9 Ma, surface water suddenly changed into cooler and nutrient rich condition. The collapse of ocean stratification coincided with the onset of Asian Monsoon Intensification. Warm surface water and deep thermocline occurred again in the latest Miocene as the brief return of the WPWP during 7–6 Ma.