MG/CA · INORGANIC PROXY · PLANKTIC & BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA
Archive
Planktic and benthic foraminiferal calcite
Records
Upper ocean temperature (planktic)
Bottom water temperature (benthic)
Watch out for
Seawater Mg/Ca, pH, salinity, species effects, carbonate saturation, preservation
How it works
Mg/Ca ratios in foraminiferal shells are widely used as a paleotemperature proxy, based on the positive relationship between magnesium incorporation into calcium carbonate and seawater temperature. Planktic foraminiferal Mg/Ca primarily reconstructs upper ocean temperatures, while benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca is used to reconstruct bottom water temperatures.
Non-thermal factors such as changes in seawater Mg/Ca, pH, salinity, and species-specific biological effects can influence planktic temperature estimates. Benthic records also require consideration of carbonate saturation, and both can be affected by preservation state and diagenetic processes. Robust Miocene ocean temperature reconstructions therefore require careful choice of suitable Mg/Ca–temperature calibrations and consideration of these non-thermal factors.
Explore the data
Use the interactive dashboard below to map and plot the MioOcean Mg/Ca records, filtering by location, time interval and calibration.
Using these data? Please cite the MioOcean database paper and the MioMG companion paper, along with the original data sources listed in the database.