Oxygen Isotope Constraints on Surface Ocean Temperatures

Abstract

Published oxygen isotope results from benthic and planktonic foraminifera are used to constrain the extent to which surface ocean temperatures in the tropics changed between glacial and interglacial time. The possible impacts of bioturbation and of the redistribution of 18O/16O ratios within the sea, putting aside the oxygen isotope results, are consistent with the CLIMAP project conclusion that tropical ocean temperatures remained within ±2°C of their present value.