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Title: Synthetic and practical reconstructions of SST and seawater pH using the novel multiproxy SMITE method
Geochemical proxies of sea surface temperature (SST) and seawater pH (pHsw) in scleractinian coral skeletons are valuable tools for reconstructing tropical climate variability. However, most coral skeletal SST and pHswproxies are univariate methods that are limited in their capacity to circumvent non-climate-related variability. Here we present a novel multivariate method for reconstructing SST and pHswfrom the geochemistry of coral skeletons. Our Scleractinian Multivariate Isotope and Trace Element (SMITE) method optimizes reconstruction skill by leveraging the covariance across an array of coral elemental and isotopic data with SST and pHsw. First, using a synthetic proxy experiment, we find that SMITE SST reconstruction statistics (correlation, accuracy, and precision) are insensitive to noise and variable calibration period lengths relative to Sr/Ca. While SMITE pHswreconstruction statistics remain relative toδ11B throughout the same synthetic experiment, the magnitude of the long-term trend in pHswis progressively lost under conditions of moderate-to-high analytical uncertainty. Next, we apply the SMITE method to an array of seven coral-based geochemical variables (B/Ca,δ11B, Li/Ca, Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, U/Ca & Li/Mg) measured from two BermudanPorites astreoidescorals. Despite a <3.5 year calibration period, SMITE SST and pHswestimates exhibit significantly better accuracy, precision, and correlation with their respective climate targets than the best single- and dual-proxy estimators. Furthermore, SMITE model parameters are highly reproducible between the two coral cores, indicating great potential for fossil applications (when preservation is high). The results shown here indicate that the SMITE method can outperform the most common coral-based SST and pHswreconstructions methods to date, particularly in datasets with a large variety of geochemical variables. We therefore provide a list of recommendations and procedures for users to begin implementing the SMITE method as well as an open-source software package to facilitate dissemination of the SMITE method.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1945479
PAR ID:
10519698
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
Pokkathappada, Abdul Azeez
Publisher / Repository:
PLOS ONE
Date Published:
Journal Name:
PLOS ONE
Volume:
19
Issue:
6
ISSN:
1932-6203
Page Range / eLocation ID:
e0305607
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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