Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-skm99 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T03:35:25.264Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Integrated Latest Quaternary (Stage 3 to Present) Paleoclimatic and Paleoceanographic Record from Offshore Northern New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Ian C. Wright ,
Matt S. McGlone ,
Campbell S. Nelson  and
Brad J. Pillans
Ian C. Wright
Affiliation:
New Zealand Oceanographic Institute, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), P.O. Box 14-901, Wellington, New Zealand
Matt S. McGlone
Affiliation:
Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, P.O. Box 69, Lincoln, Christchurch, New Zealand
Campbell S. Nelson
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
Brad J. Pillans
Affiliation:
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Paleoceanographic and onshore paleoclimatic changes during the last 59,000 yr are established from three deep-sea sediment cores off northeast New Zealand using an integrated log of sediment texture, CaCO3 content, palynology, and planktonic and benthic foraminiferal δ18O and δ13C data, together with dated silicic tephras. These records from the isotopic stage 4-3 boundary to the present record northern New Zealand vegetation history, changes in a subsidiary equatorward flow of Circumpolar Deep Water, and sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) for subtropical water (STW) between latitudes 36°42′ and 35°51′S. Relative to the Holocene, isotopically derived SSTs record average changes of +2°C, -2°C, and -2°C for the 59,000-43,000, 43,000-24,000, and 24,000-12,000 yr time slices, respectively. The apparent +2°C warming for the 59,000-43,000 yr period is interpreted to reflect changes in the dominant depth habitat of Globigerina bulloides in response to upwelling. A -2°C cooling of SSTs during isotope stage 2 is interpreted, in part, to reflect upwelling of cool subsurface water resulting from strong and persistent westerly airflow across New Zealand, with the concomitant enhanced surface-water production of CaCO3. Onshore, vegetation consistent with these changes are recorded, with full conifer-hardwood forest prior to 43,000 yr, followed by a change to vegetation implying cooler and drier conditions between 43,000 and 12,000 yr, and a subsequent return to full forest during the Holocene. The sequence of biopelagic and hemipelagic sedimentation observed within these cores reflect oscillation of sea level about a threshold eustatic level that controls the transport of terrigenous detritus offshore. Local variations and interplay of the regional oceanography and morphology and tectonism of the continental shelf will dictate that, relative to present sea level, this threshold eustatic sea level will vary in depth, and hence age, along a continental margin. Data from the New Zealand region reveal an extremely steep meridional thermal gradient across the southern and central New Zealand region during the last glaciation with minor cooling of STW to the north, apart from localized nearshore upwelling zones, but pronounced cooling of subantarctic water to the south of the subtropical convergence zone.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , September 1995 , pp. 283 - 293
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allotvay, B. V. Stewart, R. B. Neal!, V. E., and Vucetich, C. H. (1992). Climate of the last glaciation in New Zealand, based on aerosolic quartz influx in an andesitic terrain. Quaternary Research 38 , 170–179.Google Scholar
Bard, E. (1988). Correction of accelerator mass spectrometry 14C ages mea sured in planktonic foraminifera: Paleaoceanographic implications. Paleoceanography 3 , 635–645.Google Scholar
Carter, L., and Carter, R. M. (1986). Holocene evolution of the nearshore sand wedge, South Otago continental shelf, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 29 , 413–424.Google Scholar
Carter, L., and Carter, R. M. (1990). Lacustrine sediment traps and their effect on continental shelf sedimentation—South Island, New Zealand. GeoMarine Letters 10 , 93–100.Google Scholar
Carter, L., and Carter, R. M. (1993). Sedimentary evolution of the Bounty Trough: A Cretaceous rift basin, southwestern Pacific Ocean. In “South Pacific Sedimentary Basins: Sedimentary Basins of the World 2” (Ballance, P. F., Ed.; Hsu, K. J., Series Ed.), pp. 51–67. Eisevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Chappell, J., and Shackleton, N.J. (1986). Oxygen isotopes and sea level. Nature 324 , 137–140.Google Scholar
Chiswell, S. M. (1994). Variability in sea surface temperature around New Zealand from AVHRR images. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 28 , 179–192.Google Scholar
CLIMAP Project Members (1981). Seasonal reconstructions of the Earth’s surface at the last glacial maximum. In “Map Chart Series 36,” Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO.Google Scholar
Cole, J. W. (1990). Structural control and origin of volcanism in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Bulletin of Volcanology 52 , 445–459.Google Scholar
Craig, H., and Gordon, L. I. (1965). Deuterium and oxygen 18O variations in the ocean and marine atmosphere. In “Stable Isotopes in Oceanographic Studies and Paleotemperatures” (Tongioro, E., Ed.), pp. 9–130. Consiglio Nazionalle delle Recherche, Laboratorio di Geologia Nucleare, Pisa.Google Scholar
Davidson, J. M. (1984). “The Prehistory of New Zealand.” Longman Paul, Auckland.Google Scholar
Dodson, J. R. Enright, N. J., and McLean R. F. (1988). A late Quaternary vegetation history for far northern New Zealand. Journal of Biogeography 15 , 647–656.Google Scholar
Epstein, S., and Mayeda, T. (1953). Variation of O18 content of waters from natural sources. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 4 , 213–224.Google Scholar
Epstein, S. Buchbaum, R. Lowenstam, H. A., and Urey, H. C. (1953). Revised carbonate—water isotopic temperature scale. Bulletin Geological Society of America 64 , 1315–1325.Google Scholar
Fairbanks, R. G. (1989). A 17,000 year glacio-eustatic sea level record: Influence of glacial melting rates on the Younger Dryas event and deep-ocean circulation. Nature 342 , 637–642.Google Scholar
Fenner, J. Carter, L., and Stewart, R, (1992). Late Quaternary paleoclimatic and paleoceariographic change over northern Chatham Rise, New Zealand. Marine Geology 108 , 383–404.Google Scholar
Froggatt, P. C., and Lowe, D. J. (1990). A review of late Quaternary silicic and some other tephra formations from New Zealand; Their stratigraphy, nomenclature, distribution, volume, and age. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 33 , 89–109.Google Scholar
Gamble, J. A., and Wright, I. C. (1995). The southern Havre Trough: Geological structure and magma petrogenesis of an active back-arc rift complex. In “Back-arc Basins: Tectonism and Magmatism” (Taylor, B., Ed.), pp. 29–62. Plenum, New York.Google Scholar
Griggs, G. B. Carter, L. KenneU, J. P., and Carter, R. M. (1983). Late Quaternary marine stratigraphy southeast of New Zealand, Geological Society of American Bulletin 94 , 791–797.Google Scholar
Heath, R. A. (1980). Eastwards oceanic flow past northern New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14 , 169–182.Google Scholar
Hecht, A. D. (1985). “Palaeoclimatic Analysis and Modelling.” Wiley-Interscience, New York.Google Scholar
Hendy, I. L. (1995). “Paleoceanography of the Glacial-Holocene Transition in the Waters Surrounding New Zealand.” M.Sc. thesis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Martinson, D. G. Pisias, N. G. Hays, J. D. Imbrie, J. Moore, T. C., and Shackleton, N. J. (1987). Age dating and the orbital theory of the Ice Ages: Development of a high-resolution 0 to 300,000 year chronostratigraphy. Quaternary Research 27 , 1–29.Google Scholar
McGlone, M. S. (1988). History of the New Zealand vegetation. In “Handbook of Vegetation Science, Volume 7: Vegetation History” (Huntley, B. and Webb, T., Eds.), pp. 558–599. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht/Norwell, MA.Google Scholar
McGlone, M. S., and Moar, N. T. (1977). The Ascarina decline and postglacial climatic change. New Zealand Journal of Botany 15 , 485–489.Google Scholar
McGlone, M. S. Howorth, R., and Pullar, W. A. (1984). Late Pleistocene stratigraphy, vegetation and climate of the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne regions, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 27 , 327–350.Google Scholar
McGlone, M.S. Salinger, M. J., and Moar, N. T. (1994). Paleovegetation studies of New Zealand’s climate since the Last Glacial maximum. In “Global Climates Since the Last Glacial Maximum” (Wright, H. E. Kutzbach, J. E. Webb, T. Ruddiman, W. F. Street-Perrott, F. A., and Barttein, P. J., Eds.), pp. 294–317. Univ. Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.Google Scholar
McGlone, M.S., and Topping, W. W. (1983). Late Quaternary vegetation, Tongariro region, central North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 21 , 53–76.Google Scholar
Moore, P. D., and Webb, J. A. (1978). “An Illustrated Guide to Pollen Analysis.” Hodder and Stoughton, London.Google Scholar
Nelson, C. S. Hendy, C. H. Jarrett, G. R., and Cuthberston, A.M. (1985). Near-synchroneity of New Zealand alpine glaciations and northern hemisphere continental glaciations during the past 750 kyr. Nature 318 , 361–363.Google Scholar
Nelson, C. S. Hendy, C. H. Jarrett, G. R., and Cuthberston, A. M. (1986). “Late Quaternary Carbonate and Isotope Stratigraphy, Subantarctic site 594, Southwest Pacific.” Initial reports of Deep Sea Drilling Project 90, 1425–1436.Google Scholar
Nelson, C. S. Cooke, P. J. Hendy, C. H., and Cuthberston, A. M. (1993). Oceanographic and climatic changes over the past 160,000 years at Deep Sea Drilling Project site 594 off southeastern New Zealand, Southwest Pacific. Paleoceanography 8 , 435–458.Google Scholar
Nelson, C. S. Hendy, C. H., and Cuthberston, A. M. (1994). Oxygen isotope evidence for climatic contrasts between Tasman Sea and Southwest Pacific Ocean during the late Quaternary. In “Evolution of the Tasman Sea” (van der Linden, G. J. Swanson, K. M., and Muir, R. J., Eds.), pp. 181–196. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam.Google Scholar
Nees, S. Martinez, J. J. DeDeckker, P., and Ayress, M. A. (1994). A stableisotope record for the Late Quaternary from the East Tasman Plateau. In “Evolution of the Tasman Sea” (van der Linden, G. J. Swanson, K. M., and Muir, R. J., Eds.), pp. 147–201. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam.Google Scholar
Newnham, R. M. (1992). A 30,000 year pollen, vegetation and climate record from Otakairangi (Hikurangi), Northland, New Zealand. Journal of Biogeography 19 , 541–554.Google Scholar
Newnham, R. M. Lowe, D. J., and Green, J. D. (1989). Palynology, vegetation and climate of the Waikato lowlands, North Island, New Zealand since c. 18,000 years ago. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 19 , 127–150.Google Scholar
Newnham, R. M. Ogden, J., and Mildenhall, D. (1993). A vegetation history of the far north of New Zealand during the Late Otira (last) glaciation. Quartemary Research 39 , 361–372.Google Scholar
Ogden, J., and Ahmed, M. (1989). Climate response function analyses of kauri Agathis australis) tree-ring chronotogies in northern New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 19 , 205–221.Google Scholar
Ogden, J. Newnham, R. M. Palmer, J. G. Serra, R. G., and Mitchell, N. D. (1993). Climatic implications of macro-and microfossil assemblages from Late Pleistocene deposits in Northern New Zealand. Quaternary Research 39 , 107–119.Google Scholar
Pillans, B. J., and Wright, I. C. (1992). Late Quaternary tephrostratigraphy from the southern Havre Trough—Bay of Plenty, northeast New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 35 , 129–143.Google Scholar
Pillans, B. J. McGlotie, M. Palmer, A. Mildenhall, D. Alloway, B., and Berger, G. (1993). The last glacial maximum in central and southern North Island, New Zealand: A paleonvironmental reconstruction using the Kawakawa Tephra Formation as a chronostratigraphic marker. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimdtology, Palaeoecology 101 , 283–304.Google Scholar
Pisias, N. G. Martinson, D. G. Moore, T. C. Shackleton, N. J. Prell, W. Hays, J., and Boded, G. (1984). High resolution stratigraphic correlation of benthic oxygen isotopic records spanning the last 300,000 years. Marine Geology 56 , 119–136.Google Scholar
Ridgway, N.M. Heath, R. A., and Marott, C. (1977). Temperature at 200 metres. New Zealand Oceanographic Institute Miscellaneous Series 32 , 1: 10,000,000 Southwest Pacific Ocean, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington.Google Scholar
Sautter, L. R., and Thunell, R. C. (1991). Seasonal variability in the 6lsO and 6,3C of planktonic foraminifera from an upwelling environment: Sediment trap results from the San Pedro Basin, Southern California Bight. Paleoceanography 6 , 307–334.Google Scholar
Shackleton, N. J., and Opdyke, N. D. (1973). Oxygen isotope and paleomagnetic stratigraphy of equatorial Pacific core V2S-238: Oxygen isotope temperatures and ice volumes on a 105 and 10s year scale. Quaternary Research 3 , 39–55.Google Scholar
Stanton, B. R. (1973). Circulation along the eastern boundary of the Tasman Sea. In “Oceanography of the South Pacific 1972” (Frazer, R., Ed.), pp. 141–147. New Zealand Commission for UNESCO, Wellington.Google Scholar
Stewart, R. B., and Neall, V. E. (1984). Chronology of palaeoclimatic change at the end of the last glaciation. Nature 311 , 47–48.Google Scholar
Thiede, J. (1979). Wind regimes over the late Quaternary southwest Pacific Ocean. Geology 7 , 259–262.Google Scholar
Thunell, R. Anderson, D. Cellar, D., and Miao, Q. (1994). Sea-surface temperature estimates for the tropical Western Pacific during the Last Glaciation and their implications for the Pacific warm pool. Quaternary Research 41 , 255–264.Google Scholar
Warren, B. A. (1973). Transpacific hydrographic sections at Lats. 43°S and 28°S: The SCORPIO Expedition, Part II: Deep water. Deep-Sea Research 20 , 9–38.Google Scholar
Warren, B. A. Whitworth, T. Moore, M. I., and Nowlin, W. D. (1994). Slight northwestward inflow to the deep South Fiji Basin. Deep-Sea Research 1 41 , 953–956.Google Scholar
Weaver, P. P. E., and Carter, L. (1993). Late quaternary palaeoceanography to the east of New Zealand (Abstract) In “Programme and Abstracts, Geological Society of New Zealand Annual Conference,” p. 148, Geological Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 79A.Google Scholar
Wilson, C. J. N. (1993). Stratigraphy, chronology, styles, and dynamics of late Quaternary eruptions from Taupo volcano, New Zealand. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London A, 343 , 205–306.Google Scholar
Wright, I. C. (1993a). Pre-spread rifting and heterogeneous volcanism in the southern Havre Trough back-arc basin. Marine Geology 113 , 179–200.Google Scholar
Wright, I. C. (1993b). Southern Havre Trough-Bay of Plenty (New Zealand): Structure and seismic stratigraphy of an active back-arc basin complex. In “South Pacific Sedimentary Basins: Sedimentary Basins of the World, 2” (Baltance, P. F., Ed.; Hsu, K. J., Series Ed.), pp. 195–211. Elsevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar