Haptophyte algae-based alkenone paleothermometry
Journal
Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science
Start Page
688
End Page
697
ISBN
9780443299971
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Abstract
This article summarizes the information needed by paleoceanographers to effectively use haptophyte algae-derived C37 alkenones to quantify past sea surface temperatures (SSTs) via the alkenone unsaturation index (UK′37). Key aspects of long-chain alkenones, including their molecular structure, analytical quantification, and environmental distributions are described. It is now well established that a robust relationship exists between UK′37 and the growth temperature of haptophyte algae. Uncertainty in paleotemperature estimates may stem from the difficulty in UK′37 determination at both temperature extremes, transformations during settling and after deposition, and lateral transport that can lead to depositional asynchronies relative to other paleoceanographic proxies.
Subjects
Data mining
Deposition
Microalgae
Uncertainty analysis
Alkenones
Asynchrony
Environmental distribution
Lateral transport
Long chain alkenones
Paleotemperatures
Sea surfaces
Surface temperatures
Temperature extremes
Uncertainty
Oceanography
Publisher
Elsevier
Type
book part