Methods and Proxies of Paleoceanographic Reconstructions

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief overview of the existing traditional and upcoming micropaleontological, geochemical, and other proxies, methods, and techniques of paleoceanographic reconstructions referred to in the monograph. Special emphasis is given to the foraminiferal transfer functions and stable isotopes as the concert of these techniques enables to obtain the quantitative estimates of the basic parameters of the thermohaline circulation, notably temperature and salinity. The carbon isotope composition of planktic and epibenthic species and several conservative and non-conservative water mass tracers are mentioned as the tools to discriminate the advection and propagation of the waters from different sources.