资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

A coral (Orbicella faveolata) delta C-13 isotope ratio record off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico is used to indicate regional ocean-atmosphere conditions over the 20th century. The coral delta C-13 record is correlated positively with North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) and local evaporation. Spatial correlation maps show a broad area of influence by SST, sea-level pressure and evaporation to the northeast of Puerto Rico. The composite maps reflect a strengthening of the North Atlantic anticyclone and east Pacific counter-currents during years of enhanced coral growth. The coral delta C-13 record presented here corresponds with a local cloud cover increase of similar to 10% in parallel with a 0.5 degrees C rise of local SST since 1900. Environmental conditions tend to lead coral growth in a knock-on effect as seen in local SST, cloud cover and evaporation data. The coral community may thus be a sentinel of both multi-year fluctuations and centennial trends in Central Caribbean climate.