Diatom productivity and preservation in the western equatorial Pacific: the Quaternary record

Abstract

We report on diatom abundance and preservation stratigraphy in the uppermost four cores of Ocean Drilling Program Hole 806B, which span the Quaternary period. The distribution of power in the Fourier spectrum of the diatom signal (in the time domain) displays the expected Milankovitch frequencies (at 100, 41, and 24-18 k.y.) It also shows concentration at various "odd' frequencies, especially at 62 k.y. suggesting a complicated response of productivity (and silicate chemistry) to climate forcing. -from Authors