Analyses of living benthic ostracodes collected in the Coral Sea show a direct relationship between water temperature and the Mg/Ca ratio in the ostracode shells. Fossil ostracodes from Hole 822A (western edge of the Queensland Trough) were analyzed for their Mg and Ca content, and paleotemperatures are inferred using equations derived from the modern material. The bottom-water temperature record from Site 822, spanning the last 120,000 yr, indicates substantial cooling during glacial periods. It also documents important variations during an interval that is considered to correspond to isotopic stage 5. Although still preliminary, these results show that trace-element analyses of ostracode shells have a great potential for paleoceanographic studies.

Sediment depth is given in mbsf. When more than one valve was analyzed in a sample, the mean Mg/Ca and the associated standard deviation were calculated. For these samples, the paleotemperature was calculated from the mean Mg/Ca.

Supplement to: Corrège, Thierry (1993): Preliminary results of paleotemperature reconstruction using the magnesim to calcium ratio of deep-sea ostracode shells from the Late Quaternary of Site 822, Leg 133 (wetsern Coral Sea). In: McKenzie, JA; Davies, PJ; Palmer-Julson, A; et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 133, 175-180