Recent climate variation signals from corals in Timor, Indonesia

Coral rich modem reefs fringe the north coast of East Timer and flanks the relatively steep slope of Wetar strait. This strait is strongly influenced by the Asian-Australian monsoon system that controls seasonal rainfall and sea surface currents. Solar insolation and fresh water recharge to the sea influence the reef environment by modulating variations in sea surface temperature and other physical and chemical conditions. Porites growth in the intertidal zone records sea surface conditions in its carbonate skeleton. Small, longitudinal slabs of Porites were collected from the north coast of East Timer. The growth pattern is clearly seen as alternating heavy and light banding of marine-terrestrial vulvic acid. Bleached, dead surface or disturbed growth is observed, but has been covered by younger carbonate banding. This pattern can be correlated to the historical climate record. Copyright (C) 1996 INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd