High-resolution Sea Surface Temperature record in the Central Mediterranean across the Pliocene/Pleistocene transition

The present dataset provides the first high-resolution record of alkenone-derived Sea Surface Temperature (SST) estimates across the Pliocene/Pleistocene transition (ca. 2.6 – 2.5 Ma) that was reconstructed for the Monte San Nicola section (Sicily, Southern Italy), reference area for the Gelasian GSSP (Rio et al., 1998; Capraro et al. 2022). We also include C37 (tetra-, tri-, di-unsaturated) alkenones concentrations and the planktonic δ18O record for the surface dweller G. ruber. The Pliocene/Pleistocene was characterized by the intensification of a long-term global cooling trend that eventually culminated in the definitive onset of the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation at ca. 2.5 Ma. Investigations performed so far on Mediterranean sections straddling the event provided evidence of a manifold climatic response across the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary, which was however not documented by means of high-resolution studies. The high temporal resolution of the record presented here (~700 yr/sample; Zanola et al. 2024) allowed recognizing significant both the major and small-scale details on the regional and global climatic evolution across the interval of relevance.本数据集首次提供了意大利南部西西里岛蒙特圣尼古拉（Monte San Nicola）剖面的上新世（Pliocene）-更新世（Pleistocene）过渡界面（约2.6~2.5 Ma）长链烯酮（alkenone）衍生海表温度（Sea Surface Temperature, SST）高分辨率重建记录，该剖面是格拉阶全球层型剖面和点位（Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point, GSSP）的标准研究区域（Rio et al., 1998; Capraro et al., 2022）。本数据集还包含C37（四、三、二不饱和）长链烯酮浓度，以及表层浮游种红拟球虫（Globigerinoides ruber, G. ruber）的浮游有孔虫氧同位素18（δ18O）记录。 上新世-更新世时期以长期全球变冷趋势持续增强为特征，最终在约2.5 Ma时达到巅峰，标志着北半球冰盖的正式启动。迄今为止针对跨越该气候事件的地中海剖面开展的相关研究，已证实上新世-更新世界线处存在多维度气候响应，但此类响应尚未通过高分辨率研究得到系统记录。本研究提供的记录具有极高的时间分辨率（约700年/样品；Zanola et al., 2024），得以精准识别该研究时段内区域及全球气候演化过程中的宏观与微观尺度细节。