Abstract
Benthic δ18O stacks are the benchmarks by which paleoceanographic data
are stratigraphically aligned and compared. However, a recent study
found that between 1.8-1.9 million years ago (Ma) several Ceara Rise
records differed substantially from the widely used LR04 global stack.
Here, we use new Bayesian stacking software to construct regional stacks
and demonstrate a geographical divergence in benthic δ18O features from
1.8-1.9 Ma. The pattern of isotopic stage features observed in the Ceara
Rise is widespread throughout the Atlantic and differs notably from
Pacific records. We propose that this regional difference in isotopic
stages may be the result of relatively strong precession forcing and
weaker obliquity forcing between 1.8-1.9 Ma. In accordance with the
Antiphase Hypothesis, our results highlight a period of apparent
sensitivity to regional precession forcing that is masked during most of
the 41-kyr world due to the amplitude modulation of obliquity forcing.