Stable isotopic investigation of <i>Porites</i> coral from the Minicoy Island

Abstract

Stable isotope analysis has been performed on a coral collected from the Minicoy Island to investigate its potential as a proxy for southwest monsoonal variability. The X-Ray picture of the <i>porites</i> coral collected revealed about 24 annual bands (1989-2013). The mean annual extension over this period is ca. 7.7mm/year. Stable carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) analysis of these bands reveal that the isotopic composition is controlled by kinetic fractionation. There is a drop of δ¹⁸O, ca 1‰ relative to the mean value -during -1998 indicating anomalous warming of the sea surface warming.