Abstract. We have measured Cd/Ca ratios of several benthic
foraminiferal species and studied benthic foraminiferal assemblages on two
cores from the northern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea and northern Bay of
Bengal, BoB), in order to reconstruct variations in intermediate-water
circulation and paleo-nutrient content since the last deglaciation.
Intermediate water Cdw records estimated from the benthic Cd/Ca reflect
past changes in surface productivity and/or intermediate–bottom-water
ventilation. The benthic foraminiferal assemblages are consistent with the
geochemical data. These results suggest that during the last deglaciation,
Cdw variability was primarily driven by changes in intermediate-water
properties, indicating an enhanced ventilation of intermediate–bottom water
masses during both Heinrich Stadial 1 and the Younger Dryas (HS1 and YD,
respectively). During the Holocene, however, surface primary productivity
appears to have influenced Cdw more than intermediate water mass properties. This is evident during the early Holocene (from 10 to 6 cal ka) when benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate that surface primary productivity was low, resulting in low intermediate-water Cdw at both sites. Then, from ∼ 5.2 to 2.4 cal ka, surface productivity increased markedly, causing a significant increase in the
intermediate-water Cdw in the southeastern Arabian Sea and the
northeastern BoB. The comparison of intermediate-water Cdw records with
previous reconstructions of past Indian monsoon evolution during the
Holocene suggests a direct control of intermediate-water Cdw by
monsoon-induced changes in upper-water stratification and surface primary
productivity.