Holocene climate dynamics in Sumba Strait, Indonesia: a preliminary evidence from high resolution geochemical records and planktonic foraminifera

The dynamics of climatic conditions during the Holocene in the Sumba Strait is not well known, compared with in the Indian Ocean. The aim of this paper is to identify the possible Holocene climate dynamics in Sumba Strait, eastern Indonesia by using deep-sea core sediments. A 243 cm core was taken aboard RV Baruna Jaya VIII during the Ekspedisi Widya Nusantara 2016 cruise. The core was analyzed for elemental, carbonate and organic matter content, and abundance of foraminifera. Based on geochemical and foraminifera data, we were able to identify at least six climatic changes during the Holocene in the Sumba Strait. By using the elemental ratio of terrigenous input parameter, we infer to interpret that the precipitation in the Sumba Strait during the Early Holocene was relatively higher compared with the Mid to Late Holocene.