Coral microatoll reconstructions of El Niño-Southern Oscillation: New windows on seasonal and interannual processes

Porites coral microatolls show δ18O signal reproducibility and fidelity comparable to more conventional coral growth forms. Longer-lived and fossil microatolls, which grow in suitably flushed environments, contain δ18O signals that can significantly extend instrumental records of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Porites corals are the most commonly used genus for reconstructing El Niño- Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This hermatypic coral is found in all tropical reef environments (Veron 2000) with a variety of growth forms. Climate reconstructions of a century or more have been obtained from the most common, dome-shaped Porites growth form, whereby the colonies, beginning from the substrate, grow outward and upward towards the ocean surface (Knutson et al. 1972). Domed structures, however, are not the only Porites growth form.