Variations in mid-latitude North Atlantic surface water properties during the mid-Brunhes: Does Marine Isotope Stage 11 stand out?

New planktonic stable isotope and ice-rafted debris records from three core sites in the mid-latitude North Atlantic (IODP Site U1313, MD01-2446, MD03-2699) are combined with records of ODP Sites 1056/1058 and 980 to reconstruct hydrographic conditions during the middle Pleistocene spanning Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 9–14 (300–540 ka). Together the study sites reflect western and eastern basin boundary currents as well as north to south transect sampling of subpolar and transitional water masses. Planktonic δ18O records indicate that during peak interglacial MIS 9 and 11 hydrographic conditions were similar among all the sites with relative stable conditions and confirm prolonged warmth during MIS 11c also for the mid-latitudes. Sea surface temperature (SST) reconstructions further reveal that in the mid-latitude North Atlantic MIS 11c is associated with two plateaus, the younger one of which is slightly warmer. Enhanced subsurface northward heat flux in the eastern boundary current system, especially during early MIS 11c, is denoted by the presence of tropical planktonic foraminifer species. MIS 13 was generally colder and more variable than the younger interglacials. The greatest differences between the sites existed during the glacial inceptions and glacials. Then a north-south trending hydrographic front separated the nearshore and offshore waters off Portugal. While offshore waters originated from the North Atlantic Drift as indicated by the similarities between the records of IODP Site U1313, ODP Site 980 and MD01-2446, nearshore waters as recorded in core MD03-2699 derived from the Azores Current and thus the subtropical gyre. A strong Azores Current influence is seen especially during MIS 12, when SST dropped significantly only during the Heinrich-type ice-rafting event at the onset of Termination V. Given the subtropical overprint on Portuguese nearshore sites such as MD03-2699 and MD01-2443 caution needs to be taken to interpret their records as basin-wide climate signals.