LA-ICP-MS analyses on coral growth increments reveal heavy winter rain in the Eastern Mediterranean at 9Â Ma

High concentrations of the non-lattice bound elements correlate with low SSTs of the winter months. The discrepancy in SST estimations between δ18O and Sr/Ca seasonality suggests that fresh water originating from intense winter rain caused a reduction of the annual δ18O amplitudes and transported suspended material to the near-shore reef. Thus, we relate the seasonality in non-lattice bound element concentrations to climate variations in the Eastern Mediterranean region during the Late Miocene. Our results indicate that the present-day Mediterranean-type climate with a strong seasonality of precipitation and heavy winter rainfall events may have occurred at least temporarily during the Late Miocene at ~ 9 Ma in the Eastern Mediterranean.