Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers and TEX86 index in sinking particles in the western North Pacific

► Sinking flux of GDGTs measured in a sediment trap experiment. ► Flux was enhanced with phytoplankton bloom. ► TEX86 did not change in response to SST change. ► Sinking particle/surface sediment TEX86 values corresponded to mean annual SST. ► Only small portion of GDGTs preserved at sediment surface, but change in TEX86 small.