Figure 6. Comparison between the ¹⁸O record of Hole 1002C and the standard SPECMAP composite record (expressed in standard deviation units; Imbrie et al., 1984), with both plotted using the SPECMAP time scale. Despite the low resolution of the Hole 1002C record below MIS 5 (1 analysis/core section), the well-known pattern of ¹⁸O variation for the late Quaternary can clearly be seen. Application of the SPECMAP time scale indicates a basal age of ~580 ka for the Cariaco Basin sediments recovered at Site 1002.