Figure 16. A. Correlation between fluctuation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) production (from Raymo et al., 1990) and a carbonate composite dissolution index (CDI) from Walton Basin on the northern Nicaraguan Rise during the late Quaternary (Haddad, 1994; Haddad and Droxler, 1996). Note that maximum NADW production during the Holocene and last interglacial Stage 5e correlates with dissolution peaks in the Caribbean when the more corrosive Antarctic Intermediate Water flowed through the Caribbean. This late Quaternary interglacial scenario could illustrate the oceanographic setting in the Caribbean during the carbonate crash at the middle to late Miocene transition. On the other hand, the last glacial maximum (LGM) and previous glacial intervals are associated with dramatic reduction of NADW production and maximum carbonate preservation. This late Quaternary glacial scenario is a good illustration of the oceanographic setting prior to the Caribbean carbonate crash in the middle Miocene. B. Correlation between several benthic 13C records (Shearer et al., 1995; Oppo and Fairbanks, 1990) from subthermocline to abyssal depths in the Caribbean Basins and the carbonate CDI (see A; Haddad and Droxler, 1996). Lighter ¹³C values correspond to interglacial carbonate-dissolution intervals (Holocene and Stage 5e) when NADW was at its maximum and AAIW was flowing through the Caribbean basins. The LGM was a time of heavy ¹³C, maximum carbonate preservation, and minimum NADW production. EN = Endeavour; CH = Cape Hatteras; WD = water depth.