Figure F9. Estimated opal depositional rates at Sites 1095 and 1096 (linearly integrated at time increments of 200 k.y.), derived long-term climatic evolution in the Bellingshausen Sea, and mean properties (production, flow, and temperature) of the Northern Component Water (NCW) throughout the last 9.5 m.y. Opal depositional rates at Sites 1095 and 1096 were spliced at 4.4 Ma (thin stippled line) because of a late Pliocene hiatus and lower temporal resolution of samples at Site 1095. In the Bellingshausen Sea climatic curve, chronological uncertainty regarding early Pliocene warming because of another possible hiatus at Site 1095 (spanning the time interval from 6.140 to 5.040 Ma) are indicated by the bold stippled line. Details regarding development of the properties of NCW were taken from literature (see references in "Discussion").