Description: The data consist of ~600 U-Th ages of scleractianian cold-water corals dated by laser ablation and isotope dilution methods covering the last 150,000 years. The corals are from three locations: Reykjanes Ridge (57°N to 61°N, 28°W to 33°W); Tropic Seamount (23°55'N, 20°45'W); and the East Equatorial Atlantic from Carter (9°N, 21°W) and Knipovich seamounts (5°N, 27°W). The samples were collected with ROV and dredges during the cruises: CE0806 in 2008 (Reykjanes Ridge); JC094 in 2013 (Equatorial Atlantic); and JC142 in 2016 (Tropic Seamount). Additionally, a compilation of ~750 U-Th and 14C ages of scleractianian cold-water corals from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean is presented. The complete dataset is used to investigate the temporal and spatial coral distribution at Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the relation with past climatic events.

Description: U-series ages of deep-sea corals from east Equatorial Atlantic and Reykjanes Ridge defined by laser ablation method. Depths of east Equatorial Atlantic corals was retrieved by ROV. Depths of Reykjanes Ridge corals corresponds to the mean depth of the dredge on and off bottom, and depth range is the depth interval between the dredge on and off bottom. Selection code column indicates samples included (accepted) and not included (rejected) on age distribution discussion.

Description: Uranium series dated cold-water corals from Tropic Seamount, Reykjanes Ridge, and East Equatorial Atlantic. Ages are reported in years before present (BP; where present is the year of 1950 CE) both uncorrected and corrected for initial 232Th. Some samples did not pass our quality control. Selection code column indicates samples not included on age distribution discussion: [238U] 〈2 ppm (Low U), [232Th] 〉6 ppb (High Th), [δ234Ui] 〉157‰ (High δU) and lowest quality sub-sample (duplicate).

Description: Compilation of cold-water coral dated by U-series or radiocarbon of Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Age column corresponds to reported U-series corrected ages or calendar 14C ages re-calculated. Re-calibrated 14C ages column corresponds to 14C ages calculated using CALIB8.10 software, Marine20 calibration curve, and age offset with Marine20 indicated at column "Local offset with Marine20".

Description: Fossil scleractinian corals were collected from the Galápagos platform in the East Equatorial Pacific (0°N, 90°E) on cruises MV1007 and NA064 from water depths between 419 and 650 m. Equatorial Atlantic corals (taxa Caryophyllia, Enallopsammia, Desmophyllum) were collected from a depth range of 749 to 2814 m during Cruise JC094 from Carter Seamount (9.2°N, 21.3°W), Knipovich Seamount (5.6°N, 26.9°W), Vema Fracture Zone (10.7°N, 44.6°W), Vayda Seamount (14.9°N, 48.2°W) and Gramberg Seamount (15.4°N, 51.1°W). Southern Ocean samples were obtained from Burdwood Bank (54.7°S, 62.2°W; taxa Caryophyllia, Balanophyllia, Flabellum, Desmophyllum) and Cape Horn (57.2°S, 67.1°W; taxa Caryophyllia, Balanophyllia, Flabellum) in the Subantarctic Zone and the Sars and Interim Seamounts in the Polar Front Zone (59.7°S, 68.8°W and 60.6°S, 66.0°W; taxa Caryophyllia, Desmophyllum) on cruises NBP0805 and NBP1103 in the Drake Passage. These proximal Sars and Interim sites are grouped as simply "Sars". The shallowest coral samples come from depths of 334 m on Burdwood Bank however the majority are from 700 to 1520 m, at water depths corresponding to modern Antarctic Intermediate Water. Corals recovered from the depth of 1012 m from Cape Horn and further south from Sars Seamount at depths of 695 to 1200 m are currently bathed in Upper Circumpolar Deep Water. Deeper samples at the Sars Seamount site sit within Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (1300 to 1750 m). We use published U-series dates for all samples (Burke and Robinson, 2012; Chen et al., 2020; Chen et al., 2015; Li et al., 2020; Margolin et al., 2014; Stewart et al., 2021). Reported age uncertainties are typically ±1% (2 SD). Whole "S1" septa and attached theca were taken from cup corals while whole calyxes were taken from branching specimens using a rotary cutting tool. This tool was further used to remove surficial oxide coatings and any chalky altered carbonate. Where sufficient sample material allowed, multiple sub-samples were measured to minimize microstructural bias (typically duplicates). Coral fragments were crushed and cleaned using warm 1% H2O2 (buffered in NH4OH) oxidative cleaning and a weak acid polish (0.0005 M HNO3). Samples were dissolved in 0.5 M HNO3 and analysed by ICP-MS to yield Li/Mg ratios. Repeat analysis of NIST RM 8301 (Coral) (n=19) yielded analytical precision of 〈± 1.5%. Coral Li/Mg was converted to temperature using a calibration applicable to all aragonitic corals (Li/Mg = 5.42 exp(−0.050×T(°C)); (Stewart et al., 2020). The quoted uncertainty on this calibration based on prediction intervals is ± 1.7 °C (1σ). This uncertainty is significantly reduced however at extremely low temperatures close to the freezing point of seawater (~ −2 °C). Corals could not survive in frozen seawater, therefore, where proxy estimated temperature falls below this minimum a value of −2 °C is reported instead. For Li/Mg averages of each coral sample and conversion to bottom water temperature, see the xlsx version of the dataset under Further details.

Description: Highlights • Six combined 231Pa/230Th and εNdεNd down-core profiles back to 25 ka are presented. • Increased influence of SCW and northward advection of deep waters during LGM/HS1. • Evidence for an active but shallower northern overturning cell during LGM/HS1. Abstract Reconstructing past modes of ocean circulation is an essential task in paleoclimatology and paleoceanography. To this end, we combine two sedimentary proxies, Nd isotopes (εNdεNd) and the 231Pa/230Th ratio, both of which are not directly involved in the global carbon cycle, but allow the reconstruction of water mass provenance and provide information about the past strength of overturning circulation, respectively. In this study, combined 231Pa/230Th and εNdεNd down-core profiles from six Atlantic Ocean sediment cores are presented. The data set is complemented by the two available combined data sets from the literature. From this we derive a comprehensive picture of spatial and temporal patterns and the dynamic changes of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation over the past ∼25 ka. Our results provide evidence for a consistent pattern of glacial/stadial advances of Southern Sourced Water along with a northward circulation mode for all cores in the deeper (〉3000 m) Atlantic. Results from shallower core sites support an active overturning cell of shoaled Northern Sourced Water during the LGM and the subsequent deglaciation. Furthermore, we report evidence for a short-lived period of intensified AMOC in the early Holocene.