The middle Miocene is marked by a changeover from a warm climatic period (Miocene Climatic Optimum, ~17-14.7 Ma), to a transitional phase (Middle Miocene Climatic Transition), culminating in a cold stage (Icehouse Mode, ~13.8 Ma). This period is associated with a positive excursion of δ¹³C (“Monterey Excursion”), showing a series of δ¹³C maxima (CM events) highlighted by cooling peaks in the δ¹⁸O values (Mi events). DSDP Site 372 obtained a high-resolution record of the middle Miocene of the western Mediterranean (Balearic Islands), and represents one of the best marine sedimentary records for the considered time interval. In this study, high-resolution stable isotope and quantitative calcareous plankton records for the Langhian to the early Serravallian time interval are presented. The stable oxygen and carbon isotope records allowed us to recognize and chronologically frame the Mi and CM events falling between 15.82 and 13.04 Ma.

Furthermore, by integrating the stable isotope data with those obtained by the quantitative analyses of the calcareous plankton content, the three-folded climatic and environmental evolution was outlined for the considered time interval in the Mediterranean region.

During the first stage (Miocene Climatic Optimum = MCO; from 17 up to 14.55 Ma), an initial warm-surface-water, oligotrophic, high salinity and restricted environment is followed by an open marine setting (starting from 15.18 Ma) within still warm-surface-water and oligotrophic conditions. The re-opening of the connections between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean would have likely triggered this latter environmental change.

From 14.55 to 13.75 Ma (second stage; Middle Miocene Climatic Transition; MMCT) an initial (up to 14.05 Ma) temperate-warm-surface-water and eutrophic environment occurred, followed by the onset of warm-surface-water, oligotrophic and slightly restricted marine conditions.

The third stage (Icehouse Mode = IHM; from 13.75 Ma onwards) points to the development of a cold-water, eutrophic, high salinity environment in an open-marine setting.

中中新世的标志是从温暖的气候时期（中新世气候最优，~17-14.7 Ma）过渡到过渡阶段（中新世气候过渡），在寒冷阶段（冰库模式，~13.8 Ma）达到顶峰。这一时期与 δ ¹³ C的正偏移（“蒙特雷偏移”）相关，显示了一系列 δ ¹³ C 最大值（CM 事件），由 δ ¹⁸中的冷却峰值突出显示O 值（Mi 事件）。DSDP Site 372 获得了地中海西部（巴利阿里群岛）中中新世的高分辨率记录，代表了所考虑时间间隔内最好的海洋沉积记录之一。在这项研究中，提供了朗格阶到塞拉瓦阶早期时间间隔的高分辨率稳定同位素和定量钙质浮游生物记录。稳定的氧和碳同位素记录使我们能够识别并按时间顺序确定 15.82 至 13.04 Ma 之间的 Mi 和 CM 事件。

此外，通过将稳定同位素数据与通过钙质浮游生物含量的定量分析获得的数据相结合，在地中海地区所考虑的时间间隔内概述了三重气候和环境演变。

在第一阶段（中新世气候适宜期 = MCO；从 17 到 14.55 Ma），最初的温暖地表水、贫营养、高盐度和受限环境之后是开放的海洋环境（从 15.18 Ma 开始），仍然温暖-地表水和贫营养条件。重新开放地中海和印度洋之间的连接可能会引发后一种环境变化。

14.55~13.75 Ma（第二阶段；中中新世气候转变；MMCT）初始（最高14.05 Ma）温带-暖地表水和富营养环境出现，随后出现暖地表水、贫营养和微营养环境。受限制的海洋条件。

第三阶段（冰库模式 = IHM；从 13.75 Ma 开始）指向在开放海洋环境中发展冷水、富营养化、高盐度环境。