Late-Holocene Atlantic bottom-water variability in Igaliku Fjord, South Greenland, reconstructed from foraminifera faunas

Susanne J. Lassen, Antoon Kuijpers, Helmar Kunzendorf, Gerd Hoffmann-Wieck, Naja Mikkelsen, Peter Konradi

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftArtikelForskningpeer review

53 Citationer (Scopus)

Resumé

A high-resolution record of late-Holocene subsurface water-mass characteristics in outer Igaliku Fjord, South Greenland, is presented based on benthic foraminifera faunas from core PO 243-451 collected from a water depth of 304 m. Stratification with Atlantic water masses present in the lower part of the water-column is suggested to have prevailed during the last 3200 cal. years, except for a period referred to as the 'Mediaeval Warm Period' (MWP). During the MWP (c. AD 885-1235) the outer part of Igaliku Fjord experienced enhanced vertical mixing and a high hydrodynamic energy level which we ascribe to increasing wind stress through this period, corresponding to the period of the Norse settlement. The transition from the MWP to the 'Little Ice Age' (LIA) shows a two-step pattern with a short climatic amelioration around AD 1520 before maximum cooling occurred. The intensified wind stress and the overall environmental change are suggested to have contributed to the loss of the Norse settlement in Greenland. Periods with strong stratification and marked influence of Atlantic subsurface water masses around 2.6, 1.3 ka BP and during the LIA are correlated to North Atlantic Holocene ice-rafting events reported by Bond et al. (1997).

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Sider (fra-til)165-171
Antal sider7
TidsskriftHolocene
Vol/bind14
Udgave nummer2
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 feb. 2004

Programområde

  • Programområde 5: Natur og klima

Fingeraftryk

Dyk ned i forskningsemnerne om 'Late-Holocene Atlantic bottom-water variability in Igaliku Fjord, South Greenland, reconstructed from foraminifera faunas'. Sammen danner de et unikt fingeraftryk.

Citationsformater