Abstract
We present a sediment record of the last ca. 200,000 years from the
southernmost part of the Lomonosov Ridge off the northern Greenland/Canada continental margin. Evident cyclic changes in hemipelagic sediment types and microfossil content reflect changing glacial-interglacial ice cover characteristics and shifting paleoceanographic circulation patterns. Increased input of coarse ice-rafted debris, from mainly northern Canada, appears to be related to glacial marine isotope stages 6, 4, and late 3. Interglacial stages 7, 5e, and 1, as well as warm interstadial 5a and mid stage 3 were characterised by deposition of
fine-grained sediment with abundant planktic foraminifera suggesting less severe ice conditions. The occurrence of abundant small (>63μm) subpolar Turborotalita quinqueloba in the intervals representing substages 5e (last interglacial) and 5a (warm interstadial) implies that last interglacial sea ice concentrations were considerably reduced off some areas of northern Greenland/Canada. Whether this was part of a larger regional pattern or it represents the influence of extensive polynya areas with locally increased primary productivity remains to be solved.
southernmost part of the Lomonosov Ridge off the northern Greenland/Canada continental margin. Evident cyclic changes in hemipelagic sediment types and microfossil content reflect changing glacial-interglacial ice cover characteristics and shifting paleoceanographic circulation patterns. Increased input of coarse ice-rafted debris, from mainly northern Canada, appears to be related to glacial marine isotope stages 6, 4, and late 3. Interglacial stages 7, 5e, and 1, as well as warm interstadial 5a and mid stage 3 were characterised by deposition of
fine-grained sediment with abundant planktic foraminifera suggesting less severe ice conditions. The occurrence of abundant small (>63μm) subpolar Turborotalita quinqueloba in the intervals representing substages 5e (last interglacial) and 5a (warm interstadial) implies that last interglacial sea ice concentrations were considerably reduced off some areas of northern Greenland/Canada. Whether this was part of a larger regional pattern or it represents the influence of extensive polynya areas with locally increased primary productivity remains to be solved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Arctic sea ice thickness: Past, present and future |
| Editors | Peter Wadhams, Georgios Amanatidis |
| Place of Publication | Brussels |
| Publisher | European Commission |
| Pages | 114-135 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| ISBN (Print) | 92-79-02803-0 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
| Event | International Workshop on Arctic Sea Ice Thikness: Past and present - Rungstedgaard Conference Centre, Rungsted, Denmark Duration: 8 Nov 2005 → 9 Nov 2005 |
Publication series
| Series | Climate Change and Natural Hazards Series |
|---|---|
| Volume | 10 |
Conference
| Conference | International Workshop on Arctic Sea Ice Thikness: Past and present |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Denmark |
| City | Rungsted |
| Period | 8/11/05 → 9/11/05 |
Programme Area
- Programme Area 5: Nature and Climate
