Paleoceanographic evolution of the SW Svalbard margin (76°N) since 20,000 14 C yr BP

• Published in: Quaternary Research
• Main Authors: Rasmussen, Tine L., Thomsen, Erik, Ślubowska, Marta A., Jessen, Simon, Solheim, Anders, Koç, Nalân
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2007
• Subjects: Svalbard; Sea ice; Storfjorden; Svalbard margin
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2006.07.002; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0033589406000962?httpAccept=text/xml; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0033589406000962?httpAccept=text/plain; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033589400004774

Abstract Two cores from the southwestern shelf and slope of Storfjorden, Svalbard, taken at 389 m and 1485 m water depth have been analyzed for benthic and planktic foraminifera, oxygen isotopes, and ice-rafted debris. The results show that over the last 20,000 yr, Atlantic water has been continuously present on the southwestern Svalbard shelf. However, from 15,000 to 10,000 14 C yr BP, comprising the Heinrich event H1 interval, the Bølling–Allerød interstades and the Younger Dryas stade, it flowed as a subsurface water mass below a layer of polar surface water. In the benthic environment, the shift to interglacial conditions occurred at 10,000 14 C yr BP. Due to the presence of a thin upper layer of polar water, surface conditions remained cold until ca. 9000 14 C yr BP, when the warm Atlantic water finally appeared at the surface. Neither extensive sea ice cover nor large inputs of meltwater stopped the inflow of Atlantic water. Its warm core was merely submerged below the cold polar surface water.