Evolution of the northeast Labrador Sea during the last interglaciation

• Published in: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
• Main Authors: Winsor, Kelsey, Carlson, Anders E., Klinkhammer, Gary P., Stoner, Joseph S., Hatfield, Robert G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Amer Geophysical Union 2012
• Subjects: Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral); Labrador Sea; Mg/Ca; deglaciations; interglaciations; subpolar gyre; Arctic; Greenland; Ice Sheet; Neogloboquadrina pachyderma; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00265/37604/36840.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GC004263; https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00265/37604/

Boreal summer insolation during the last interglaciation (LIG) generally warmed the subpolar to polar Northern Hemisphere more than during the early Holocene, yet regional climate variations between the two periods remain. We investigate northeast Labrador Sea subsurface temperature and hydrography across terminations (T) I and II and during the LIG to assess the impact of two different magnitudes of boreal summer insolation increase on the northeast Labrador Sea. We use Mg/Ca ratios in Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral) as a proxy of calcification temperature to document changes in subsurface temperatures over Eirik Drift. Our corresponding record of delta O-18 of seawater documents changes in water mass salinity. Mg/Ca calcification temperatures peak early in the Holocene coincident with peak boreal summer insolation. In contrast, LIG temperatures are relatively constant through the interglaciation, and are no warmer than peak Holocene temperatures. During the first half of the LIG, delta O-18 of seawater remains depleted, likely from southern Greenland Ice Sheet retreat and enhanced Arctic freshwater and sea-ice export to the Labrador Sea. The consequent stratification of the Labrador Sea and attendant suppressed convection explains delayed deep-ocean ventilation and a cooler subsurface in the northeast Labrador Sea during the LIG.