Intermediate ocean circulation and cryosphere dynamics in the northeast Atlantic during Heinrich Stadials: benthic foraminiferal assemblage response ...

• Main Authors: Depuydt, Pauline, Mojtahid, Meryem, Barras, Christine, Bouhdayad, Fatima Zohra, Toucanne, Samuel
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: SEANOE 2022
• Subjects: Intermediate water masses; AMOC; European Ice Sheet; Glacial Eastern Boundary Current GEBC; Channel River; Benthic Foraminifera; Ice Sheet; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17882/88029; https://www.seanoe.org/data/00768/88029/

The interaction between ocean circulation and ice-sheet dynamics plays a key role in the Quaternary climate. Compared to the surface and deep compartments of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the study of intermediate depths during key time periods, such as Heinrich Stadials (HSs), remains poorly documented, especially in the Northeast Atlantic. Here we use benthic foraminiferal assemblage data to trace paleoenvironmental changes from ~32 to 14 ka cal BP at ~1000 m depth in the Bay of Biscay. Our results highlight the high sensitivity of benthic foraminifera, with species-specific responses, to continental (European Ice Sheet dynamics) and marine (AMOC) forcing factors during the last three HSs. In general, HSs were characterized by the concomitant presence of meso-oligotrophic and anoxia indicator species and the low abundance of high-energy indicator species. This confirms an overall sluggish intermediate circulation during the three HSs in the Northeast Atlantic. HS1 is distinctive ...