Case Studies of the Role of Arctic Gateways in Plio-Pleistocene Arctic Changes

• Main Author: Spielhagen, Robert F
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung und Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung 2017
• Subjects: Earth Science; Earth sciences and geology; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Bering Strait; Fram Strait
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.2312/polarforschung.87.1.23; https://www.tib.eu/suchen/id/awi:1b63498c90c6021071fa7c66061ff0cf4d32b3bc

Abstract: The configuration of the Arctic Ocean as a mediterranean sea, surrounded by continents, gives a particular importance to the few connections that exist to the world ocean. In this manuscript critical cases are examined when the Arctic Ocean played an important role in climatic changes occur- ring over long and short geological timescales. By presenting three examples of published research results it is shown that in particular the water mass exchange through Bering Strait and the Fram Strait has varied in direction and volume. These variations have caused significant changes in the environments in the Arctic Ocean itself, on the surrounding continents, and – in cases – even hemisphere-wide. Owing to the prominent role of the Arctic Ocean in the global ocean circulation system, studies of the role of Arctic gateways are key to a better understanding of past, present, and future changes. : Polarforschung