Reconstruction of surface ocean conditions in the western Norwegian Sea during MIS 5e using intra-interglacial variability of planktic foraminifera

• Main Author: Kaparulina, Ekaterina
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Norwegian Sea
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/28040/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/28040/1/2011_Kaparulina-Ekaterina_MSc-Thesis.pdf

This thesis focuses on the identification and description of the last interglacial period (Marine Isotope Stage 5e) which began about 130,000 years ago and ended about 115,000 years ago. The detailed study of this period is of great importance, since the climatic conditions of the last interglacial period were very similar to modern conditions. Definition of major climate changes during this stage and explanation of their reasons make it possible to draw out reliable predictions and identify the future trend of the modern climate development. The main purpose of this work includes the identification of climatic variations during previous warmest period, the definition of its borders on the glacial-interglacial scale using a range of paleoceanographic proxy records, such as IRD (ice-rafted debris), carbonate content, planktic foraminifera variability, stable oxygen isotopes. The detailed investigation of sediment core MD 992276 from the western part of the Norwegian Sea was implemented to achieve the goal of the study. A particular quantitative analysis of the content of planktic foraminifera was carried out for all samples, on the basis of which sea surface temperatures were estimated. These estimations allowed an independent assessment of climatic changes, based on the main climate forming factor – temperature. Variations of planktic foraminifera content were correlated with the data of ice-rafted debris content which were taken from the previous investigation of this core (data from Bachelor Thesis of Kolling H., 2010) as well as data of ash content in the samples. For the stratigraphic purposes the carbonate content (XRF – measurements) in samples from the previous investigation was used (data from Bachelor Thesis of Kolling H., 2010). The main result was the fact that all analysis and interpretations clearly reflect the climate warming over the Marine Isotope Stage 5e and precisely identify the stratigraphic boundaries of this period. The tendency to instability and slight variations in climate during this ...