Multi-proxy palaeo-data of sediment core GeoB10831-3 and hydrographic data from Nordaustlandet (Svalbard) including benthic foraminifera, IRD, stable isotopes and biomarkers

Exceptionally high sedimentation rates in Arctic fjords provide the possibility to reconstruct environmental conditions in high temporal resolution during the (pre-)Holocene. The unique geographical location of Svalbard at the intersection of Arctic and Atlantic waters offers the opportunity to esti...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bartels, Martin, Titschack, Jürgen, Fahl, Kirsten, Stein, Ruediger, Hebbeln, Dierk
Format: Dataset
Language:English
Published: PANGAEA 2018
Subjects:
Center for Marine Environmental Sciences
MARUM
Arctic
Svalbard
Nordaustlandet
Foraminifera*
glacier
Sea ice
Online Access:https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.889160
https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.889160
Description
Summary:Exceptionally high sedimentation rates in Arctic fjords provide the possibility to reconstruct environmental conditions in high temporal resolution during the (pre-)Holocene. The unique geographical location of Svalbard at the intersection of Arctic and Atlantic waters offers the opportunity to estimate local (mainly glacier-related) vs. regional (hydrographic) variabilities. Sedimentological, micropalaeontological and geochemical data from the very remote, glacier-surrounded Wahlenbergfjord in eastern Svalbard provides information on glacier dynamics, palaeoceanographic and sea ice conditions during the Holocene. The present study illustrates a high meltwater discharge during the summer insolation maximum (~11.3-7.7 ka) when the intrusion of upwelled relatively warm Atlantic-derived waters led to an almost open fjord situation with reduced sea ice in summer. Around 7.7 ka, a rapid hydrographic shift occurred: The dominance of inflowing Atlantic-derived waters was replaced by a stronger influence of Arctic Water reflecting regional palaeoceanographic conditions evident in the benthic foraminiferal fauna also at Svalbard's margins. Neoglacial conditions characterised the late Holocene (~3.1-0.2 ka), when glaciers likely advanced as cold atmospheric temperatures were decoupled from the advection of relatively warm intermediate waters probably caused by an extending sea ice coverage. Accordingly, our data show that even a remote, glacier-proximal study site reflects rapid as well as longer-term regional changes.

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