Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen
Multi-proxy analyses of six sediment cores (including lithostratigraphy, physical properties, granulometric analyses, and XRF scanning), and analyses of swath bathymetry and chirp data were integrated to elucidate the Holocene sedimentary processes and palaeoenvironments in Smeerenburgfjorden, north...
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Universitetet i Tromsø
2012
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ftunivtroemsoe:oai:munin.uit.no:10037/4650 2023-05-15T18:18:25+02:00 Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen Velle, Julie Heggdal 2012-11-15 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/4650 eng eng Universitetet i Tromsø University of Tromsø https://hdl.handle.net/10037/4650 URN:NBN:no-uit_munin_4365 openAccess Copyright 2012 The Author(s) VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450::Marin geologi: 466 VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Marine geology: 466 GEO-3900 Master thesis Mastergradsoppgave 2012 ftunivtroemsoe 2021-06-25T17:53:25Z Multi-proxy analyses of six sediment cores (including lithostratigraphy, physical properties, granulometric analyses, and XRF scanning), and analyses of swath bathymetry and chirp data were integrated to elucidate the Holocene sedimentary processes and palaeoenvironments in Smeerenburgfjorden, northwest Spitsbergen. Three basins separated by two sills define the present-day large-scale bathymetry. A transverse ridge in the innermost part of the fjord represents the Little Ice Age (LIA) maximum position of Smeerenburgbreen. Slide scars along the fjord sides and mass transport deposits in the basins indicate repeated mass wasting. Recessional moraines deposited during the last deglaciation suggest a mean annual retreat rate of 140 m/year. Another set of recessional moraines deposited between the maximum LIA position of Smeerenburgbreen and its present day terminus indicate a mean retreat rate of the ice front of ~87 m/year. Although only some of the recessional moraines deposited during the last deglaciation are expressed on the modern seafloor, chirp data reveal that they occur throughout the entire fjord. Suspension settling, ice rafting and mass wasting are the main sedimentary processes acting in Smeerenburgfjorden. Suspension settling is most important in the inner parts of the fjord, resulting in high sedimentation rates that rapidly decrease with increasing distance from the main sediment sources. Strong out-fjord decreasing trends in magnetic susceptibility and Fe-content indicate that these properties are related to material originating from the Hornemantoppen granite in the catchment of Smeerenburgbreen and are, thus, useful proxies for the reconstruction of the activity of the glacier. Relatively little ice rafting, most likely related to warmer surface water conditions, occurred between 8650 and 7350 cal. years BP. Ice rafting from both sea-ice and icebergs increased around 6200 cal. years BP and peaked at ~5200 cal. years BP, associated with a regional cooling. Smeerenburgbreen became more active around 2000 cal. years BP. It probably retreated during the Roman Warm Period (50 BC – AD 400) and advanced during the Dark Ages Cold Period (AD 400 – 800). From AD 1300 – 1500 (late Medieval Warm Period; AD 900 – 1500), ice rafting, sedimentation rates and productivity increased in the inner fjord. The Little Ice Age was characterised by reduced ice rafting, possibly linked to an increased sea-ice cover suppressing iceberg drift. An increase in Ice Rafted Debris (IRD) commencing around AD 1880 is suggested to represent the beginning of Smeerenburgbreen’s retreat from its LIA maximum towards its present position. Master Thesis Sea ice Smeerenburgfjord* Spitsbergen University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive Hornemantoppen ENVELOPE(11.433,11.433,79.567,79.567) Smeerenburgbreen ENVELOPE(11.500,11.500,79.650,79.650) Smeerenburgfjorden ENVELOPE(11.158,11.158,79.681,79.681) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtroemsoe |
language |
English |
topic |
VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450::Marin geologi: 466 VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Marine geology: 466 GEO-3900 |
spellingShingle |
VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450::Marin geologi: 466 VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Marine geology: 466 GEO-3900 Velle, Julie Heggdal Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen |
topic_facet |
VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450::Marin geologi: 466 VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Marine geology: 466 GEO-3900 |
description |
Multi-proxy analyses of six sediment cores (including lithostratigraphy, physical properties, granulometric analyses, and XRF scanning), and analyses of swath bathymetry and chirp data were integrated to elucidate the Holocene sedimentary processes and palaeoenvironments in Smeerenburgfjorden, northwest Spitsbergen. Three basins separated by two sills define the present-day large-scale bathymetry. A transverse ridge in the innermost part of the fjord represents the Little Ice Age (LIA) maximum position of Smeerenburgbreen. Slide scars along the fjord sides and mass transport deposits in the basins indicate repeated mass wasting. Recessional moraines deposited during the last deglaciation suggest a mean annual retreat rate of 140 m/year. Another set of recessional moraines deposited between the maximum LIA position of Smeerenburgbreen and its present day terminus indicate a mean retreat rate of the ice front of ~87 m/year. Although only some of the recessional moraines deposited during the last deglaciation are expressed on the modern seafloor, chirp data reveal that they occur throughout the entire fjord. Suspension settling, ice rafting and mass wasting are the main sedimentary processes acting in Smeerenburgfjorden. Suspension settling is most important in the inner parts of the fjord, resulting in high sedimentation rates that rapidly decrease with increasing distance from the main sediment sources. Strong out-fjord decreasing trends in magnetic susceptibility and Fe-content indicate that these properties are related to material originating from the Hornemantoppen granite in the catchment of Smeerenburgbreen and are, thus, useful proxies for the reconstruction of the activity of the glacier. Relatively little ice rafting, most likely related to warmer surface water conditions, occurred between 8650 and 7350 cal. years BP. Ice rafting from both sea-ice and icebergs increased around 6200 cal. years BP and peaked at ~5200 cal. years BP, associated with a regional cooling. Smeerenburgbreen became more active around 2000 cal. years BP. It probably retreated during the Roman Warm Period (50 BC – AD 400) and advanced during the Dark Ages Cold Period (AD 400 – 800). From AD 1300 – 1500 (late Medieval Warm Period; AD 900 – 1500), ice rafting, sedimentation rates and productivity increased in the inner fjord. The Little Ice Age was characterised by reduced ice rafting, possibly linked to an increased sea-ice cover suppressing iceberg drift. An increase in Ice Rafted Debris (IRD) commencing around AD 1880 is suggested to represent the beginning of Smeerenburgbreen’s retreat from its LIA maximum towards its present position. |
format |
Master Thesis |
author |
Velle, Julie Heggdal |
author_facet |
Velle, Julie Heggdal |
author_sort |
Velle, Julie Heggdal |
title |
Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen |
title_short |
Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen |
title_full |
Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen |
title_fullStr |
Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen |
title_full_unstemmed |
Holocene sedimentary environments in Smeerenburgfjorden, Spitsbergen |
title_sort |
holocene sedimentary environments in smeerenburgfjorden, spitsbergen |
publisher |
Universitetet i Tromsø |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/4650 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(11.433,11.433,79.567,79.567) ENVELOPE(11.500,11.500,79.650,79.650) ENVELOPE(11.158,11.158,79.681,79.681) |
geographic |
Hornemantoppen Smeerenburgbreen Smeerenburgfjorden |
geographic_facet |
Hornemantoppen Smeerenburgbreen Smeerenburgfjorden |
genre |
Sea ice Smeerenburgfjord* Spitsbergen |
genre_facet |
Sea ice Smeerenburgfjord* Spitsbergen |
op_relation |
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/4650 URN:NBN:no-uit_munin_4365 |
op_rights |
openAccess Copyright 2012 The Author(s) |
_version_ |
1766194984326791168 |