Changes in the paleohydrological conditions in the Laptev Sea during the late Pleistocene and Holocene based on a study of aquatic palynomorphs

Abstract

On the basis of aquatic palynomorph assemblages in sediment cores obtained from the eastern Laptev Sea shelf, major phases of environmental change associated with the last postglacial global sea-level rise can be recognized for the time since 17.5 calendar years BP (cal. ka). It is shown that in the time interval of 17.5–13.0 cal. ka in the western part of the sea there was a very cold-water sea basin with permanent sea-ice cover, 12.3–11.2 cal. ka the outer shelf were characterized by increased precipitation of river-loaded matter in a river-proximal environment of Anabara and Khatanga rivers, and the period of 11.2–7.0 cal ka was marked by enhanced influence of Atlantic water at the Laptev Sea continental margin. Modern-like environments were established in this part of the sea approximately 7.0 cal. ka.