Chapter 4 - Deciphering the changing climate and environment around Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, since the Last Glacial Maximum: a multiproxy approach

Abstract

One of the projects under the India Arctic Programme was to study the past climatic and environmental changes around Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. In this endeavor, we adopted a multiproxy approach involving palynology, quartz grain microtexture, and magnetic susceptibility. The archives for the studies mainly include surface and subsurface sediments; besides, airborne pollen and polleniferous material from the flowers were also used. An attempt was made to interpret the pollen-vegetation relation in the area and to develop the modern analogues for the better interpretation of fossil pollen assemblages. For past climatic studies, subsurface sediments from a 1-m trench were analyzed. Pollen yield was found to be inadequate for reconstructing the past vegetation and concomitant climatic changes. Nonetheless, quartz grain microtexture and magnetic susceptibility were found to help reconstruct the past climatic changes in the region. The changes in the climate and environment around Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, over the last 19,000 years are discussed in the present communication.