Millennial-scale variations of sea-ice expansion in the southwestern part of the Okhotsk Sea during the past 120 kyr: Age model and ice-rafted debris in IMAGES Core MD01-2412

Abstract

A 58-m-long sediment core IMAGES MD01-2412 was recovered in the southwestern part of the Okhotsk Sea for high resolution paleocenography. An age model of the core was obtained by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating of planktonic foraminifer shells, oxygen–isotope stratigraphy of benthic foraminifer calcite, and tephrochronology, resulting in a core-bottom age of 115 kyr. Sea-ice expansion in the Okhotsk Sea was reconstructed by ice-rafted debris (IRD) based on measurement of dropstone, coarse fraction, sand fractions of terrigenous particles, and the magnetic properties. The SW Okhotsk Sea has not had perennial but seasonal sea-ice conditions during the 115 kyr. Seasonal sea ice fluctuated with large amplitudes on millennial scale during the glacials (Marine isotope stage: MIS 2, 3, and 4) and varied relatively little during the Holocene (MIS 1) and the last interglacial (MIS 5). Enhanced polar atmospheric circulation during the glacial resulted in strong wind fields over the Okhotsk Sea and accelerated the large sea-ice expansion during the glacials (MIS 2, 3, and 4). During the interglacials (MIS 1 and 5), sea ice also expanded by small amplitudes. During these periods, decrease of the Amur River discharge would be one of the possible factors for sea-ice expansion. The two main factors of polar atmospheric circulation and Amur River discharge would be responsible for sea-ice expansion during 120 kyr.