Abstract
Abstract. The gravity core JM09-KA11-GC from 345 m water depth on the western Barents Sea margin was investigated for down-core distribution patterns of benthic Foraminifera, stable isotopes, and sedimentological parameters in order to reconstruct the flow of Atlantic water during the Holocene. The core site is located below the Atlantic water masses flowing into the Arctic Ocean and close to the Arctic front. The results show continuous presence of Atlantic water at the margin throughout the Holocene. During the early Holocene, (11 500–9800 cal yr BP), bottom water temperatures as calculated by transfer functions rose by 1.5 °C, likely due to the increased inflow of Atlantic water, although sea ice was still present at this time. The transition to the mid-Holocene is characterized by a local shift in current regime, resulting in a ceased supply of fine-grained material to the core location. Throughout the mid-Holocene the δ18O values indicate a slight cooling, thereby following changes in insolation. In the last 1500 yr, inflow of Atlantic water increased but was interrupted by periods of increased influence of Arctic water causing periodically colder and more unstable conditions.
Highlights
The climate in the European Arctic is strongly dependent on the inflow of warm and saline Atlantic water masses transported to the high northern latitudes by the North Atlantic Current (NAC)
A sediment core from the western Barents Sea margin was analyzed with regard to benthic foraminiferal assemblages, stable isotopes, and sedimentological parameters in high resolution in order to elucidate past variability of Atlantic bottom water during the Holocene
Our results show that Atlantic water has continuously been present at the western Barents Sea margin throughout the studied interval
Summary
The climate in the European Arctic is strongly dependent on the inflow of warm and saline Atlantic water masses transported to the high northern latitudes by the North Atlantic Current (NAC). Several marine records in the Barents Sea region have demonstrated that these smaller variations in the intensity of Atlantic water inflow during the Holocene still have a strong impact on climate at the high northern latitudes (e.g., Duplessy et al, 2001; Lubinski et al, 2001; Sarnthein et al, 2003; Slubowska-Woldengen et al, 2007). These studies indicate that short- and long-term climatic changes, such as the transition from the warm early Holocene to the cool and stable mid-Holocene, are associated with changes in the flow of Atlantic water and the oceanic conveyor belt in addition to changes in insolation forcing. Variability of Atlantic water inflow has been attributed to location and strength of westerly winds (e.g., Risebrobakken et al, 2010; Dylmer et al, 2013)
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