To evaluate the present sea ice changes in a longer-term perspective, the knowledge of sea ice variability on preindustrial and geological time scales is essential. For the interpretation of proxy reconstructions it is necessary to understand the recent signals of different sea ice proxies from various regions. We present 260 new sediment surface samples collected in the (sub-)Arctic Oceans that were analyzed for specific sea ice (IP 25) and open-water phytoplankton biomarkers (brassicasterol, dinosterol, and highly branched isoprenoid [HBI] III). This new biomarker data set was combined with 615 previously published biomarker surface samples into a pan-Arctic database. The resulting pan-Arctic biomarker and sea ice index (PIP 25) database shows a spatial distribution correlating well with the diverse modern sea ice concentrations. We find correlations of P B IP 25 , P D IP 25 , and P III IP 25 with spring and autumn sea ice concentrations. Similar correlations with modern sea ice concentrations are observed in Baffin Bay. However, the correlations of the PIP 25 indices with modern sea ice concentrations differ in Fram Strait from those of the (sub-)Arctic data set, which is likely caused by region-specific differences in sea ice variability, nutrient availability, and other environmental conditions. The extended (sea ice) biomarker database strengthens the validity of biomarker sea ice reconstructions in different Arctic regions and shows how different sea ice proxies combined may resolve specific seasonal sea ice conditions.

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<p>Understanding the Earth’s climate system and by that improving predictions of future changes are of utmost importance. A key player in this context is the global thermohaline ocean circulation, of which North Atlantic deep ocean convection is an essential component. Hence, one important region for deep ocean convection is the Labrador Sea, where the warm Gulf Stream meets cold polar waters in the Subpolar Gyre. Sea surface temperature and salinity play a major role in this convective process; two factors that influence these parameters are seasonal sea ice cover and freshwater inflow. During the early Holocene a major freshening in the Labrador Sea at 8.5 ka BP has been associated with the collapse of the Hudson Bay Ice Saddle (Lochte et al., 2019a). This collapse was triggered by a subsurface warming of the western Labrador Sea, linked to the strengthening of the Irminger and West Greenland Current that could have accelerated the ice saddle collapse. However, the role of sea ice in this process is yet unknown.</p> <p> </p> <p>Here, we present a reconstruction of sea ice cover during the respective time interval, based on the organic biomarker IP<sub>25</sub>, a highly branched isoprenoid that is considered as a reliable proxy for past sea ice conditions. Actually, we apply the more advanced PIP<sub>25</sub> sea ice index, together with other biomarkers for phytoplankton productivity, to reconstruct sea ice changes at centennial scale for the early to mid Holocene from a Labrador Shelf sediment core.</p> <p> </p> <p>Based on this approach we infer that nearly perennial sea ice cover opened towards more seasonally, extremely fluctuating, conditions around 8.5 ka, parallel to the strengthening of Atlantic warm water inflow towards the Labrador Shelf. The shift to more seasonal sea ice cover may have favoured the advance of Atlantic water into Hudson Bay and could have accelerated the collapse and subsequent drainage of the Hudson Bay Ice Saddle. The opening of the sea ice triggered phytoplankton productivity and we find evidence for the establishment of a stable ice edge in the vicinity of the core location between 8.1 and 7.6 ka. With the establishment of the Labrador Sea Water formation around 7.4 ka (Lochte et al., 2019b) sea ice continued to fluctuate seasonally and reduced freshwater inflow favoured enhanced phytoplankton productivity.</p> <p> </p> <p>References:</p> <p>Lochte, A. A., Repschläger, J., Kienast, M.,Garbe-Schönberg, D., Andersen, N., Hamann, C., Schneider, R., 2019a. Labrador Sea freshening at 8.5 ka BP caused by Hudson Bay Ice Saddle collapse. Nature Communications, 10-586</p> <p>Lochte, A. A., Repschläger, J., Seidenkrantz, M-S., Kienast, M., Blanz, T., Schneider, R.R., 2019b. Holocene water mass changes in the Labrador Current. The Holocene 1-15</p>