Multiproxy investigation of the last 2,000 years BP marine paleoenvironmental record along the western Spitsbergen margin

Abstract

A reconstruction of the last 2,000 years BP of environmental and oceanographic changes on the western margin of Spitsbergen was performed using a multidisciplinary approach including the fossil assemblages of diatoms, planktic and benthic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils and the use of geochemistry (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction). We identified two warm periods (2,000-1,600 years BP and 1,300-700 years BP) that were associated with the Roman Warm Period and the Medieval Warm Period that alternate with colder oceanic conditions and sea ice coverage occurred during the Dark Ages (1,600-1,300 years BP) and the beginning of the Little Ice Age. During the Medieval Warm Period the occurrence of ice-rafted debris and Aulocoseira spp., a specific diatom genus commonly associated with continental freshwater, suggests significant runoff of meltwaters from local glaciers.

Expedition 403 Scientific Prospectus: Eastern Fram Strait Paleo-Archive (FRAME)

“…Shallow sediment cores at or close to the drill sites provide initial sediment properties and paleoceanographic interpretations (Caricchi et al, 2019(Caricchi et al, , 2020Carbonara et al, 2016;Jessen et al, 2010;Lucchi et al, 2013Lucchi et al, , 2014Lucchi et al, , 2015Lucchi et al, , 2018Melis et al, 2018;Rigual Hernández et al, 2017;Rasmussen et al, 2007Rasmussen et al, , 2014Ślubowska et al, 2005;Ślubowska-Woldengen et al, 2007Ślubowska-Woldengen et al, , 2008Torricella et al, 2022; among others). The existing geologic data set includes multicores, box cores, gravity cores, piston cores (including long Calypso piston cores), and MeBo drilling.…”