The recent depositional architecture of the north-western Barents Sea continental margin derives from late Quaternary climate changes producing alternating deposition of glacigenic diamicton and debris flows associated with shelf-edge glaciations, and bioturbated, biogenic-rich sediments deposited during interglacial conditions. Yet, several m-thick, laminated sediments recovered along the whole margin, were associated with intense release of turbid meltwaters (plumites deposition) associated with ice sheet decay occurring during glacial terminations and/or transitional phases such as the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS)-3. A high-resolution age model allowed the identification and correlation along the margin of prominent meltwater events including the MWP-1a (Lucchi et al., 2013, 2015), the MWP-19ka (Caricchi et al., 2019), and Heinrich-like events cohevial with H2, H4, H6, but associated in this area with episodes of ice sheet instability and melting. Sedimentological and compositional analyses revealed new insight on the paleoclimate variability during MIS-3, its feedback on the paleo Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet, and the impact of extensive meltwater events on the paleoenvironment, and hydrographic characteristics.
Extensive episodic melting of the paleo Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet during last 60 ky
Morigi C.;
2021-01-01
Abstract
The recent depositional architecture of the north-western Barents Sea continental margin derives from late Quaternary climate changes producing alternating deposition of glacigenic diamicton and debris flows associated with shelf-edge glaciations, and bioturbated, biogenic-rich sediments deposited during interglacial conditions. Yet, several m-thick, laminated sediments recovered along the whole margin, were associated with intense release of turbid meltwaters (plumites deposition) associated with ice sheet decay occurring during glacial terminations and/or transitional phases such as the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS)-3. A high-resolution age model allowed the identification and correlation along the margin of prominent meltwater events including the MWP-1a (Lucchi et al., 2013, 2015), the MWP-19ka (Caricchi et al., 2019), and Heinrich-like events cohevial with H2, H4, H6, but associated in this area with episodes of ice sheet instability and melting. Sedimentological and compositional analyses revealed new insight on the paleoclimate variability during MIS-3, its feedback on the paleo Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet, and the impact of extensive meltwater events on the paleoenvironment, and hydrographic characteristics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
