Arctic front shifts in the subpolar North Atlantic during the Mid-Pleistocene (800–400 ka) and their implications for ocean circulation

• Published in: Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology Vol. 311; no. 3; pp. 268 - 280
• Main Authors: Alonso-Garcia, Montserrat, Sierro, Francisco J., Flores, José A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.11.2011
• Subjects: Arctic front; Bacillariophyceae; Factor analysis; Foraminifera; Marine; Mid-Pleistocene; Neogloboquadrina pachyderma; Planktic foraminifers; Sea ice extent; Subpolar North Atlantic; Turborotalita quinqueloba; ANE, North Atlantic, Iceland Basin, Gardar Drift; AN, North Atlantic; PN, Arctic; Arctic front; Factor analysis; Mid-Pleistocene; Subpolar North Atlantic; Planktic foraminifers; Sea ice extent
• ISSN: 0031-0182; 1872-616X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.09.004

Surface water conditions at the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1314 (Southern Gardar Drift, 56° 21.8′ N, 27° 53.3′ W, 2820 m depth) were inferred using planktic foraminifer assemblages between Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 19 and 11 (ca. 800–400 ka). Factor analysis of the planktic foraminifer assemblages suggests that the assemblage was controlled by three factors. The first factor (which explained 49% of the variance) is dominated by transitional and subpolar species and points to warm and salty surface water conditions (Atlantic water). The second factor (37%) is dominated by Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sin and has been associated with the presence of cold and low saline surface waters (Arctic water). Finally, the third factor (9%), linked to a significant presence of Turborotalita quinqueloba, reflects the closeness of the Arctic front (the boundary between Atlantic and Arctic water). The position of the Arctic and Polar fronts has been estimated across the glacial–interglacial cycles studied according to planktic foraminifer abundances from Site U1314 (and their factor analysis) combined with a synthesis of planktic foraminifer and diatom data from other North Atlantic sites. Regarding at the migrations of the Arctic front and the surface water masses distribution across each climatic cycle we determined five phases of development. Furthermore, deep ocean circulation changes observed in glacial–interglacial cycles have been associated with each phase. The high abundance of transitional-subpolar foraminifers (above 65% at Site U1314) during the early interglacial phase indicated that the Arctic front position and surface water masses distribution were similar to present conditions. During the late interglacial phase, N. pachyderma sin and T. quinqueloba slightly increased indicating that winter sea ice slightly expanded southwestwards whereas the ice volume remained stable or was still decreasing. N. pachyderma sin increased rapidly (above 65% at Site U1314) at the first phase of glacial periods indicating the expansion of the Arctic waters in the western subpolar North Atlantic. During the second phase of glacial periods the transitional-subpolar assemblage throve again in the central subpolar North Atlantic associated with strong warming events that followed ice-rafting events. The third phase of glacial periods corresponds to full glacial conditions in which N. pachyderma sin dominated the assemblage for the whole subpolar North Atlantic. This division in phases may be applied to the last four climatic cycles. ► Planktic foraminifer assemblages were used to study changes in surface water masses. ► Arctic front position and North Atlantic surface circulation was tracked (800–400 ka). ► Changes in surface circulation were related to changes in deep circulation. ► Climatic cycles were divided in five phases.