Biomarker Distributions in (Sub)‐Arctic Surface Sediments and Their Potential for Sea Ice Reconstructions

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 vari...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inGeochemistry, geophysics, geosystems : G3 Vol. 21; no. 10
Main Authors Kolling, Henriette M., Stein, Ruediger, Fahl, Kirsten, Sadatzki, Henrik, Vernal, Anne, Xiao, Xiaotong
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2020
Wiley
Subjects
Arctic sea ice
Arctic zone
Baffin Bay
biomarker
Biomarkers
Correlation
Environmental conditions
Fram Strait
Geological time
Ice conditions
IP25
Nutrient availability
Oceans
Phytoplankton
PIP25
Regions
Sea ice
Sea ice concentrations
Sea ice conditions
Sediment samples
Spatial distribution
Temperature
Variability
Arctic region
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary: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 (IP25) 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 (PIP25) database shows a spatial distribution correlating well with the diverse modern sea ice concentrations. We find correlations of PBIP25, PDIP25, and PIIIIP25 with spring and autumn sea ice concentrations. Similar correlations with modern sea ice concentrations are observed in Baffin Bay. However, the correlations of the PIP25 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. Key Points IP25 provides information about modern sea ice cover on a (sub‐)Arctic‐wide scale All PIP25 indices correlate well with spring and autumn sea ice concentrations on a (sub‐)Arctic‐wide scale The combination of biomarker data and dinoflagellate cysts may yield an approach to reconstruct sea ice conditions during different seasons
ISSN:1525-2027
1525-2027
DOI:10.1029/2019GC008629