Towards an improved Arctic Ocean chronostratigraphy
So far, the history of Arctic Ocean paleoceanography is so poorly known that scientists can look at the recovery of any material as a true exploration that will, by definition, increase the knowledge and understanding of this critical region for climate change. As an important contribution to the planned drilling in the central part of the Arctic Ocean, we have worked out a refined chronostratigraphy for Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 16 to MIS 2 on existing ODP site 910 from the marginal Arctic Ocean (Yermak Plateau), which will serve as important correlating tools for establishing a sound stratigraphy in the central Arctic Ocean.We chose the Yermak Plateau the Atlantic/Arctic Ocean gateway as key area for our study because, (1) here, rather than in central Arctic Ocean, carbonate bearing sequences permit establishment of a relatively continuous stable oxygen isotope stratigraphy, which is still the prerequisite for any subsequent application of chronological approaches, and (2) the dynamic coupling between the northernmost branch of the Gulf Stream and the Arctic Ocean. Up to now, the time resolution in ODP site 910 A is by far too low to address most relevant question in climate changes. Here, we verify the existing but equivocal age model of Hole 910A down to Marine Isotope Stage 16 by compiling new and existing chronostratigraphic age fix points in site 910A to strengthen the reliability of Arctic Ocean chronology and establish a new, fundamental basis for generating high-resolution paleoenvironmental reconstructions in the central Arctic Ocean.
Helmholtz Research Programs > MARCOPOLI (2004-2008) > POL6-Earth climate variability since the Pliocene