Glacial history and paleoenvironmental changes from the eastern Arctic Ocean (Yermak Plateau) during the last 200 ka

Abstract

Late Quaternary glacial history and paleoenvironmental changes from the eastern continental margin of the Yermak Plateau were reconstructed by using two sediment cores taken during the Polarstern ARK-XX/3 Expedition (2004). Multi-proxies such as stable isotopes of planktonic foraminifera N. pachyderma sin., organic-geochemical parameters, opal, grain-size distribution (including IRD contents) were investigated in details for this study. Organic-geochemical proxies were used to assess characteristics and origin of organic matter (terrigenous vs. marine) deposited in the Eastern Arctic glaciomarine sediments associated with glacial history and productivity in surface water during seasonally ice-reduced warm periods.