L. V. Polyak

Post-glacial environments of the southeastern Barents Sea: foraminiferal evidence

Abstract Quaternary sediment records from the southeastern Barents Sea were used to reconstruct palaeoceanographic environments since the last deglaciation based on lithology, foraminiferal assemblages and AMS 14C dates. After the ice sheet retreat at 13 ka BP two pulses of glacimarine sedimentation occurred, separated by non-deposition between approximately 12 and 10.5 ka BP. Proximal sedimentation from meltwater overflows prevailed during the first pulse, whereas the second pulse reflects distal glacimarine environments with some inflow of Atlantic water. Full marine environments were established by 9.3 ka BP, associated with increased Atlantic water advection, intensified currents and reduced sedimentation rates. The maximum Atlantic influence lasted until approximately 5 ka BP, followed by an advance of Arctic surface water with winter sea ice cover.

The glacial History of the Barents and Kara Sea Region

This chapter discusses the present knowledge of the Quaternary ice sheet history in the Barents and Kara Sea region. A reconstruction of the ice sheet extent during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) is presented in the chapter. The reconstructions are based on a review of published geological and geophysical data from the shelf and adjacent islands and have also taken into account unpublished results. The ice sheet extent during the LGM has been much debated over the past decades, and was considered to represent one of the largest uncertainties in the global distribution of glaciers. According to one extreme view, much of northern Eurasia was covered by an enormous shelf-centered ice sheet at the LGM whereas others visualize more localized ice caps over the Arctic islands. Based on comprehensive investigations, it has now been demonstrated that a major ice sheet did exist in the Barents Sea region at this time. However, this ice sheet did not expand onto the Russian Lowland and there was no major ice dispersal centres over the Kara Sea shelf during the LGM.