Skip to main content
Article
Elemental and Isotopic Constraints on the Late Glacial-Holocene Transgression and Paleoceanography of the Chukchi Sea
American Geophysical Union (2004)
  • Zachery J Lundeen, University of Utah
  • Julie Brigham_Grette, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • Steven T Petsch, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • Stephen Burns, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Abstract
Results obtained from analyses of three sediment cores collected from the Chukchi Shelf at 55m, 80m, and 107m water depths show changes in the composition and quantity of sedimentary organic matter delivered to the core locations from the Late-glacial up to near modern times. Two of the cores (80m, and 107m) show an abrupt and substantial increase in the total organic content and a shift in stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of the organic matter at 8000-9000 years BP. We interpret this shift to be indicative of increased marine primary productivity that subsequently led to the onset of denitrification, as observed today in modern Chukchi Shelf sediments. The shift coincides with the probable re-advance of sea ice coverage at 8500 14C yrs BP, as well as a shift in the Trans Polar Drift. Together, these occurrences suggest a major reorganization of Arctic paleoceanography at 8-9ka that has more or less persisted through the Holocene. A small increase in productivity is also observed at ~11ka in the 80m core that could coincide with the first onset of Bering Strait through-flow following the LGM. Additional studies are underway to help constrain sea ice conditions at various times during the Holocene in the Bering and Chukchi Seas in order to elucidate the relationship between former ice coverage regimes and primary production.
Keywords
  • 5462 Polar regions,
  • 4267 Paleoceanography,
  • 3022 Marine sediments: processes and transport
Disciplines
Publication Date
Fall 2004
Publisher Statement
Bibliographic Code: 2004AGUFMPP21B1380L
Citation Information
Zachery J Lundeen, Julie Brigham_Grette, Steven T Petsch and Stephen Burns. "Elemental and Isotopic Constraints on the Late Glacial-Holocene Transgression and Paleoceanography of the Chukchi Sea" American Geophysical Union (2004)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/julie_brigham_grette/14/