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Evidence for ice-free summers in the late Miocene central Arctic Ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Ruediger Stein

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    University of Bremen)

  • Kirsten Fahl

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Michael Schreck

    (Arctic Research Centre, Korea Polar Research Institute)

  • Gregor Knorr

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Frank Niessen

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Matthias Forwick

    (Institute of Geology, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway)

  • Catalina Gebhardt

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Laura Jensen

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Michael Kaminski

    (College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals)

  • Achim Kopf

    (University of Bremen
    MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen)

  • Jens Matthiessen

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Wilfried Jokat

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    University of Bremen)

  • Gerrit Lohmann

    (Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen)

Abstract

Although the permanently to seasonally ice-covered Arctic Ocean is a unique and sensitive component in the Earth’s climate system, the knowledge of its long-term climate history remains very limited due to the restricted number of pre-Quaternary sedimentary records. During Polarstern Expedition PS87/2014, we discovered multiple submarine landslides along Lomonosov Ridge. Removal of younger sediments from steep headwalls has led to exhumation of Miocene sediments close to the seafloor. Here we document the presence of IP25 as a proxy for spring sea-ice cover and alkenone-based summer sea-surface temperatures >4 °C that support a seasonal sea-ice cover with an ice-free summer season being predominant during the late Miocene in the central Arctic Ocean. A comparison of our proxy data with Miocene climate simulations seems to favour either relatively high late Miocene atmospheric CO2 concentrations and/or a weak sensitivity of the model to simulate the magnitude of high-latitude warming in a warmer than modern climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruediger Stein & Kirsten Fahl & Michael Schreck & Gregor Knorr & Frank Niessen & Matthias Forwick & Catalina Gebhardt & Laura Jensen & Michael Kaminski & Achim Kopf & Jens Matthiessen & Wilfried Jokat, 2016. "Evidence for ice-free summers in the late Miocene central Arctic Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11148
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11148
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