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Expansion of subarctic water masses in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans and implications for mid-Pleistocene ice sheet growth

McClymont, E.L.; Rosell-Mele, A.; Haug, G.; Lloyd, J.M.

Expansion of subarctic water masses in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans and implications for mid-Pleistocene ice sheet growth Thumbnail


Authors

A. Rosell-Mele

G. Haug



Abstract

Past surface ocean circulation changes associated with the mid-Pleistocene transition, 0.9–0.6 Ma, were reconstructed in the northern North Atlantic (ODP 983) and the northwest Pacific (ODP 882), using proxies for subarctic/subpolar water mass distributions (%C37:4 alkenone) and sea surface temperature (U37 K). Both sites experienced a secular expansion of subarctic waters from ∼1.15 Ma, spanning both glacial and interglacial intervals. After 0.9 Ma, low %C37:4 at Site 983 records a northward retreat of subarctic waters during interglacials in the Atlantic, while continued high glacial %C37:4 indicate extensive subarctic waters during glacial maxima associated with the development of the larger late Pleistocene ice sheets. In contrast, a secular decline in %C37:4 occurred at Site 882 from 0.9 to 0.5 Ma, marking a more gradual retreat of subarctic conditions in the Pacific. It is proposed that the expansion of subarctic waters between 1.15 and 0.9 Ma exerted negative feedbacks to the moisture supply to the ice sheet source regions and may account for the apparent delayed ice sheet response to atmosphere-ocean circulation changes associated with the mid-Pleistocene transition that began as early as 1.2 Ma.

Citation

McClymont, E., Rosell-Mele, A., Haug, G., & Lloyd, J. (2008). Expansion of subarctic water masses in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans and implications for mid-Pleistocene ice sheet growth. Paleoceanography, 23, Article PA4214. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008pa001622

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 2008
Deposit Date Nov 15, 2011
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Paleoceanography
Print ISSN 0883-8305
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 23
Article Number PA4214
DOI https://doi.org/10.1029/2008pa001622

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Copyright Statement
© 2008 American Geophysical Union.
McClymont, Erin L. and Rosell-Mele, Antoni. and Haug, Gerald. and Lloyd, Jerry. (2008) 'Expansion of subarctic water masses in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans and implications for mid-Pleistocene ice sheet growth.', Paleoceanography, 23 . PA4214, Digital 10.1029/2008PA001622. To view the published open abstract, go to http://dx.doi.org and enter the DOI.





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