A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet
Here we present a high-resolution, continuous seismostratigraphic framework that for the first time, connects the over 1,000 km long western Svalbard-Barents Sea margin and covers the last ∼2.7 million years (Ma). By exploiting recent improvements in chronology, we establish a set of reliable age fi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.656732/full |
| _version_ | 1818572679775518720 |
|---|---|
| author | Nikolitsa Alexandropoulou Monica Winsborrow Karin Andreassen Andreia Plaza-Faverola Pierre-Antoine Dessandier Pierre-Antoine Dessandier Rune Mattingsdal Nicole Baeten Jochen Knies Jochen Knies |
| author_facet | Nikolitsa Alexandropoulou Monica Winsborrow Karin Andreassen Andreia Plaza-Faverola Pierre-Antoine Dessandier Pierre-Antoine Dessandier Rune Mattingsdal Nicole Baeten Jochen Knies Jochen Knies |
| author_sort | Nikolitsa Alexandropoulou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Here we present a high-resolution, continuous seismostratigraphic framework that for the first time, connects the over 1,000 km long western Svalbard-Barents Sea margin and covers the last ∼2.7 million years (Ma). By exploiting recent improvements in chronology, we establish a set of reliable age fix-points from available boreholes along the margin. We then use a large 2-D seismic database to extend this consistent chronology from the Yermak Plateau and offshore western Svalbard, southwards to the Bear Island Trough-Mouth Fan. Based on this new stratigraphic framework we divide the seismic stratigraphy along the continental margin into three seismic units, and 12 regionally correlated seismic reflections, each with an estimated age assignment. We demonstrate one potential application of this framework by reconstructing the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet evolution from the intensification of the northern hemisphere glaciation at ∼2.7 Ma to the Weichselian glaciations. Through seismic facies distribution and sedimentation rate fluctuations along the margin we distinguish three phases of glacial development. The higher temporal resolution provided by this new framework, allows us to document a clear two-step onset to glacial intensification in the region during phase 1, between ∼2.7 and 1.5 Ma. The initial step, between ∼2.7 and 2.58 Ma shows glacial expansion across Svalbard. The first indication of shelf-edge glaciation is on the Sjubrebanken Trough-Mouth Fan, northwestern Barents Sea after ∼2.58 Ma; whilst the second step, between ∼1.95 and 1.78 Ma shows glacial advances beyond Svalbard to the northwestern Barents Sea. Phase 2 is characterized by variations in sedimentation rates and the seismic facies are indicative for a regional glacial intensification for the whole Barents Sea-Svalbard region with widespread shelf-edge glaciations recorded at around ∼1.5 Ma. During Phase 3, the western Barents Sea margin is characterized by a dramatic increase in sedimentation rates, inferring once again a regional glacial intensification. Our new stratigraphic framework allows for the first time differentiation of the sediments deposited on the slope during Early Saalian (∼0.4 and 0.2 Ma), Late Saalian (∼0.2 and 0.13 Ma), and Weichselian (<∼0.123 Ma) periods, providing new insights into the Barents Sea glaciations over the last ∼0.42 Ma. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:00:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f0cbdc09b3845e08315ff9ffabf5092 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:00:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f0cbdc09b3845e08315ff9ffabf50922022-12-21T22:42:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-05-01910.3389/feart.2021.656732656732A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice SheetNikolitsa Alexandropoulou0Monica Winsborrow1Karin Andreassen2Andreia Plaza-Faverola3Pierre-Antoine Dessandier4Pierre-Antoine Dessandier5Rune Mattingsdal6Nicole Baeten7Jochen Knies8Jochen Knies9Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE), Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayCentre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE), Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayCentre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE), Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayCentre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE), Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayCentre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE), Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayLaboratoire Environnement Profond, IFREMER—Centre de Bretagne, Plouzané, FranceNorwegian Petroleum Directorate, Harstad, NorwayGeological Survey of Norway, Trondheim, NorwayCentre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE), Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayGeological Survey of Norway, Trondheim, NorwayHere we present a high-resolution, continuous seismostratigraphic framework that for the first time, connects the over 1,000 km long western Svalbard-Barents Sea margin and covers the last ∼2.7 million years (Ma). By exploiting recent improvements in chronology, we establish a set of reliable age fix-points from available boreholes along the margin. We then use a large 2-D seismic database to extend this consistent chronology from the Yermak Plateau and offshore western Svalbard, southwards to the Bear Island Trough-Mouth Fan. Based on this new stratigraphic framework we divide the seismic stratigraphy along the continental margin into three seismic units, and 12 regionally correlated seismic reflections, each with an estimated age assignment. We demonstrate one potential application of this framework by reconstructing the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet evolution from the intensification of the northern hemisphere glaciation at ∼2.7 Ma to the Weichselian glaciations. Through seismic facies distribution and sedimentation rate fluctuations along the margin we distinguish three phases of glacial development. The higher temporal resolution provided by this new framework, allows us to document a clear two-step onset to glacial intensification in the region during phase 1, between ∼2.7 and 1.5 Ma. The initial step, between ∼2.7 and 2.58 Ma shows glacial expansion across Svalbard. The first indication of shelf-edge glaciation is on the Sjubrebanken Trough-Mouth Fan, northwestern Barents Sea after ∼2.58 Ma; whilst the second step, between ∼1.95 and 1.78 Ma shows glacial advances beyond Svalbard to the northwestern Barents Sea. Phase 2 is characterized by variations in sedimentation rates and the seismic facies are indicative for a regional glacial intensification for the whole Barents Sea-Svalbard region with widespread shelf-edge glaciations recorded at around ∼1.5 Ma. During Phase 3, the western Barents Sea margin is characterized by a dramatic increase in sedimentation rates, inferring once again a regional glacial intensification. Our new stratigraphic framework allows for the first time differentiation of the sediments deposited on the slope during Early Saalian (∼0.4 and 0.2 Ma), Late Saalian (∼0.2 and 0.13 Ma), and Weichselian (<∼0.123 Ma) periods, providing new insights into the Barents Sea glaciations over the last ∼0.42 Ma.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.656732/fullchronostratigraphyquaternaryglacial intensificationpalaeo-ice streamsTrough-Mouth Fansedimentation rates |
| spellingShingle | Nikolitsa Alexandropoulou Monica Winsborrow Karin Andreassen Andreia Plaza-Faverola Pierre-Antoine Dessandier Pierre-Antoine Dessandier Rune Mattingsdal Nicole Baeten Jochen Knies Jochen Knies A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet Frontiers in Earth Science chronostratigraphy quaternary glacial intensification palaeo-ice streams Trough-Mouth Fan sedimentation rates |
| title | A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet |
| title_full | A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet |
| title_fullStr | A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet |
| title_short | A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet |
| title_sort | continuous seismostratigraphic framework for the western svalbard barents sea margin over the last 2 7 ma implications for the late cenozoic glacial history of the svalbard barents sea ice sheet |
| topic | chronostratigraphy quaternary glacial intensification palaeo-ice streams Trough-Mouth Fan sedimentation rates |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.656732/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nikolitsaalexandropoulou acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT monicawinsborrow acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT karinandreassen acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT andreiaplazafaverola acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT pierreantoinedessandier acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT pierreantoinedessandier acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT runemattingsdal acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT nicolebaeten acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT jochenknies acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT jochenknies acontinuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT nikolitsaalexandropoulou continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT monicawinsborrow continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT karinandreassen continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT andreiaplazafaverola continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT pierreantoinedessandier continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT pierreantoinedessandier continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT runemattingsdal continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT nicolebaeten continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT jochenknies continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet AT jochenknies continuousseismostratigraphicframeworkforthewesternsvalbardbarentsseamarginoverthelast27maimplicationsforthelatecenozoicglacialhistoryofthesvalbardbarentsseaicesheet |