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A 430 kyr record of ice-sheet dynamics and organic-carbon burial in the central Eurasian Arctic Ocean

Author

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  • Ruediger Stein

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

  • Thomas Frederichs

    (University of Bremen)

  • Kirsten Fahl

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

  • Walter Geibert

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

  • Jens Matthiessen

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

  • Frank Niessen

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

  • Christoph Vogt

    (University of Bremen)

  • Cynthia Sassenroth

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

  • Evgenia Bazhenova

    (University of Bremen)

Abstract

Late Quaternary central Arctic Ocean paleoclimatic records going beyond the last climate cycle, are still very rare. Here, we present data from a well-dated deep-sea sediment core that allow for the first time to reconstruct in detail the interrelationship between ice-sheet dynamics and organic-carbon (OC) burial in the Eurasian Basin during the last 430 kyr, and to correlate marine and terrestrial records of the Eurasian Ice Sheet (EIS) history. Using a multi-proxy approach, we demonstrate that within pulses of EIS advance and retreat during glacial to subsequent deglacial times, erosion of ancient (petrogenic) OC-rich sedimentary rocks and soils deliver sediments, further supplied onto the shelf and beyond. Down-slope and long-distance transport of the fine-grained OC-rich suspension by turbidity and contour currents cause elevated burial of terrestrial OC and anoxic sedimentary conditions in the deep Eurasian Basin that allow preservation of labile algae-type OC.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruediger Stein & Thomas Frederichs & Kirsten Fahl & Walter Geibert & Jens Matthiessen & Frank Niessen & Christoph Vogt & Cynthia Sassenroth & Evgenia Bazhenova, 2025. "A 430 kyr record of ice-sheet dynamics and organic-carbon burial in the central Eurasian Arctic Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59112-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59112-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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