IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-62499-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Arctic zircon U-Pb ages reveal multiphase glaciations in East Siberia during the late Quaternary

Author

Listed:
  • Han Feng

    (Ministry of Natural Resources)

  • Zhengquan Yao

    (Ministry of Natural Resources
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center
    Shandong (preparatory))

  • Xuefa Shi

    (Ministry of Natural Resources
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center
    Shandong (preparatory))

  • Zhongshi Zhang

    (Peking University)

  • Huayu Lu

    (Nanjing University)

  • Hanzhi Zhang

    (Nanjing University)

  • Yanguang Liu

    (Ministry of Natural Resources
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center
    Shandong University of Science and Technology)

  • Xin Shan

    (Ministry of Natural Resources
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center)

  • Jiang Dong

    (Ministry of Natural Resources
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center)

  • Linsen Dong

    (Ministry of Natural Resources
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center)

  • Gongxu Yang

    (Ministry of Natural Resources)

  • Limin Hu

    (Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center
    Ocean University of China)

  • Yuri Vasilenko

    (Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences)

  • Anatolii Astakhov

    (Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences)

  • Alexander Bosin

    (Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Tracing ice-rafted debris (IRD) in Arctic Ocean sediments is crucial for understanding the evolution of Northern Hemisphere ice cover. However, uncertainties in identifying the provenance of IRD across circum-Arctic shelves have complicated reconstructions of the East Siberian Ice Sheet (ESIS). Here, we present a provenance study using 10,111 detrital zircon U-Pb ages from circum-Arctic shelf sediments and central Arctic IRD. Our results reveal that a prominent ~90–110 Ma zircon peak serves as a distinctive fingerprint for East Siberian-sourced sediments. Central Arctic IRD from at least four glacial periods contains this signature, indicating repeated ESIS glaciation, likely within the past three glacial cycles. This multiphase glaciation of East Siberia exerted significant, though poorly understood, influences on both polar and global climates during the late Quaternary. Our findings provide valuable insights into the history of Northern Hemisphere glaciation and offer an effective approach for reconstructing ice sheet evolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Han Feng & Zhengquan Yao & Xuefa Shi & Zhongshi Zhang & Huayu Lu & Hanzhi Zhang & Yanguang Liu & Xin Shan & Jiang Dong & Linsen Dong & Gongxu Yang & Limin Hu & Yuri Vasilenko & Anatolii Astakhov & Ale, 2025. "Arctic zircon U-Pb ages reveal multiphase glaciations in East Siberia during the late Quaternary," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62499-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62499-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62499-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-62499-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicholas R. Golledge & Elizabeth D. Keller & Natalya Gomez & Kaitlin A. Naughten & Jorge Bernales & Luke D. Trusel & Tamsin L. Edwards, 2019. "Global environmental consequences of twenty-first-century ice-sheet melt," Nature, Nature, vol. 566(7742), pages 65-72, February.
    2. Catherine E. Stickley & Kristen St John & Nalân Koç & Richard W. Jordan & Sandra Passchier & Richard B. Pearce & Lance E. Kearns, 2009. "Evidence for middle Eocene Arctic sea ice from diatoms and ice-rafted debris," Nature, Nature, vol. 460(7253), pages 376-379, July.
    3. Martin Jakobsson & Johan Nilsson & Leif Anderson & Jan Backman & Göran Björk & Thomas M. Cronin & Nina Kirchner & Andrey Koshurnikov & Larry Mayer & Riko Noormets & Matthew O’Regan & Christian Stranne, 2016. "Evidence for an ice shelf covering the central Arctic Ocean during the penultimate glaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, April.
    4. Leonid Polyak & Margo H. Edwards & Bernard J. Coakley & Martin Jakobsson, 2001. "Ice shelves in the Pleistocene Arctic Ocean inferred from glaciogenic deep-sea bedforms," Nature, Nature, vol. 410(6827), pages 453-457, March.
    5. Martin Sikora & Vladimir V. Pitulko & Vitor C. Sousa & Morten E. Allentoft & Lasse Vinner & Simon Rasmussen & Ashot Margaryan & Peter Damgaard & Constanza Fuente & Gabriel Renaud & Melinda A. Yang & Q, 2019. "The population history of northeastern Siberia since the Pleistocene," Nature, Nature, vol. 570(7760), pages 182-188, June.
    6. Ruediger Stein & Kirsten Fahl & Paul Gierz & Frank Niessen & Gerrit Lohmann, 2017. "Arctic Ocean sea ice cover during the penultimate glacial and the last interglacial," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Aradhna Tripati & Dennis Darby, 2018. "Evidence for ephemeral middle Eocene to early Oligocene Greenland glacial ice and pan-Arctic sea ice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Heather M. Stoll & Isabel Cacho & Edward Gasson & Jakub Sliwinski & Oliver Kost & Ana Moreno & Miguel Iglesias & Judit Torner & Carlos Perez-Mejias & Negar Haghipour & Hai Cheng & R. Lawrence Edwards, 2022. "Rapid northern hemisphere ice sheet melting during the penultimate deglaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. 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.
    3. Gagan Mandal & Soon-Il An & Jae-Heung Park & Kyung-Sook Yun & Chao Liu & Seungmok Paik, 2025. "Northern Hemisphere sea ice variability in a transient CGCM simulation of the past 2.6 Ma," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Camille Hayatte Akhoudas & Jean-Baptiste Sallée & Gilles Reverdin & F. Alexander Haumann & Etienne Pauthenet & Christopher C. Chapman & Félix Margirier & Claire Lo Monaco & Nicolas Metzl & Julie Meill, 2023. "Isotopic evidence for an intensified hydrological cycle in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Luke P. Jackson & Katarina Juselius & Andrew B. Martinez & Felix Pretis, 2025. "Modelling the dependence between recent changes in polar ice sheets: Implications for global sea-level projections," Working Papers 2025-002, The George Washington University, The Center for Economic Research.
    6. Chi-Chun Liu & David Witonsky & Anna Gosling & Ju Hyeon Lee & Harald Ringbauer & Richard Hagan & Nisha Patel & Raphaela Stahl & John Novembre & Mark Aldenderfer & Christina Warinner & Anna Di Rienzo &, 2022. "Ancient genomes from the Himalayas illuminate the genetic history of Tibetans and their Tibeto-Burman speaking neighbors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    7. James R. Jordan & B. W. J. Miles & G. H. Gudmundsson & S. S. R. Jamieson & A. Jenkins & C. R. Stokes, 2023. "Increased warm water intrusions could cause mass loss in East Antarctica during the next 200 years," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Chen Cheng & Adrian Jenkins & Paul R. Holland & Zhaomin Wang & Jihai Dong & Chengyan Liu, 2024. "Ice shelf basal channel shape determines channelized ice-ocean interactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Bárbara Sousa da Mota & Simone Rubinacci & Diana Ivette Cruz Dávalos & Carlos Eduardo G. Amorim & Martin Sikora & Niels N. Johannsen & Marzena H. Szmyt & Piotr Włodarczak & Anita Szczepanek & Marcin M, 2023. "Imputation of ancient human genomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Juhyeon Lee & Ursula Brosseder & Hyoungmin Moon & Raphaela Stahl & Lena Semerau & Jamiyan-Ombo Gantulga & Jérôme Magail & Jan Bemmann & Chimiddorj Yeruul-Erdene & Christina Warinner & Choongwon Jeong, 2025. "Slab Grave expansion disrupted long co-existence of distinct Bronze Age herders in central Mongolia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    11. Michael E. Weber & Nicholas R. Golledge & Chris J. Fogwill & Chris S. M. Turney & Zoë A. Thomas, 2021. "Decadal-scale onset and termination of Antarctic ice-mass loss during the last deglaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    12. L. Jebasinski & D. A. Frick & A. K. I. U. Kapuge & C. Basak & M. Saavedra-Pellitero & G. Winckler & F. Lamy & J. Gottschalk, 2025. "Southern Ocean evidence for recurring West Antarctic Ice Sheet destabilization during Marine Isotope Stage 11," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Jun-Young Park & Fabian Schloesser & Axel Timmermann & Dipayan Choudhury & June-Yi Lee & Arjun Babu Nellikkattil, 2023. "Future sea-level projections with a coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice-sheet model," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Leonardo Vallini & Carlo Zampieri & Mohamed Javad Shoaee & Eugenio Bortolini & Giulia Marciani & Serena Aneli & Telmo Pievani & Stefano Benazzi & Alberto Barausse & Massimo Mezzavilla & Michael D. Pet, 2024. "The Persian plateau served as hub for Homo sapiens after the main out of Africa dispersal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    15. Pei-Kuan Cong & Wei-Yang Bai & Jin-Chen Li & Meng-Yuan Yang & Saber Khederzadeh & Si-Rui Gai & Nan Li & Yu-Heng Liu & Shi-Hui Yu & Wei-Wei Zhao & Jun-Quan Liu & Yi Sun & Xiao-Wei Zhu & Pian-Pian Zhao , 2022. "Genomic analyses of 10,376 individuals in the Westlake BioBank for Chinese (WBBC) pilot project," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    16. J. Sutter & A. Jones & T. L. Frölicher & C. Wirths & T. F. Stocker, 2023. "Climate intervention on a high-emissions pathway could delay but not prevent West Antarctic Ice Sheet demise," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 13(9), pages 951-960, September.
    17. Luigi Dallai & Zachary D. Sharp, 2024. "A tipping point in stable isotope composition of Antarctic meteoric waters during Cenozoic glaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    18. James D. Kirkham & Kelly A. Hogan & Robert D. Larter & Neil S. Arnold & Ed Self & Ken Games & Jeremy C. Ely & Chris D. Clark & James D. Scourse & Calvin Shackleton & Jan Erik Arndt & Claus-Dieter Hill, 2025. "Change in iceberg calving behavior preceded North Sea ice shelf disintegration during the last deglaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Daniel P. Lowry & Holly K. Han & Nicholas R. Golledge & Natalya Gomez & Katelyn M. Johnson & Robert M. McKay, 2024. "Ocean cavity regime shift reversed West Antarctic grounding line retreat in the late Holocene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    20. David K. Hutchinson & Laurie Menviel & Katrin J. Meissner & Andrew McC. Hogg, 2024. "East Antarctic warming forced by ice loss during the Last Interglacial," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62499-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.