Quaternary history of sea ice in the western Arctic Ocean based on foraminifera

Sediment cores from the Northwind Ridge, western Arctic Ocean, including uniquely preserved calcareous microfossils, provide the first continuous proxy record of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean encompassing more than half of the Quaternary. The cores were investigated for foraminiferal assemblages along with coarse grain size and bulk chemical composition. By combination of glacial cycles and unique events reflected in the stratigraphy, the age of the foraminiferal record was estimated as ca 1.5 Ma. Foraminiferal abundances, diversity, and composition of benthic assemblages, especially phytodetritus and polar species, were used as proxies for sea-ice conditions. Foraminiferal Assemblage Zone 2 in the Lower Pleistocene indicates diminished, mostly seasonal sea ice, probably facilitated by enhanced inflow of Pacific waters. A gradual decrease in ice-free season with episodes of abrupt ice expansion is interpreted for the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, consistent with climatic cooling and ice-sheet growth in the Northern Hemisphere. A principal faunal and sedimentary turnover occurred near the Early–Middle Pleistocene boundary ca 0.75 Ma, with mostly perennial sea ice indicated by the overlying Assemblage Zone 1. Two steps of further increase in sea-ice coverage are inferred from foraminiferal assemblage changes in the “Glacial” Pleistocene by ca 0.4 and 0.24 Ma, possibly related to hemispheric (Mid-Brunhes Event) and Laurentide ice sheet growth, respectively. These results suggest that year-round ice in the western Arctic was a norm for the last several 100 ka, in contrast to rapidly disappearing summer ice today.

► Uniquely preserved Arctic record of calcareous foraminifers extending to ca 1.5 Ma.
► First proxy evaluation of Quaternary sea-ice history in the western Arctic.
► Seasonal sea ice in the Early Pleistocene probably related to Pacific connection.
► Progressively expanding sea ice in the Middle–Late Pleistocene.
► Year-round sea ice in the western Arctic was a norm for the past several 100 ka.