Microfaunal Evidence for Elevated Pliocene Temperatures in the Arctic Ocean

Cronin, Thomas M.; Whatley, Robin C.; Wood, Alan; Tsukagoshi, Akira; Ikeya, Noriyuki; Brouwers, Elisabeth M.; Briggs, William M.

doi:10.1029/93pa00060

Cited by 100 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…The second transition in the Arctic cryosphere, from seasonally ice-free conditions during the middle Pliocene epoch (Cronin et al 1993) to true icehouse conditions characterized by the development of perennial Arctic Ocean sea ice and continental ice sheets in North America and Eurasia, occurred approximately 3 Ma. This transition is particularly intriguing because initial CO 2 concentrations, incident solar radiation, and global geological conditions were comparable to those of BOX 1.…”

Section: Arctic and Global Climate Change In The Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arctic Climate Change and Its Impacts on the Ecology of the North Atlantic

Greene

Pershing

Cronin

et al. 2008

Ecology

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118

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Abstract. Arctic climate change from the Paleocene epoch to the present is reconstructed with the objective of assessing its recent and future impacts on the ecology of the North Atlantic. A recurring theme in Earth's paleoclimate record is the importance of the Arctic atmosphere, ocean, and cryosphere in regulating global climate on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. A second recurring theme in this record is the importance of freshwater export from the Arctic in regulating global-to basin-scale ocean circulation patterns and climate. Since the 1970s, historically unprecedented changes have been observed in the Arctic as climate warming has increased precipitation, river discharge, and glacial as well as sea-ice melting. In addition, modal shifts in the atmosphere have altered Arctic Ocean circulation patterns and the export of freshwater into the North Atlantic. The combination of these processes has resulted in variable patterns of freshwater export from the Arctic Ocean and the emergence of salinity anomalies that have periodically freshened waters in the North Atlantic. Since the early 1990s, changes in Arctic Ocean circulation patterns and freshwater export have been associated with two types of ecological responses in the North Atlantic. The first of these responses has been an ongoing series of biogeographic range expansions by boreal plankton, including renewal of the trans-Arctic exchanges of Pacific species with the Atlantic. The second response was a dramatic regime shift in the shelf ecosystems of the Northwest Atlantic that occurred during the early 1990s. This regime shift resulted from freshening and stratification of the shelf waters, which in turn could be linked to changes in the abundances and seasonal cycles of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and higher trophic-level consumer populations. It is predicted that the recently observed ecological responses to Arctic climate change in the North Atlantic will continue into the near future if current trends in sea ice, freshwater export, and surface ocean salinity continue. It is more difficult to predict ecological responses to abrupt climate change in the more distant future as tipping points in the Earth's climate system are exceeded.

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Section: Arctic and Global Climate Change In The Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arctic Climate Change and Its Impacts on the Ecology of the North Atlantic

Greene

Pershing

Cronin

et al. 2008

Ecology

Self Cite

118

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“…However, extreme warmth documented in marine and terrestrial sequences in the Arctic argues for at least seasonally ice-free conditions (Brouwers, 1994;Cronin et al, 1993;Robinson 2009;Matthiessen et al, 2009). In a fashion similar to the method used in the Southern Hemisphere, modern seasonal growth patterns of sea-ice were used to expand and contract the ice margin from its midPliocene maximum extent (=modern summer extent) to a summer ice-free condition.…”

Section: Sea-ice Extentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP): experimental design and boundary conditions (Experiment 1)

et al. 2010

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Abstract. In 2008 the temporal focus of the PalaeoclimateModelling Intercomparison Project was expanded to include a model intercomparison for the mid-Pliocene warm period (3.29-2.97 million years ago). This project is referred to as PlioMIP (Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project). Two experiments have been agreed upon and comprise phase 1 of PlioMIP. The first (Experiment 1) will be performed with atmosphere-only climate models. The second (Experiment 2) will utilise fully coupled ocean-atmosphere climate models. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed model intercomparison project description which documents the experimental design in a more detailed way than has previously been done in the literature. Specifically, this paper describes the experimental design and boundary conditions that will be utilised for Experiment 1 of PlioMIP.

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“…In a preliminary studies , Joy and Clark [1977) found ostracodes were common in the upper 3 em of core tops from the Canada Basin. Cronin et al [1993Cronin et al [ , 1994 also found that ostracodes occur in Eurasian B asin core tops in water depths from the shelf to >4000 m and that distinct shelf, slope, and deep basin assemblages characterize Arctic Ocean water masses. However, prior ostracode studies lacked quality box core data from deepwater environments of the Canada Basin, and very little was known about deepwater assemblages from areas off Spitsbergen and in the Nordic {Gree nland and No rwe gi an) Seas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Quaternary paleoceanography of the Eurasian Basin, Arctic Ocean

Cronin¹,

Holtz²,

Stein³

et al. 1995

Paleoceanography

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We reconstructed late Quaternary deep (3000–4100 m) and intermediate depth (1000–2500 m) paleoceanographic history of the Eurasian Basin, Arctic Ocean from ostracode assemblages in cores from the Lomonosov Ridge, Gakkel Ridge, Yermak Plateau, Morris Jesup Rise, and Amundsen and Makarov Basins obtained during the 1991 Polarstern cruise. Modern assemblages on ridges and plateaus between 1000 and 1500 m are characterized by abundant, relatively species‐rich benthic ostracode assemblages, in part, reflecting the influence of high organic productivity and inflowing Atlantic water. In contrast, deep Arctic Eurasian basin assemblages have low abundance and low diversity and are dominated by Krithe and Cytheropteron reflecting faunal exchange with the Greenland Sea via the Fram Strait. Major faunal changes occurred in the Arctic during the last glacial/interglacial transition and the Holocene. Low‐abundance, low‐diversity assemblages from the Lomonosov and Gakkel Ridges in the Eurasian Basin from the last glacial period have modern analogs in cold, low‐salinity, low‐nutrient Greenland Sea deep water; glacial assemblages from the deep Nansen and Amundsen Basins have modern analogs in the deep Canada Basin. During Termination 1 at intermediate depths, diversity and abundance increased coincident with increased biogenic sediment, reflecting increased organic productivity, reduced sea‐ice, and enhanced inflowing North Atlantic water. During deglaciation deep Nansen Basin assemblages were similar to those living today in the deep Greenland Sea, perhaps reflecting deepwater exchange via the Fram Strait. In the central Arctic, early Holocene faunas indicate weaker North Atlantic water inflow at middepths immediately following Termination 1, about 8500–7000 year B.P., followed by a period of strong Canada Basin water overflow across the Lomonosov Ridge into the Morris Jesup Rise area and central Arctic Ocean. Modern perennial sea‐ice cover evolved over the last 4000–5000 years. Late Quaternary faunal changes reflect benthic habitat changes most likely caused by changes in the import of cold, deepwater of Greenland Sea origin and warmer and middepth Atlantic water to the Eurasian Basin through the Fram Strait, and export of Arctic Ocean deepwater. Appendix Tables Al‐A4 are available on microfiche. Orderfrom the American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Avenue,N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Document P94‐002; $2.50.Payment must accompany order.

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Microfaunal Evidence for Elevated Pliocene Temperatures in the Arctic Ocean

Cited by 100 publications

References 61 publications

Arctic Climate Change and Its Impacts on the Ecology of the North Atlantic

Arctic Climate Change and Its Impacts on the Ecology of the North Atlantic

Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP): experimental design and boundary conditions (Experiment 1)

Late Quaternary paleoceanography of the Eurasian Basin, Arctic Ocean

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