Sub-arctic Holocene climatic and oceanographic variability in Stjernsund, northern Norway: evidence from benthic foraminifera and stable isotopes

A high-resolution record, covering 9.3-0.2ka BP, from the sub-arctic Stjernsund (70 degrees N) was studied for benthic foraminiferal faunas and stable isotopes, revealing three informally named main phases during the Holocene. The Early- to Mid-Holocene (9.3-5.0ka BP) was characterized by the strong influence of the North Atlantic Current (NAC), which prevented the reflection of the Holocene Climatic Optimum (HCO) in the bottom-water temperature. During the Mid-Holocene Transition (5.0-2.5ka BP), a turnover of benthic foraminiferal faunas occurred, Atlantic Water species decreased while Arctic-Polar species increased, and the oxygen isotope record showed larger fluctuations. Those variations correspond to a period of global climate change, to spatially more heterogeneous benthic foraminiferal faunas in the Nordic Seas region, and to regionally diverging terrestrial temperatures. The Cool Late Holocene (2.5-0.2ka BP) was characterized by increased abundances of Arctic-Polar species and a steady cooling trend reflected in the oxygen isotopes. In this period, our record differs considerably from those on the SW Barents Sea shelf and locations farther south. Therefore, we argue that regional atmospheric cooling triggered the late Holocene cooling trend. Several cold episodes centred at approximate to 8.3, approximate to 7.8, approximate to 6.5, approximate to 4.9, approximate to 3.9 and approximate to 3.3ka BP were identified from the benthic foraminiferal faunas and the 18O record, which correlated with marine and atmospherically driven proxy records. This suggests that short-term cold events may result from reduced heat advection via the NAC or from colder air temperatures.