Paleoceanographic Conditions in High Northern Latitudes during Quaternary Interglaciations

Current climate warming is dramatically amplified in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, notably through sea-ice retreat and melting of the Greenland ice sheet. These processes, in turn, trigger feedback mechanisms affecting ocean temperature and circulation. These oceanographic mechanisms and interactions with sea ice, the atmosphere and adjacent land areas need to be investigated in order to understand the extent and further development of the ongoing climate change.

Paleoceanographic reconstructions of past interglacial periods in high northern latitudes can provide useful insights and scenarios for future climate prediction. However, such reconstructions in subpolar and polar environments involve multiple challenges due to a strong influence of melt water, issues with quantifying the cold end of temperature calibrations, restricted species’ compositions in many biological groups, and more. Significant recent advances in developing new paleoceanographic methods (especially in the field of geochemistry and biogeochemistry) and elaborating existing methods allow for evaluation of past changes in seasonal sea-ice extent, salinity, and ocean circulation. Paleo-temperature estimations of surface, subsurface and bottom waters also have been considerably improved.

In this Research Topic, we welcome contributions exploring oceanic environments in high northern latitudes during the pronounced Quaternary interglacial periods, especially Marine Isotope Stages 11, 9, 5e, and 1, by means of various paleoceanographical methods, from paleontological to biogeochemical. Suborbital and millennial-scale reconstructions of oceanic conditions and circulation are especially encouraged.

Keywords: Paleoceanography, Quaternary Interglacials, High northern latitudes, Arctic amplification

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