Description: Detailed investigations of the distribution of clay minerals of Late Glacial-Holocene sediments from the SW Barents Sea provide important new information about the provenance and transport paths of the sediments. This information leads to better understanding of the onset of the last deglaciation and subsequent advances/retreats of the Barents Sea- and Fennoscandian Ice Sheets. The results show interaction and changes in the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet and Bj0rn0yrenna Ice Stream during the last deglaciation. High illite content and maximum kaolinite content (〉18700 cal yr B.P.) indicate glacial erosion from both the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet and Bjornoyrenna Ice Stream (LGM II). The occurrence of a C. reniforme dominated benthic foraminiferal assemblage (~18700 cal yr B.P.) indicates that the northern most cores site in Ingoydjupet had already been deglaciated and was probably situated in a glacier distal environment. In addition, smectite content reaching its highest level, concurrent with the presence of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sin) dominated planktic foraminifera can be related to the strengthening of the Atlantic Current. The inflow of the Atlantic Water may have triggered deglaciation of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet (Bolling interstadial). A rapid increase in illite content, reflecting strong melting of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet (~15 000 cal yr B.P.), indicates the onset of deglaciation in a core closer to the continent. Decrease of illite and IRD content, together with the deposition of laminated sediments during the Older Dryas stadial (15000-14000 cal yr B.P.) indicates colder conditions and formation of at least seasonal sea-ice. In addition, increased kaolinite content indicates increased glacial erosion of the Bjornoyrenna Ice Stream. The highest values of illite content and increased IRD content (14000-13000 cal yr B.P.) can be related to strong melting of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet. A slight indication of the Younger Dryas cold period is given by the decrease in illite and IRD contents. All clay contents are more stable during Holocene compared to LGM and the last deglaciation.

Description: A high-resolution sedimentary record from the subarctic Malangen fjord in northern Norway, northeastern North Atlantic has been investigated in order to reconstruct variations in influx of Atlantic Water for the last 2000 years. The fjord provides a regional oceanographic climatic signal reflecting changes in the North Atlantic heat flux at this latitude because of its deep sill and the relatively narrow adjoining continental shelf. The reconstructions are based on oxygen and carbon isotopic studies of benthic foraminifera from a high accumulation basin in the Malangen fjord, providing subdecadal time resolution. A comparison between instrumental measurements of bottom water temperatures at the core location and the reconstructed temperatures from benthic foraminiferal d18O for the same time period demonstrates that the stable isotope values reflect the bottom water temperatures very well. The reconstructed temperature record shows an overall decline in temperature of c. 1°C from c. 40 BC to ad 1350. This cooling trend is assumed to be driven by an orbital forced reduction in insolation. Superimposed on the general cooling trend are several periods of warmer or colder temperatures. The long-term fluctuations in the Malangen fjord are concurrent with fluctuations of Atlantic Water in the northern North Atlantic. Although they are not directly comparable, comparisons of atmospheric temperatures and marine records, indicate a close coupling between the climate systems. After ad l800 the record shows an unprecedented warming within the last 2000 years.

Description: The magnitude of Late Holocene climatic variations are less significant than those that took place during ice ages and deglaciations. However, detailed knowledge about this period is vital in order to understand and model future climate scenarios both as a result of natural climate variation and the effects of global warming. Oceanic heat flux is important for the sensitive climate regime of northern Europe. Our aim is to connect hydrographical changes, reflected by the dinoflagellates cyst (dinocysts) assemblages in the sediments in the Malangen fjord, to local and regional climatic phases. Previous studies have shown that dinocyst assemblages are influenced by temperature, salinity, and the availability of nutrients (e.g. de Vernal et al. 2005, doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2004.06.014; de Vernal et al. 2001, doi:10.1002/jqs.659; Grosfjeld et al. this volume; Rochon et al. 2008, doi:10.1016/j.marmicro.2008.04.001; Solignac et al. this volume). Dinoflagellates are mostly unicellular organisms that make up one of the main groups of phytoplankton. They are able to regulate their depth within the photic zone and to concentrate along oceanic fronts, which provide nutrient-enriched waters. The dinoflagellate cysts are the hypnozygotes of dinoflagellates naturally produced during the life cycle. Their wall is composed of a highly resistant organic material, which has a high potential to fossilize. Because dinocysts species are linked to particular abiotic and biotic parameters, the dinocyst assemblages provide information about past surface water conditions. Since each fjord has its own hydrographic setting, it is necessary to establish a firm link between the dinocyst composition of the sediment surface samples and the surface water conditions. Indeed the modern dinocyst distribution in subarctic fjords is little known. Thus, in addition to detailing dinocyst results from two shallow cores, several sediment surface samples located along a transect running from the head to the mouth of the fjord, and extending onto the shelf, are also presented.