New constraints on the limits of the Barents-Kara ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum based on borehole stratigraphy from the Pechora Sea

A new, C-14-verified borehole stratigraphy provides the first age-controlle d reconstruction of the late Quaternary glacial history of the Pechora Sea (southeasternmost Barents Sea). A complete glaciation of the Pechora Sea is confirmed for middle Weichselian time, prior to ca, 35-40 ha, Composition of glacial erratics indicates that ice was moving from or across southernmo st Novaya Zemlya and Vaygach Island. After a brief interstadial period with normal marine conditions, the Pechora Sea was affected by a drop in sea le vel and a drier climate. Subsequently, the late Weichselian Barents-Kara ic e sheet occupied the northwestern part of the Pechora Sea, but did not reac h the coast of the Pechora lowland, as previously believed. These data prov ide a new constraint on the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice-sheet limits in the Eurasian Arctic. The inferred direction of the Last Glacial Maximum ice movement in the Pechora Sea was from the northeast, but with a stronger no rthern component than the penultimate glaciation, The ice sheet retreated e arly, ca. 13 ka, after which the shallow Pechora Sea was subjected to stron g erosion during the postglacial sea-level rise.