Cj. Schubert et al., Tracking nutrient and productivity variations over the last deglaciation in the Arctic Ocean, PALEOCEANOG, 16(2), 2001, pp. 199-211
We have reconstructed the surface water environment of the Arctic Ocean ove
r the last similar to 50,000 years using measurements of the organic nitrog
en and carbon isotope ratios, carbonate and total organic carbon concentrat
ions (TOC), and terrestrial biomarkers (lignin and long-chain n-alkanes) in
four multicores. Variations in nitrogen isotope ratios that are concordant
with TOC and carbonate concentrations (representing foraminifera and exclu
ding ice-rafted-debris) reflect differences in relative nutrient utilizatio
n of phytoplankton in the surface waters. However, delta N-15 variations al
so appear to be dependent on the stratification of the water column and the
refore potentially track the exchange of nutrients between deep and surface
waters. Low Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) delta N-15 values and higher Holoce
ne values are opposite to those recorded in the Southern Ocean. The Arctic
Ocean with higher nutrient utilization today compared to the LGM therefore
acts as a counterpart to the Southern Ocean, although the global impact on
carbon dioxide variations compared to the Southern Ocean is probably low.