Last glacial-deglacial variability in sea surface characteristics and ice sheet activities in the Labrador Sea/Baffin Bay

Abstract

In the context of global warming, the accelerated melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) and Arctic sea ice in recent years has led to increased meltwater discharge and subsequent sea-level rise. The meltwater discharge may affect sea surface characteristics in the polar and subpolar regions and potentially yield significant influence on ocean circulation patterns. Additionally, the far-reaching implications of ocean forcings on ice sheet instability and sea ice retreat have also raised considerable attention. To enhance our understanding of the influences of meltwater discharge on abrupt climatic changes and interactions among ice sheet instability, sea ice variability, and sea surface characteristics, it is essential to investigate sedimentary records on different timescales beyond modern observation. To achieve these objectives, we conducted detailed paleoenvironmental reconstructions from three sediment cores: one obtained from the eastern Labrador Sea (Core MSM12/2-05-01) and two others from southern Baffin Bay (Core SL170 and SL174). This study provides new insights into variations in sea surface characteristics and their interactions with ice sheet activities in the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay during the last glacial-deglacial-Holocene period. Meanwhile, our findings provide more information about the impact of freshwater forcing/ice sheet activities on abrupt climate changes. Furthermore, these findings highlight the significance of oceanic processes within the polar and subpolar regions and their contributions to paleoclimate changes.