Abstract
Highly variable fades patterns of sub-Arctic glaciomarine continental margin environments contrast with less pronounced variations in Antarctic deposits. Shallow portions of the sub-Arctic shelves reveal regressive facies successions comprising basal lodgement till and high energy reworked top sequences during glacio-isostatic uplift. Deeper portions of sub-Arctic shelves record advance/retreat cycles of continental ice with up to 150 m thick glacigenic units which are separated by glacial erosional surfaces. Greatest thicknesses occur on the shelf break and upper slope with depocenters situated at the mouth fans. Prograding slope sequences reveal a complex sigmoid-oblique seismic character formed by alternating build-up during glacial progradation and depositional bypass/erosion in the topset during interglacial periods. Antarctic shelf deposits reveal biogenic siliceous muds or gravelly diamictons with admixtures of a monogenetic biogenic epifauna deposited at low sedimentation rates.
Sub-Arctic and Antarctic deep-sea sediment records reflect glacial/interglacial variations in carbonate and opal productivity and ice-rafted debris input. In Norwegian — Greenland Sea’s deep sea pelagic environments widespread distribution of dark diamictons indicates extensive advances of the continental ice-sheets onto the shelves and permits connection of open ocean with shelf records. In the Weddell Sea, glacial, transitional and interglacial facies patterns correspond to advance/retreat cycles of the Antarctic ice-sheet, episodic development of floating ice-shelves, variations in the extension of sea ice coverage and cyclic development of polynyas within the Weddell Sea sea ice-cover.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anderson, J. B., D. D. Kurtz, E. W. Domack, and K. M. Balshaw: 1980, ‘Glacial and glacial marine sediments of the Antarctic continental shelf’, J. Geol. 88, 399–414.
Anderson, J. B., C. Brake, E. W. Domack, N. Meyers, and R. C. Wright: 1983, ‘Development of a polar glacial-marine sedimentation model from Antarctic Quaternary deposits and glaciological information’ in B. F. Molnia (ed.), Glacial-Marine Sedimentation, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 233–264.
Armentrout, J. T.: 1983, ‘Glacial lithofacies of the Neogene Yakataga Formation, Robinson Mountains, Southern Alaska Coast Range, Alaska’, in B. F. Molnia (ed.), Glacial-Marine Sedimentation, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 629–666.
Beard, J. H., J. B. Sangree, and L. A. Smith: 1982, ‘Quaternary chronology, paleoclimate depositional sequences and eustatic cycles’, Amer. Assoc. Petrol Geol Bull 66, 158–169.
Bickert, T., and R. Henrich: in prep., ‘Holocene skeletal carbonate accumulation on Spits-bergenbank (Barents Shelf): Relationships to ice isostatic uplift and hydrographic evolution’.
Bischof, J., J. Koch, M. Kubisch, R. F. Spielhagen, and J. Thiede: in press, ‘Ice-rafted coal fragments in Quaternary Nordic Seas sediments: An enigma’, Geol. Soc. London Spec. Pub.
Bjørlykke, K., B. Bue, and A. Elverhøi: 1978, ‘Quaternary sediments in the northwestern part of the Barents Sea and their relation to the underlying Mesozoic bedrock’, Sedimentology 25, 227–246.
Boulton, G. S.: 1972, ‘Modern arctic glaciers as depositional models for former ice sheets’, J. Geol Soc. London 128, 361–393.
Boulton, G. S.: 1975, ‘Processes and patterns of glacial erosion’, in D. R. Coates (ed.), Glacial Geomorphology, State University of New York Press, pp. 41–88.
Carey, S. W., and N. Ahmad: 1961, ‘Glacial marine sedimentation’, in Proc. 1st. Int. Symp. Arctic Geology, Vol. 2, 865–894.
CLIMAP Project Members: 1976, ‘The Surface of the Ice-Age Earth’, Science 191, 1131–1137.
CLIMAP Project Members: 1981, ‘Maps of northern and southern hemisphere continental ice, sea ice, and sea surface temperatures in August for the modern and the last glacial maximum’, Geol. Soc. Amer. Map and Chart Series. MC-36.
Edwards, M. B.: 1986, ‘Glacial environments’, in H. G. Reading (ed.), Sedimentary Environments and Facies, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 445–470.
Eldholm, O., J. Thiede, E. Taylor et al. (eds.): 1987, ‘Proc. ODP Jnit. Repts. 104’, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, 783 p.
Elverhøi, A.: 1984, ‘Glacigenic and associated marine sediments in the Weddell Sea, fjords of Spitsbergen and the Barents Sea: A review’, Mar. Geol. 57, 53–88.
Elverhøi, A., O. Liestøl, and J. Nagy: 1980, ‘Glacial erosion, sedimentation and microfauna in the inner part of Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen’, Norsk Polarinst. Skr. 172, 33–61.
Elverhøi, A., and E. Roaldset: 1983, ‘Glaciomarine sediments and suspended particulate matter, Weddell Sea shelf, Antarctica’, Polar Res. 1, 1–21.
Elverhøi, A., and A. Solheim: 1983, ‘The Barents Sea ice sheet - a sedimentological discussion’, Polar Res. 1, 23–42.
Elverhøi, A., and A. Solheim: 1987, ‘Shallow geology and geophysics of the Barents Sea’, Norsk Polarinst. Rapports. 37, 71 p.
Elverhøi, A., S. Pfirman, A. Solheim, and B. B. Larsen: 1989, ‘Glaciomarine sedimentation on epicontinental seas - exemplified by the northern Barents Sea’, Mar. Geol. 85, 225–250.
Eyles, N., C. H. Eyles, and A. D. Miall: 1983, ‘Lithofacies types and vertical profile models; an alternative approach to the description and environmental interpretation of glacial diamict and diamictite sequences’, Sedimentology 30, 393–410.
Frakes, L. A., and J. C. Crowell: 1975, ‘Characteristics of modern glacial marine sediments: Application to the Gondwana Glacials’, in K. S. W. Campell (ed.), Gondwana Geology, Austr. Natl. University Press, Canberra, pp. 373–380.
Fütterer, D. K., H. Grobe, and S. Grünig: 1988, ‘Quaternary sediment patterns in the Weddell Sea: Relations and environmental conditions’, Paleoceanography 3, 551–561.
Grobe, H.: 1986, ‘Sedimentation processes on the Antarctic continental margin at Cape Norvegia during the late Pleistocene’, Geol Rundschau 75, 97–104.
Grobe, H.: 1987, ‘Facies classification of glacio-marine sediments in the Antarctic’, Facies 17, 99–109.
Hays, J. D., J. Imbrie, and N. J. Shackleton: 1976, ‘Variations in the earth’s orbit: Pacemaker of the ice ages’, Science 194, 1121–1132.
Henrich, R.: 1989, ‘Glacial/interglacial cycles in the Norwegian Sea: Sedimentology, paleoceanography and evolution of Late Pliocene to Quaternary Northern Hemisphere Climate’, in O. Eldholm, J. Thiede, E. Taylor et al. (eds.), Scientific Results ODP 104, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, pp. 189–232.
Henrich, R., H. Kassens, E. Vogelsang, and J. Thiede: 1989a, ‘Sedimentary facies of glacial - interglacial cycles in the Norwegian Sea during the last 350 ka.’, Mar. Geol. 86, 283–319.
Henrich, R., T. Wolf, G. Bohrmann, and J. Thiede: 1989b, ‘Cenozoic paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic changes in the Northern Hemisphere revealed by variability of coarse-fraction composition in sediments from the Vøring Plateau - ODP Leg 104 drill sites’, in O. Eldholm, J. Thiede, E. Taylor et al. (eds.), Scientific Results ODP 104, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, pp. 75–188.
Ingri, J.: 1985, ‘Geochemistry of ferromanganese concretions in the Barents Sea’, Mar. Geol. 67, 101–119.
Jansen, E., S. Befring, T. Bugge, H. Holtedahl, and H. P. Sejrup: 1987, ‘Large submarine slide on the Norwegian continental margin: sediments, transport and timing’, Mar. Geol 78, 77–108.
Jansen, E., U. Bleil, R. Henrich, L. Kringstad, and B. Slettemark: 1988, ‘Paleoenvironmental changes in the Norwegian Sea and the Northeast Atlantic during the last 2.8 ma.: ODP/DSDP Sites 610, 642, 643 and 644’, Paleoceanography 3, 563–581.
Kellogg, T. B.: 1975, ‘Late Quaternary climatic changes in the Norwegian - Greenland Sea’, in S. A. Bowling and G. Weiler (eds.), Climate of the Arctic, University of Alaska, pp. 3–36.
Kennett, J. P.: 1977, ‘Cenozoic evolution of Antarctic glaciation, the circum Antarctic Ocean, and their impact on global paleoceanography’, J. Geophys. Res. 82, 3843–3859.
King, L. H., and G. Fader: 1986, ‘Wisconsinian glaciation of the continental shelf - southeast Atlantic Canada’, Geol. Survey Can. Bull. 363, 72 p.
King, L. H., K. Rokoengen, and T. Gunsleiksrud: 1987, ‘Quaternary seismostratigraphy of the Mid Norwegian Shelf, 65° – 67°30′N. - A till tongue stratigraphy’, IKU Publ. 114, 58 p.
Krissek, L. A.: 1989, ‘Late Cenozoic records of ice-rafting at ODP sites 642, 643, and 644, Norwegian Sea: onset, chronology. and characteristics of glacial/interglacial fluctuations’, in O. Eldholm, J. Thiede, E. Taylor et al. (eds.), Scientific Results ODP 104, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, pp. 61–74.
Lawson, D. E.: 1982, ‘Mobilisation, movement and deposition of active subaerial sediment flow, Matanuska Glacier, Alaska’, J. Geol. 90, 279–300.
Mackiewicz, N. E., R. D. Powell, P. R. Carlson, and B. F. Molnia: 1984, ‘Interlaminated ice — proximal glacimarine sediments in Muir Inlet, Alaska’, Mar. Geol. 57, 113–147.
Miller, K. G., R. G. Fairbanks, and G. S. Mountain: 1987, ‘Tertiary oxygen isotope synthesis, sea level history, and continental margin erosion’, Paleoceanography 2, 1–19.
Molnia, B. F.: 1983, ‘Subarctic glacial-marine sedimentation: A model’, in B. F. Molnia (ed.), Glacial-Marine Sedimentation, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 95–144.
Molnia, B. F., and P. R. Carlson: 1978, ‘Surface sedimentary units of northern Gulf of Alaska continental shelf’, Amer. Assoc. Petrol Geol Bull. 62, 633–643.
Molnia, B. F., and P. R. Carlson: 1980, ‘Quaternary facies on the continental shelf of the northeast Gulf of Alaska’, in J. Colburn, M. Field, J. C. Ingle, and R. G. Douglas (eds.), Quaternary Depositonal Environments of the Pacific Coast, SEPM Symposium Volume, 157–168.
Pfirman, S., and A. Solheim: 1989, ‘Subglacial meltwater discharge in the open marine tidewater glacier environment: Observations from Nordaustlandet, Svalbard Archipelago’, Mar. Geol. 86, 265–281.
Plafker, G., and W. O. Addicott: 1976, ‘Glaciomarine deposits of Miocene through Holocene age in the Yakataga Formation along the Gulf of Alaska margin, Alaska’, in T. P. Miller (ed.), Recent and Ancient Sedimentary Environments in Alaska, Alaska Geol. Soc., Anchorage, pp. 1–12.
Powell, R. D.: 1981, ‘A model for sedimentation by tidewater glaciers’, Ann. Glaciol. 2, 129–134.
Powell, R. D.: 1983, ‘Glacial-marine sedimentation processes and lithofacies of temperate tidewater glaciers, Glacier Bay, Alaska’, in B. F. Molnia (ed.), Glacial-Marine Sedimentation, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 185–231.
Powell, R. D.: 1984 ‘Glacimarine processes and inductive lithofacies modelling of ice shelf and tidewater glacier sediments based on Quaternary examples’, Mar. Geol. 57, 1–52.
Powell, R. D., and B. F. Molnia: 1989, ‘Glacimarine sedimentary processes, facies and morphology of the south-southeast Alaska shelf and fjords’, Mar. Geol. 85, 359–390.
Quadfasel, D., B. Rudels, and K. Kurz: 1988, ‘Outflow of dense water from a Svalbard fjord into the Fram Strait’, Deep-Sea Res. 35, 1143–1150.
Rokoengen, K., T. Gunsleikrud, R. L. Lien, M. Løfaldli, L. Rise, E. Sindre, and J. O. Vigram: 1980, ‘Shallow geology on the continental shelf off More and Romsdal’, Description of the 1:25.000 Quaternary geological map 6203, IKU Publ. 105, pp. 1–49.
Ruddiman, W. F.: 1977, ‘Late Quaternary deposition of ice-rafted sand in the subpolar North Atlantic (lat 40° to 65°N)’, Geol Soc. Amer. Bull. 88, 1813–1827.
Salvigsen, O.: 1981, ‘Radiocarbon dated raised beaches in Kongs Karls Land, Svalbard, and their consequences for the glacial history of the Barents Sea area’, Geogr. Ann. 63A, 283–291.
Sarnthein, M., J. Thiede, H. Erlenkeuser, D. K. Fütterer, B. Koopmann, H. Lange, and E. Seibold: 1982, ‘Atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns off Northwest Africa during the past 25 million years’, in U. v. Rad, K. Hinz, M. Sarnthein, and E. Seibold (eds.), Geology of the Northern African Continental Margin, Springer, Berlin, pp. 545–604.
Solheim, A., and S. Pfirman: 1985, ‘Sea-floor morphology outside a grounded surging glacier - Brasvellbreen, Svalbard’, Mar. Geol. 65, 127–143.
Spiegler, D.: 1989, ‘Ice rafted Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils in Pleistocene/Pliocene Leg 104 Sites’, in O. Eidholm, J. Thiede, E. Taylor et al. (eds.), Scientific Results ODP 104, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, pp. 739–744.
Stein, R.: 1986, ‘Late Neogene evolution of paleoclimate and paleoceanic circulation in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres - a comparison’, Geol Rundschau 75, 125–138.
Syvitski, J. P. M.: 1989, ‘On the deposition of sediment within glacier-influenced fjords: Oceanographic controls’, Mar. Geol. 85, 301–329.
Thiede, J., G. W. Diesen, B. E. Knudsen, and T. Snåre: 1986, ‘Patterns of Cenozoic sedimentation in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea’, Mar. Geol. 69, 323–352.
Vorren, T. O., M. Hald, M. Edvardsen, and O. W. Lind-Hansen: 1983, ‘Glacigenic sediments and sedimentary environments on continental shelves: General principles with a case study from the Norwegian shelf’, in J. Ehlers (ed.), Glacial Deposits in Northern Europe, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 61–73.
Vorren, T. O., M. Hald, and E. Thomsen: 1984, ‘Quaternary sediments and environments on the continental shelf off Northern Norway’, Mar. Geol. 57, 229–257.
Vorren, T. O., E. Lebesbye, K. Andreassen, and K.-B. Larsen: 1989, ‘Glacigenic sediments on a passive continental margin as exemplified by the Barents Sea’, Mar. Geol. 85, 251–272.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Henrich, R. (1990). Cycles, Rhythms, and Events in Quaternary Arctic and Antarctic Glaciomarine Deposits. In: Bleil, U., Thiede, J. (eds) Geological History of the Polar Oceans: Arctic versus Antarctic. NATO ASI Series, vol 308. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2029-3_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2029-3_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7410-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2029-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive