The role of Arctic Ocean freshwater during the past 200 ky

摘要: As part of the hydrologic cycle, freshwater system plays a pivotal role for Arctic Ocean. It maintains strong stratification in upper waters and fosters formation sea ice on circum-Arctic shelves from where is being exported toward Fram Strait into Nordic Seas. Recent projections climate change under greenhouse effect predict severe changes cycle Arctic. This manuscript reviews current knowledge past fluxes to Ocean their possible impact ocean circulation outside during 200,000 years. becomes evident that abrupt large-volume discharges times major transitions were capable disturbing global triggering further change, e.g., at onset Younger Dryas cold event. During sea-level rise Holocene, connection between increasing areas available formation, position margin export area (the Strait) deepwater convection Greenland Sea suggested. Further work needed investigate effects other catastrophic previously ice-dammed lakes northern Eurasia Weichselian Saalian glaciations. Events like 8.2 ka Dryas, which associated with flooding routing glacial meltwaters had significant climate, could serve as template better validate similar occurrences past. To date, actual influence earlier events remains elusive.