A high‐resolution L ateglacial and H olocene palaeoceanographic record from the G reenland S ea

We present an unprecedented multicentennial sediment record from the foot of V esterisbanken S eamount, central G reenland S ea, covering the past 22.3 thousand years (ka). Based on planktic foraminiferal total abundances, species assemblages, and stable oxygen and carbon isotopes, the palaeoenvironments in this region of modern deepwater renewal were reconstructed. Results show that during the L ast G lacial M aximum the area was affected by harsh polar conditions with only episodic improvements during warm summer seasons. Since 18 ka extreme freshwater discharges from nearby sources occurred, influencing the surface water environment. The last major freshwater event took place during the Y ounger D ryas. The onset of the H olocene was characterized by an improvement of environmental conditions suggesting warming and increasing ventilation of the upper water layers. The early H olocene saw a stronger A tlantic waters advection to the area, which began around 10.5 and ended quite rapidly at 5.5 ka, followed by the onset of N eoglacial cooling. Surface water ventilation reached a maximum in the middle H olocene. Around 3 ka the surface water stratification increased leading to subsequent amplification of the warming induced the North Atlantic Oscillation at 2 ka.