Macerals analyses of sediment cores from the Laptev Sea

During the transition from the Last Glacial to the Holocene the environment of the Laptev Sea shelf was controlled by the post-glacial sea level rise, variations in river discharge, surface-water productivity, and Atlantic-water inflow along the Eurasian continental margin.

Based on our results, we identify the following significant changes of the environment: (a) at approximately 13,500 years BP the first step of deglaciation (Termination 1a) is documented by the deposition of marine and fresh-water organic matter; (b) at approximately 10,400 years BP the first post-glacial influence of Atlantic-water inflow along the Eastern Laptev Sea continental margin is indicated by an increase in marine organic matter; (c) at the beginning of the Holocene an increased fluvial supply is documented by an increase in fresh-water alginite; and (d) since ~9500-8000 years BP modern marine conditions are established at the Laptev Sea continental margin as documented in increased amounts of marine macerals, biomarkers (dinosterol, brassicasterol, short-chain fatty acids), and dinoflagellate cysts.