Study of particulate material in sea ice in the Fram Strait - a contribution to paleoclimatic research?

Abstract

Sea ice is a well documented transport agent of finegrained debris in the shallow Arctic Shelf regions (Barnes et al. 1982; Clark & Hanson 1983). However, its importance to Arctic deep sea sedimentation is not fully understood (e.g. Clark & Hanson 1983). To more fully understand the present day or 'interglacial' sediment flux from sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, we have analysed the debris flux through the Fram Strait. The area was selected due to its importance as the main pathway of sea ice exchange between the Arctic Ocean and the world oceans, with sea ice draining from most of the shelves fringing the Arctic Ocean.