Paleogeographic events in the Dvina Bay of the White Sea during the post-glacial time
Abstract
Paleoreconstructions are based on detail studies of the diatom assemblage in two cores from the Dvina Bay, which is the estuary of the Northern Dvina River, the largest river of the White Sea. The stratigraphic division of core sediments is based on the AMS 14C dates. The age of the sediments is below 12 cal ka. 263 species of diatoms were identified in the cores. The minimum diatom concentrations in the cores (up to 40 thousand valves per 1 g of dry matter) were recorded for Preboreal and Boreal sediments.
It is worth noting that some sections of Preboreal sediments from the central bay area have no diatoms at all. Valves of warm-water, typically Atlantic, species, mainly Coscinodiscus radiatus, are found sporadically. The maximum concentrations are characteristic of the sediments dating from the second half of the Atlantic; however, the peak of the concentrations dates to somewhat later time in the central bay area. Diatom assemblages mostly consist of marine, brackish-water, sublittoral and neritic species. Total diatom concentration in Subboreal and Subatlantic sediments varies insignificantly – since the end of the Subboreal freshwater species become more numerous in diatom assemblages.
Results of the diatom analysis of Postglacial sediments for the Dvina Bay indicate a change in environment conditions over the last 12 cal ka, from considerably freshened sea bay to the present-day marine environment. Changing species composition of diatom assemblages made it possible to determine the beginning and the maximum of transformed Atlantic waters’ advection into the Dvina Bay, the shortterm cooling of the first half of the Atlantic, the Holocene optimum and the climatic fluctuations of the Subatlantic. Comparison of the results of micropaleontological studies of sediments from the central and outer parts of the Dvina Bay showed that its relief and hydrological features influenced the inflow of Atlantic waters and the timeline of the main paleogeographic events.
About the Authors
E. A. Agafonova
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography, Research Laboratory of Recent Sediments and Pleistocene Paleogeography, PhD student
Ye. I. Polyakova
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Geographical Faculty, Research Laboratory of Recent Sediments and Pleistocene Paleogeography, Leading Scientific Researcher, D.Sc. in Geography
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Review
For citations:
Agafonova E.A., Polyakova Ye.I. Paleogeographic events in the Dvina Bay of the White Sea during the post-glacial time. Lomonosov Geography Journal. 2020;(5):73-78. (In Russ.)
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