S ub‐arctic H olocene climatic and oceanographic variability in S tjernsund, northern N orway: evidence from benthic foraminifera and stable isotopes

A high‐resolution record, covering 9.3–0.2 ka BP , from the sub‐arctic Stjernsund (70° N ) was studied for benthic foraminiferal faunas and stable isotopes, revealing three informally named main phases during the H olocene. The E arly‐ to M id‐ H olocene (9.3–5.0 ka BP ) was characterized by the strong influence of the N orth A tlantic C urrent ( NAC ), which prevented the reflection of the H olocene C limatic O ptimum ( HCO ) in the bottom‐water temperature. During the M id‐ H olocene Transition (5.0–2.5 ka BP ), a turnover of benthic foraminiferal faunas occurred, A tlantic W ater species decreased while A rctic‐ P olar species increased, and the oxygen isotope record showed larger fluctuations. Those variations correspond to a period of global climate change, to spatially more heterogeneous benthic foraminiferal faunas in the N ordic S eas region, and to regionally diverging terrestrial temperatures. The C ool L ate H olocene (2.5–0.2 ka BP ) was characterized by increased abundances of A rctic‐ P olar species and a steady cooling trend reflected in the oxygen isotopes. In this period, our record differs considerably from those on the SW B arents S ea shelf and locations farther south. Therefore, we argue that regional atmospheric cooling triggered the late Holocene cooling trend. Several cold episodes centred at ∼ 8.3, ∼ 7.8, ∼ 6.5, ∼ 4.9, ∼ 3.9 and ∼ 3.3 ka BP were identified from the benthic foraminiferal faunas and the δ 18 O record, which correlated with marine and atmospherically driven proxy records. This suggests that short‐term cold events may result from reduced heat advection via the NAC or from colder air temperatures.