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INTERIM REPORT - NOVEMBER 2000

Quick links:  CAMBRIDGE       DENMARK        BANGOR        BERGEN         HELSINKI

CAMBRIDGE

DINOFLAGELLATES

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Ristinge Klint, 25 samples processed of which 24 are productive. Samples analysed, taxonomy completed. Manuscript for submission to Geological Magazine completed, pending photomicrography and plate assembly.

Mommark, 32 samples processed, all of which are productive. Most samples have been analysed, completion anticipated early December 2000.

To do before March 2001, in order of priority. A Polish site, either Licze or Obrzynowo, depending upon which has more scientific potential.
An Ostrobothnian site (microscope slides from the Mertuanoja site are being sent by Anneli Uutela, but no original sediment is left). Stensigmose, Denmark; spot sampling for dinoflagellates. An open-water Kattegat site (Aphom/Anholt) to determine salinity development north of the Danish belts.

Sample needs: 1) Polish site, 2) Ostrobothnian site, 3) Apholm.

POLLEN & SEDIMENTOLOGY:

Stensigmose: 8 samples counted, 21 processed (CG). Loss on ignition, Magnetic Susceptibility and Particle size analyses completed.

Ristinge Klint: Pollen completed (PLG). Loss on ignition, Magnetic Susceptibility and Particle size analyses competed (CG&LH). Paper published in Boreas29(2), 103-116.

Vaejsnes Nakke: Pollen completed (PLG). Loss on ignition, Magnetic Susceptibility and Particle Size analyses completed (CG &LH).

Mommark: 30 pollen samples counted (PLG). 18 additional pollen samples counted from top of sequence (CG), 7 additional pollen samples counted from middle of sequence (CG). Loss on ignition, Magnetic Susceptibility and Particle size analyses almost completed (CG &LH). Forthcoming trip to Mommark (21/11/2000) to sample additional material.

Pollen Database: Underway.

Web pages: You're reading them! (CG).

To do by March 2001 in order of priority: 1) Pollen Database, 2) Complete Mommark, 3) Stensigmose (Ditlefsen section), 4) Complete sedimentological analyses.

Material required ASAP: Suggestions of suitable pollen sites for database - of particular use would be those sited close to the supposed seaways during the Eemian.

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DENMARK

FORAMINIFERA / OSTRACODA:

Apholm: Samples have been extracted and sent to Cambridge for pollen and dinoflagellate analyses.

Ristinge Klint: A total of 93 samples from Ristinge Klint have been analysed for foraminifera and ostracods. Samples have been extracted and sent for dinoflagellate (Cambridge), diatom (Helsinki), pollen (Cambridge) studies, as well as for sedimentological analyses (Cambridge). A paper based on foraminiferal, ostracodal and palynological analyses was published in Boreas 29(2), 103-116. In addition, foraminifera from 75 samples have been picked and analysed for stable isotopes in Bangor.

Mommark: A total of 127 samples from Mommark have been analysed for their foraminiferal and ostracod content. Samples have been extracted and sent for pollen and dinoflagellate (Cambridge) and for amino-acid (Bergen) analyses.

OSL datings have been made in co-operation with other projects.

Stohl: A total of 12 samples from Stohl have been analysed for foraminifera and ostracods. Samples have been extracted and sent for pollen (Cambridge) and for amino-acid (Bergen) analyses.

Ludingworth, Schnittlohe 1: Eemian foraminiferal distribution obtained from previous studies of cores from Ludingworth and Schnittlohe is being compared with the present results in order to evaluate the timing and importance of and early Eemian marine connection across North Germany.

Licze and Obrzynowo: A total of 75 samples from the Licze core and 33 from the Obrzynowo core have been analysed for foraminifera and ostracods. In addition, foraminifera from 38 samples have been picked and sent to Bangor for stable isotope analyses. Foraminifera from a series of samples have also been selected and sent to Bergen for amino-acid analyses.

Jukki: Six samples throughout the core have been prepared and analysed for foraminifera and ostracods; unfortunately these samples proved to be barren.

A compilation of the above sites for the foraminiferal/ostracodal data within the two time slices as agreed upon at the Stensigmose meeting has been sent to Bergen.

Arkhangelsk: Samples from the Psaryovo profile have been prepared for foraminiferal and ostracodal analyses. Dinoflagellated from Psaryovo are being prepared and counted by Kari Grøsfeld (Trondheim) for BALTEEM.

To do: Samples from Psaryovo (Arkhangelsk region) to be analysed for foraminifera and ostracods and samples to be sent to Cambridge for pollen analyses.
Additional samples (foraminifera) to be picked from Ristinge Klint and sent to Bangor for stable isotope analyses.
Field trip to Mommark (planned for 21.11.00) for additional sampling and logging.
Samples from Mommark to be sent to Helsinki for diatom analyses.
Samples from Licze to be sent for dinoflagellate and sedimentological analyses.
Samples from Ludingworth to be sent for dinoflagellate analyses (Cambridge).

Needs: Material from the new Russian core.
Material required from the Estonian sites.

DIATOMS

Ristinge Klint: Diatom results (from Helsinki) are being prepared for transfer functions.

Licze and Obrzynowo: A total of 31 samples from the Licze core and 27 from Obrzynowo have been analysed for diatoms; the results are being prepared for transfer functions.

MOLLUSCS (SF)

Achievements since the Gammelmarke meeting:

Planned:

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BANGOR

MODELLING

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The mathematical model has been set up with an approximation of the Eemian bathymetry. The model grid was obtained by entering the present day bathymetry into a grid of dimensions 10' of longitude by 5' of latitude, giving a roughly square grid with sides of approximately 10km length. Open boundaries were then set across the Skagerrak and at the supposed position of the Karelian portal land cells have been replaced with wetted cells and an open boundary introduced at the White Sea.

Preliminary model runs have been used to assess the amount of tidal propagation in the Baltic Sea under different channel configurations and meteorological conditions. All model runs so far use an assumed temperature of 60 (degrees Centigrade) and salinity of 34 o/oo (ppt), as Eemian data is not currently available.

The scenarios tested look at the tidal currents in the Baltic Sea with different channels open and with constant winds of different strengths and directions.

Preliminary results suggest that the tidal regime of the Baltic Sea was similar in the Eemian to that of the present day, i.e. tides did not propagate far into the sea. The next runs will look at circulation in the Baltic on a seasonal time scale. This work cannot begin, however, until we have salinity and temperature data for the Baltic during the Eemian.

To summarise, the Eemian Baltic would appear to have been microtidal even with the Karelian portal open. To generate significant tides, either of the openings would have to be much bigger than authors (other than KL in his initial isostatic models) have previously suggested. We can therefore rule out any significant tidal dynamics or tidal stratification on the basis of this modelling.

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BERGEN

DATABASE FOR MARINE PROXY DATA

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As agreed upon at the meeting at Stensigmose, the Bergen group is responsible for compiling the marine micro- and macrofossil data that should be incorporated in the oceanographic model and for K. Lambecks modelling. As mentioned in the first letter our intention is that the end-products should be maps and transects covering the selected time slices. The final deadline for the proxy data to be completed and delivered to the modellers is February 2001. The modellers are eager to get started on the modelling and we hope to send some data for them to use before Christmas. Below we have listed the proxy data received so far.

Progress to date: We have received benthic foraminiferal and ostracod data (salinity, temperature, depth, stratification, oxygen/ventilation) from research area D and E, and end-members for Apholm, Skærumhede and Anholt. Data for molluscs (salinity and temperature) covering the whole of the research area have also been received.

Needs/hopes: Proxy data are needed from the remaining research areas and/or for other microfossils/flora. We hope that some of you have finished analysing sites that have surface data which can be incorporated into the models as soon as possible.

AMINO-ACID ANALYSES

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Progress to date: The amino acid work is aimed at covering all the temperature regimes in the research area and we have therefore dated samples from Norway (Fjøsanger and Bø) in addition to Stohl, Mommark and finishing the measurements in the Licze core.

Unfortunately our amino acid collaborator in the USA has moved into another field of research. This probably means we will not be able to date samples using another amino-acid analysis method than we normally use at the amino-acid laboratory in Bergen.

Samples received: We have received samples from Licze and Mommark, and analysed these for amino-acids.

Samples needed: Assuming that material is available from the following sites at least two samples for amino-acid analysis should be forwarded from the following sites:

Since the Mommark profile probably represents most of the interglacial more samples from this site should be analysed in more detail in order to achieve a similar (better) succession as in the Licze core. 5-6 samples would be suitable.

Providing samples are available from the above mentioned sites we anticipate finishing the amino-acid analysis by the beginning of 2001 (i.e. before the next annual meeting in March 2001).

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HELSINKI

DIATOMS

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Ristinge Klint: 23 samples prepared and counted. Diatoms found at 14 levels. The diagram is ready (some minor changes needed before publication). Raw data has been sent to Hui Jiang to be added in his diatom database.

Pohja-Uhtju: 76 samples received from Ede Kadastik. 28 samples have been examined, 10 of which contained diatoms, although the flora is relatively poor. 20 new levels will be counted.

Jukki: 9 samples have been prepared and examined. Diatoms are not present in any of these samples, although more samples will be prepared in order to confirm this absence. 36 samples have been sent to Aarhus for foraminifera analysis.

Peski: 15 samples have been prepared. Diatoms are present and counting is ongoing. The amount of samples remaining (30-60?) depends on sampling interval. Two sets of subsamples have been taken and are ready to be sent.

4 training set samples from the bottom of the Bothnian Bay have been delivered to Aarhus.

Samples needed: Mommark.

POLLEN

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Pohja-Uhtju: A student (Katja Rinne) is working on the pollen. Approximately 14 samples have been counted so far.

Peski: Hannu Hyvärinen will most likely do the pollen analysis of these samples, expected to take approximately 6 months.