Oceanographic consequences of the Bransfield Strait (Antarctica) opening
2022
Liu, S. | Hernández-Molina, F.J. | Yang, C. | Zhang, C. | Huang, X. | Yin, S. | García-García, M. (Margarita) | Van Rooij, D. | Wang, C. | Zhuo, H. | Chen, H. | Luo, K. | Su, M.
Inglés. The Bransfield Strait (Antarctica) is an important region for evaluating changes in WeddellSea shelf waters on geological time scales because of its restricted connections to thesurrounding ocean. However, the detailed oceanographic consequences of the opening ofthe strait remain unclear. We present bottom-current-related sedimentary features in theBransfield Strait and examine the impact of the strait’s opening on deep-water circulation.Our findings show that the ocean circulation started to resemble that of the present dayafter a period of volcanic activity, possibly around the Middle Pleistocene. Coeval changesin Bransfield Strait morphology and an increase in seafloor irregularities due to the formationof volcanic chains finally determined new pathways for the Bransfield deep and bottomwaters, enhanced due to the new climatic scenario of 100 k.y. cycles. The fact that “modernlike”oceanic circulation occurred only during previous interglacial periods demonstratesthe significant impact of 100 k.y. climate cycles on the thermohaline changes of Antarcticdeep waters. Hence, establishing a modern-day circulation model would enable researchersto assess paleoproductivity and local upwelling that have profoundly influenced the marineecosystem of the Antarctic Peninsula after the Middle Pleistocene
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