Multiproxy investigation of the last 2,000 years BP marine paleoenvironmental record along the western Spitsbergen margin

A reconstruction of the last 2,000 years BP environmental and oceanographic changes on western margin Spitsbergen was performed using a multidisciplinary approach including fossil assemblages diatoms, planktic benthic foraminifera calcareous nannofossils use geochemistry (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction). We identified two warm periods (2,000–1,600 1,300–700 BP) that were associated with Roman Warm Period Medieval alternate colder oceanic conditions sea ice coverage occurred during Dark Ages (1,600–1,300 beginning Little Ice Age. During occurrence ice-rafted debris Aulocoseira spp., specific diatom genus commonly continental freshwater, suggests significant runoff meltwaters from local glaciers.