Climate and glacier variations since the Last Glacier Maximum in Jan Mayen - ClimJaM

Jan Mayen is located in a climate-sensitive position between cold and warm waters far from any land mass in the Greenland Sea. Thus, the island`s geographical position and the lack of glacial- and paleoclimatic data from the island, stress the importance of collecting such data. In this project we have provided information on glacier variations the last ca. 100 000 years and sedimentological data from lake sediments. Aims have been to fill an important gap in the knowledge of paleoclimatic changes and thereby enhance the understanding of natural climate variability and the role of the Arctic in the global climate system. Through this project we have revealed past geological and environmental changes since the last Glacial Maximum providing data both for the international scientific community as well as for national management authorities and the general public. Publication in international scientific journals are in progress and some laboratory analyses are still pending. Results so far show that the entire island has been covered by glaciers at least twice, the last time about 20 000 years ago. We have also recorded climate- and glacier variations that has taken place in post-glacial times. This is also recorded in the southern, presently unglaciated part of the island. Sediment cores from the largest lake on Jan Mayen are now being analyzed. Preliminary results indicate high sedimentation rate and thus potentially high time resolution. Recorded ash beds from former, unknown volcanic eruptions are recorded, and these may become important tools for correlating paleoclimate events. Results from the project have been presented at several national and international conferences, as popular science presentations, in news media, and to the County Governor of Nordland who is managing the Jan Mayen nature reserve.

Anticipated -New knowledge on glacier, sea-level and climate variations -Store reference cores -Establish cosmogenic dating at NTNU -Communicate results to relevant authorities Achieved -All the anticipated. Some results were somewhat disappointing, but this has to do with the nature of the study area, and not the project conduct. New results is by far outweighing what was not achieved: -Glaciation(s) covering the entire island older than the Last Glacial Maximum - Oxygen isotopes on glacier buried in tephra in S-Jan to study Holocene climates -Glacier and volcanic activity interacting in the way that glacier melting causes enhanced volcanic activity which in turn trigger further glacier melting -Volcanic activity caused a lake to become landlocked. DNA is used for speciation studies of Arctic Char trapped in the lake -Dates show the occurrence of older driftwood than previously known from the island. This is used in studies of provenance and variation in the transpolar drift current

Jan Mayen is located in a climate-sensitive position between cold and warm surface waters far from any land mass in the Greenland Sea. With its total lack of paleoclimate data the island is an extremely important site for collecting such data. The project fills this gap in knowledge by increasing the understanding of natural climate variability and dynamics and the role of the Arctic in the global climate system. In three targeted field campaigns we will, for the first time in Jan Mayen, collect data on glacier variations, and from lake sediments to reconstruct past climates from this white spot on the paleoclimatic site map. Evidence of glacier variations will be mapped geomorphologically and sedimentologically, and the recorded events dated. Lake sediments will be cored and investigated with a multi-proxy paleoclimatic approach. The data sets will be combined to give unique information about climate change since the last glaciation from a critical part of the global climate system, shed light on the dynamics behind some of the past environmental changes in the Arctic, and result in new sea-level data from the Greenland Sea. The project will also provide and communicate data on the natural physical environment useful for management of the nature reserve and cultural heritages. Additionally, it will contribute to establish cosmogenic dating techniques at Norway`s National Laboratory for Chronology. Ambitious dissemination of the results, both scientifically, in public outreach and to specific user groups are planned. For logistical reasons related to work conditions in Jan Mayen, a small team is put together for these tasks. The team members has complementary skills, is experienced in dealing with practical and scientific challenges of working in the Arctic, and have a wealth of experience in glacial and lake sediment studies. Also due to challenges and restrictions connected with field work, the project will recover multiple cores for reference and future studies.