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Mikael Elfman

Researcher

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Using ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) shells to reconstruct palaeoenvironment in A-resund, Kattegat and Skagerrak, Sweden

Author

  • Elena Dunca
  • Harry Mutvei
  • Peter Goransson
  • Carl-Magnus Morth
  • Bernd R. Schoene
  • Martin J. Whitehouse
  • Mikael Elfman
  • Susanne P. Baden

Summary, in English

Shells of Arctica islandica collected between 1884 and 2004 from A-resund, Kattegat and Skagerrak (Swedish West Coast) were used to monitor local climate variations and the influence of human activities on the local environment. For this purpose, we analysed the growth, structure and chemical composition of these shells and compared them with shells collected from Kiel Bay, Norway and Iceland. The growth rate of the studied shells registers an NAO periodicity of ca 8 years. However, the observed signal is weak because of other environmental interferences that are either of natural or anthropogenic origin. For example, the oxygen isotope ratios show temperature fluctuation, but also the influx of low salinity water. Higher contents of S, N, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and P in shell portions formed during the last century are related to human activities such as mining and industrial development. Our study indicates that in order to use Arctica shells as archives of climate change it is necessary to study the full range of environmental data that is recorded in the shells by using a multi element and isotope approach in combination with different analytical techniques including investigation of growth rates and shell structure.

Department/s

  • Nuclear physics

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

3-17

Publication/Series

International Journal of Earth Sciences

Volume

98

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article (comment)

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Subatomic Physics

Keywords

  • Trace elements
  • Oxygen isotopes
  • Shell growth
  • Arctica islandica
  • Shell chemistry
  • Shell structure

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1437-3254