What was the Lake El’gygytgyn Drilling Project, NE Russia: What does it mean for understanding Arctic Climate Evolution?

Julie Brigham-Grette, UMASS -Amherst Martin Melles, Univ of Cologne Pavel Minyuk, NEISRI-Magadan and El’gygytgyn Science Party

Career of Understanding Cenozoic Climate History of the Arctic

Created by Bill Manley, INSTAAR

….3.6 Million Years ago (Middle Pliocene)

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Location- central Chukotka

LakeLakeEl‘gygytgynEl‘gygytgyn

LakeLakeEl‘gygytgyEl‘gygytgy

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Meteorite Impact Lake created3.58+/- 0.04 Ma (Layer 2000)

Leg 323

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Drilling and Science Team (day and night shifts)

Science, drilling, and Russian camp staff

Group Success!

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Finding good Colleagues

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1998 Expedition

2000 Expedition

2003 Expedition

Three Site Survey

expeditions

2 trips to MoscowEvery year for 4-5 years = lots of

Vodka

Frank Rack

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11stst transport transportto Lake E to Lake E

CCampampsset upet up

M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A

201020092008

- Drilling Operation -- Drilling Operation -

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lakelakedrillingdrilling

22ndnd transport transportto Lake E to Lake E

PermafrostPermafrostdrilling (D3)drilling (D3)

11stst transport transportto Lake E to Lake E

CCampampsset upet up

iice roadce road& thickening& thickening

M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A

201020092008

- Drilling Operation -- Drilling Operation -

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How do I study Arctic climate – lake sediments

04/15/23 17

18Picture courtesy of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment

3.6 Ma = Peak of Pliocene Warming

Greenland courtesy of Svend Funder

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Drilling Targets – continuous to 3.6 Ma

Most continuous record in terrestrial Arctic!

- Results-- Results- (2) Long-term History

> -4°C

Nolan(2012)

13.5 13.6Field depth (mblf)

Line scan picture

X-radiograph

13.7Field depth (mblf)

9.29.1 9.3

Line scan picture

X-radiograph

after Melles et al. (2007)

- Results-- Results- (2) Long-term History

after Melles et al. (2007)Field depth (mblf)

58.658.5 58.7

Line scan picture

X-radiograph

Line scan picture

X-radiograph

9.6 9.7Field depth (mblf)

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100 kyrs 41 kyrs 21 & 23 kyrs

MIS 31 orbital parameters

Lisiecki and Raymo, 2005; Laskar, 2004

ANDRILL Lake El’gygytgyn Polar Programs with International partners

With Germany, Russia, AustriaWith New Zealand, UK, Italy, Germany,

Conclusions:

Key points and Scientific Firsts 1. First continuous record of Middle Pliocene with

sustained summer temperatures in range of 15-16oC and precipitation 3 times higher than today. Warmth occurred throughout both warm and cold orbital cycles  

2. New evidence of 17 super interglacials in Arctic that might be tied to times of Antarctic ice retreat.

3. Stepped pacing of the transition from a warm, forested Arctic to glacial onset, esp. 2.4 to 2.8 ma 

4. Finally, paleoclimate reconstructions consistent with estimates of atmospheric pCO2