Spielhagen, Robert (2017) Case Studies of the Role of Arctic Gateways in Plio-Pleistocene Arctic Changes . Polarforschung, 87 (1). pp. 23-31. DOI 10.2312/polarforschung.87.1.23.

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Abstract

The configuration of the Arctic Ocean as a mediterranean sea,
surrounded by continents, gives a particular importance to the few connections
that exist to the world ocean. In this manuscript critical cases are examined
when the Arctic Ocean played an important role in climatic changes occurring over long and short geological timescales. By presenting three examples
of published research results it is shown that in particular the water mass
exchange through Bering Strait and the Fram Strait has varied in direction and
volume. These variations have caused significant changes in the environments
in the Arctic Ocean itself, on the surrounding continents, and – in cases –
even hemisphere-wide. Owing to the prominent role of the Arctic Ocean in the
global ocean circulation system, studies of the role of Arctic gateways are key
to a better understanding of past, present, and future changes.

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