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Geology topics

Lisa E. Osterman

Publications and source records attributed to Lisa E. Osterman.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS2002

Magnetobiochronologic synthesis of ODP Leg 178 rise sediments from the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean: Sites 1095, 1096, and 11011

During Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 178, eight holes were drilled at three sites (1095, 1096, and 1101) on the continental rise along the western Antarctic Peninsula. The rise sediments proved to be good paleomagnetic recorders and provided continuous magnetostratigraphic records at all three sites. Biosiliceous microfossils, particularly diatoms and radiolarians, were present in the upper Miocene through lower Pliocene sections. In the upper Pliocene to Pleistocene sections, biosiliceous microfossils were rare but calcareous nannofossils and foraminifers were present. This paper summarizes the biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy of Leg 178 continental rise sites and is the first attempt at direct calibration of Antarctic biostratigraphic events to the geomagnetic polarity timescale in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean.

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program: Scienti↗
USGS2002

SHE analysis for biozonation of benthic foraminiferal assemblages from western arctic ocean

Benthic foraminiferal species abundance in samples from three Mendeleyev Ridge box cores were analyzed by cluster analysis and the newer method of SHE analysis. Previously, the latter technique only has been used on foraminiferal data from depth transects of modern surface sediment samples. Unlike most methods, which initially compare all possible pairs of samples, the SHE procedure results in a linear pattern if a sequence of samples are from the same statistical distribution. A change in slope indicates a statistical change in community structure and/or a change in species composition. The research reported herein is the first application of SHE for the purpose of identifying biozones in sediment core samples for the purpose of stratigraphic correlation. Both cluster analysis and the SHE method provided zonation within cores. However, the cluster method often produced clusters that were difficult to identify and also contained a mixture of samples without stratigraphic continuity. In contrast, SHE resulted in easily identifiable biozones and ensured temporal continuity within them. In general, the cluster analysis produced more zones than the SHE analysis. About 87% of the cluster zones and 64% of the SHE zones were correlated across more than one core. The average age range for correlated biozone boundaries among the three cores, based on radiocarbon dates, was 821 years using cluster analysis and 296 years using SHE. The sequential nature of the analysis, ease in choosing boundaries, and correlation of these boundaries across cores makes SHE the preferred technique.

Palaios↗
USGS2001

Climate variability of the Holocene, Site 1098, Palmer Deep, Antarctica

Detailed study of four Holocene sediment intervals from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1098 (Palmer Deep, Antarctic Peninsula) reveals that in situ dissolution of calcareous foraminifers in the core repository has significantly altered and in some cases eliminated calcareous foraminifers. Despite dissolution, the foraminifer and supporting diatom data show that the most open-ocean and reduced sea-ice conditions occurred in the early Holocene. The influence of Circumpolar Deep Water was greatest during the early Holocene but continued to be important throughout the Holocene. An increase in sea-ice proximal diatoms at 3500 cal. BP documents an expansion in the amount of persistent sea ice. The inferred increase in sea ice corresponds with an overall increase in magnetic susceptibility values. Benthic foraminifers are present in all samples from the Palmer Deep, including the middle Holocene pervasively laminated sediments with low magnetic susceptibility values. The consistent presence of mobile epifaunal benthic foraminifers in the laminated sediments demonstrates that the laminations do not represent anoxic conditions. The uniform composition of the agglutinated foraminifer fauna throughout the late Holocene suggests that the Palmer Deep did not experience bottom-water-mass changes associated with the alternating deposition of bioturbated or laminated sediments.

Antarctica, Antarctic Peninsula, Palmer Deep↗
USGS1999

Distribution of benthic foraminifers (>125 um) in the surface sediments of the Arctic Ocean

Census data on benthic foraminifers (>125 ?m) in surface sediment samples from 49 box cores are used to define four depth-controlled biofacies, which will aid in the paleoceanographic reconstruction of the Arctic Ocean. The shelf biofacies contains a mix of shallow-water calcareous and agglutinated species from the continental shelves of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and reflects the variable sedimentologic and oceanic conditions of the Arctic shelves. The intermediate-depth calcareous biofacies, found between 500 and 1,100 meters water depth (mwd), contains abundant Cassidulina teretis , presumably indicating the influence of Atlantic-derived water at this depth. In water depths between 1,100 and 3,500 m, a deepwater calcareous biofacies contains abundant Oridorsalis umbonatus . Below 3,500 mwd, the deepwater mixed calcareous/agglutinated biofacies of the Canada, Makarov, and Eurasian Basins reflects a combination of low productivity, dissolution, and sediment transport. Two other benthic foraminiferal species show specific environmental preferences. Fontbotia wuellerstorfi has a depth distribution between 900 and 3,500 mwd, but maximum abundance occurs in the region of the Mendeleyev Ridge. The elevated abundance of F. wuellerstorfi may be related to increased food supply carried by a branch of Atlantic water that crosses the Lomonosov Ridge near the Russian Continental Shelf. Triloculina frigida is recognized to be a species preferring lower slope sediments commonly disturbed by turbidites and bottom currents. INTRODUCTION At present, our understanding of the Arctic Ocean lags behind our understanding of other oceans, and fundamental questions still exist about its role in and response to global climate change. The Arctic Ocean is particularly sensitive to climatic fluctuations because small changes in the amounts of sea-ice cover can alter global albedo and thermohaline circulation (Aagaard and Carmack, 1994). Numerous questions still exist regarding the nature and timing of paleoclimatic events in the Arctic Ocean. In order to attempt to answer some of these questions, baseline studies are imperative. This report discusses the distribution of benthic foraminifers in surface sediment samples from 49 box cores (figs. 1 and 2, table 1) collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). A modern data set of benthic foraminiferal distribution is necessary for interpreting the paleoclimatic and oceanographic history of the Arctic Ocean.

Bulletin↗