LAUSR

Abstract Variations in the abundance of manganese (Mn) in Arctic Ocean sediments are used as a tool to identify glacial and interglacial periods. This study aims to provide new insight into the applicability of Mn as a stratigraphic tool in the topmost sediment and to investigate the occurrence of Mn peaks in sediments within the range of radiocarbon dating. In combination with variations in ice-rafted debris (IRD), radiocarbon dating is used to better constrain the stratigraphic occurrence of Mn peaks, and the synchroneity between multiple records, especially during the late glacial and the Holocene. We find that a hiatus spanning MIS 2 is widely observed in most of our cores, resulting in a merging of Mn peaks of Holocene age and the later part of MIS 3. The Holocene Mn peak is usually high amplitude but short, while the MIS 3 Mn peak has a lower amplitude and is protracted. Where preserved, MIS 2 sediments form a 2–3 cm thick layer characterized by a light color, low Mn content, sparse IRD and low foraminiferal abundance. IRD variations provide a powerful tool to identify the boundary of the Holocene and late MIS 3 in cores with a MIS 2 hiatus. Because the IRD content displays a general increment from the start of MIS 3, and both the Holocene and MIS 2 show small IRD variations, the end of MIS 3 can be pinpointed to the point of decrease in IRD. The hiatus of MIS 2 is widely observed in our cores, suggesting extensive persistent sea ice coverage during the peak of the last glacial cycle, with sharply reduced sedimentation throughout the Arctic Ocean. Identifying similar events during previous glacial periods may be an important step towards constructing longer and more accurate chronologies for Arctic Ocean sediments.