We develop here a new approach that couples the carbon and lithium cycles for reconstructing the Cenozoic Li isotope record. We show that this record does not provide persuasive, unique evidence for Cenozoic change in erosional forcing as it could, alternatively, be consistent with climatic control on soil production rates. The Li storage in continental secondary phases plays a key role, in particular, during the Early Cenozoic.

A sediment core collected from a pockmark field on the Vestnesa Ridge (~80N) in the Fram Strait is presented. Our results show an undisturbed sedimentary record for the last 14 ka BP and negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) during the Bølling-Allerød interstadials and during the early Holocene. Both CIEs relate to periods of ocean warming, sea-level rise and increased concentrations of methane (CH4) in the atmosphere, suggesting an apparent correlation with warm climatic events.

This manuscript presents new Mg/Ca and previously published δ18O measurements of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral for MIS 31-19, from a sediment core from the subpolar North Atlantic. The mechanism proposed here involves northward subsurface transport of warm and salty subtropical waters during periods of weaker AMOC, leading to ice-sheet instability and IRD discharge. This is the first time that these rapid climate oscillations are described for the early Pleistocene.