For citation:
Melnikova A. A. The study of fossil and modern diatoms of the North Atlantic: From descriptive studies to paleoceanographic reconstructions. Izvestiya of Saratov University. Earth Sciences, 2026, vol. 26, iss. 3, pp. 197-207. DOI: 10.18500/1819-7663-2026-26-3-197-207, EDN: TYZTCA
The study of fossil and modern diatoms of the North Atlantic: From descriptive studies to paleoceanographic reconstructions
This article examines the history of research on fossil diatoms in the North Atlantic and their role in paleoceanographic reconstructions. A synthesis of published data has, for the first time, made it possible to propose a three-stage periodization of diatom studies in the region: the descriptive stage (late 19th–early 20th centuries), the stage of the development of systematic, ecological, and methodological approaches (mid20th century), and the modern stage associated with the advancement of quantitative and paleoceanographic methods (since the late 20th century). It is shown that improvements in taxonomy, microscopy, biostratigraphy, and the introduction of deep-sea drilling have significantly expanded the possibilities of using diatoms to reconstruct sea-surface temperature, sea-ice conditions, hydrological regimes, and water-mass circulation. For the first time, a map of the distribution of studied marine sediment cores containing diatom assemblages (excluding deep-sea drilling materials and surface samples) has been compiled, revealing major gaps in the study of North Atlantic areas. The paper identifies both the main research gaps and future prospects related to the development of quantitative, molecular, and interdisciplinary approaches.
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