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Abstract
Recent data compilations of the early Last Interglacial period have indicated a bipolar temperature response at 130 ka, with colder-than-present temperatures in the North Atlantic and warmer-than-present temperatures in
the Southern Ocean and over Antarctica. However, climate model simulations of this period have been unable to reproduce this response, when only orbital and greenhouse gas forcings are considered in a climate model framework. Using
a full-complexity general circulation model we perform climate model simulations representative of 130 ka conditions which include a magnitude of freshwater forcing derived from data at this time. We show that this meltwater from the remnant Northern Hemisphere ice sheets during the glacial–
interglacial transition produces a modelled climate response similar to the observed colder-than-present temperatures in the North Atlantic at 130 ka and also results in warmer-than present temperatures in the Southern Ocean via the bipolar seesaw mechanism. Further simulations in which the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is also removed lead to warming in East Antarctica and the Southern Ocean but do not appreciably improve the model–data comparison. This integrated model–data approach provides evidence that Northern Hemisphere
freshwater forcing is an important player in the evolution of early Last Interglacial climate.
the Southern Ocean and over Antarctica. However, climate model simulations of this period have been unable to reproduce this response, when only orbital and greenhouse gas forcings are considered in a climate model framework. Using
a full-complexity general circulation model we perform climate model simulations representative of 130 ka conditions which include a magnitude of freshwater forcing derived from data at this time. We show that this meltwater from the remnant Northern Hemisphere ice sheets during the glacial–
interglacial transition produces a modelled climate response similar to the observed colder-than-present temperatures in the North Atlantic at 130 ka and also results in warmer-than present temperatures in the Southern Ocean via the bipolar seesaw mechanism. Further simulations in which the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is also removed lead to warming in East Antarctica and the Southern Ocean but do not appreciably improve the model–data comparison. This integrated model–data approach provides evidence that Northern Hemisphere
freshwater forcing is an important player in the evolution of early Last Interglacial climate.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1919-1932 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Climate of the Past |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Early online date | 29 Sept 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2016 |
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (final published version)
This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Springer Verlag at http://www.clim-past.net/12/1919/2016/. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
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Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of meltwater on high-latitude early Last Interglacial climate'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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USING INTER-GLACIALS TO ASSESS FUTURE SEA-LEVEL SCENARIOS (iGlass)
Payne, A. J. (Principal Investigator), Lunt, D. (Co-Principal Investigator), Siddall, M. (Co-Principal Investigator) & Singarayer, J. S. (Co-Principal Investigator)
1/06/11 → 1/04/16
Project: Research
Profiles
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Professor Dan Lunt
- School of Geographical Sciences - Professor of Climate Science
- Cabot Institute for the Environment
- The Bristol Research Initiative for the Dynamic Global Environment (BRIDGE)
Person: Academic , Member, Group lead