TY - JOUR
T1 - Simulating the Last Interglacial Greenland stable water isotope peak
T2 - The role of Arctic sea ice changes
AU - Malmierca-Vallet, Irene
AU - Sime, Louise C.
AU - Tindall, Julia C.
AU - Capron, Emilie
AU - Valdes, Paul J.
AU - Vinther, Bo M.
AU - Holloway, Max D.
PY - 2018/10/15
Y1 - 2018/10/15
N2 - Last Interglacial (LIG), stable water isotope values (δ18O) measured in Greenland deep ice cores are at least 2.5‰ higher compared to the present day. Previous isotopic climate simulations of the LIG do not capture the observed Greenland δ18O increases. Here, we use the isotope-enabled HadCM3 (UK Met Office coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model) to investigate whether a retreat of Northern Hemisphere sea ice was responsible for this model-data disagreement. Our results highlight the potential significance of sea ice changes on the LIG Greenland isotopic maximum. Sea ice loss in combination with increased sea surface temperatures, over the Arctic, affect δ18O: water vapour enriched in heavy isotopes and a shorter distillation path may both increase δ18O values over Greenland. We show, for the first time, that simulations of the response to Arctic sea ice reduction are capable of producing the likely magnitude of LIG δ18O increases at NEEM, NGRIP, GIPS2 and Camp Century ice core sites. However, we may underestimate δ18O changes at the Renland, DYE3 and GRIP ice core locations. Accounting for possible ice sheet changes is likely to be required to produce a better fit to the LIG ice core δ18O values.
AB - Last Interglacial (LIG), stable water isotope values (δ18O) measured in Greenland deep ice cores are at least 2.5‰ higher compared to the present day. Previous isotopic climate simulations of the LIG do not capture the observed Greenland δ18O increases. Here, we use the isotope-enabled HadCM3 (UK Met Office coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model) to investigate whether a retreat of Northern Hemisphere sea ice was responsible for this model-data disagreement. Our results highlight the potential significance of sea ice changes on the LIG Greenland isotopic maximum. Sea ice loss in combination with increased sea surface temperatures, over the Arctic, affect δ18O: water vapour enriched in heavy isotopes and a shorter distillation path may both increase δ18O values over Greenland. We show, for the first time, that simulations of the response to Arctic sea ice reduction are capable of producing the likely magnitude of LIG δ18O increases at NEEM, NGRIP, GIPS2 and Camp Century ice core sites. However, we may underestimate δ18O changes at the Renland, DYE3 and GRIP ice core locations. Accounting for possible ice sheet changes is likely to be required to produce a better fit to the LIG ice core δ18O values.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052889538&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.07.027
DO - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.07.027
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
AN - SCOPUS:85052889538
SN - 0277-3791
VL - 198
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - Quaternary Science Reviews
JF - Quaternary Science Reviews
ER -