The 8200yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region

Timothy J. Daley; Elizabeth R. Thomas; Jonathan A. Holmes; F. Alayne Street-Perrott; Mark R. Chapman; Julia C. Tindall; Paul J. Valdes; Neil J. Loader; James D. Marshall; Eric W. Wolff; Philip J. Hopley; Tim Atkinson; Keith E. Barber; Elizabeth H. Fisher; Iain Robertson; Paul D M Hughes; C. Neil Roberts

doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.03.006

The 8200yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region

Timothy J. Daley^*, Elizabeth R. Thomas, Jonathan A. Holmes, F. Alayne Street-Perrott, Mark R. Chapman, Julia C. Tindall, Paul J. Valdes, Neil J. Loader, James D. Marshall, Eric W. Wolff, Philip J. Hopley, Tim Atkinson, Keith E. Barber, Elizabeth H. Fisher, Iain Robertson, Paul D M Hughes, C. Neil Roberts

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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Abstract

An abrupt cold event ca. 8200cal.yr BP, is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic release of ice-dammed meltwater from Lake Agassiz and associated disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Previous reviews have highlighted both the "ideal" nature of the 8200yr event as a target for numerical model validation and the likely geographical restriction of the ensuing cold event to the circum-North Atlantic region but have cited a lack of sufficiently resolved palaeoclimatic records to test this hypothesis. We review the current set of high-resolution stable isotope records from multiple archives (lake, bog, marine and ice cores) in the North Atlantic region for the period 9200-7400yr BP (present=AD 1950). The isotopic values of terrestrial records are closely linked to isotopic values of palaeoprecipitation. All sites provided evidence for at least one centennial-scale anomaly (beginning ~8500-8250yr BP) that exceeded background variability. No evidence for spatial or temporal transgression of the isotope anomalies was identified, implying that a simultaneous climate signal was observed in the circum-North Atlantic region. Comparison with new simulations using the UK Hadley Centre model HadCM3, which was isotope-enabled to simulate changes in the stable isotope composition of precipitation and forced by freshwater input ("hosing") of 5 Sverdrups (Sv) (0.005km³/s), for 1yr, indicated agreement with the observed decrease in the amplitude of the isotope anomaly with distance from the NW North Atlantic. The model-simulated duration of the event, however, was consistently shorter than that observed in palaeoclimatic records. A review of evidence for forcing additional to the catastrophic release of meltwater from Lake Agassiz (solar variability, sea-ice feedback and longer-term meltwater history) suggested that reduced solar output did not directly coincide with the 8200yr event, but that a more complex history of meltwater discharges and sea-ice feedback may have conditioned the AMOC for sustained climatic impact.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	288-302
Number of pages	15
Journal	Global and Planetary Change
Volume	79
Issue number	3-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.03.006
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2011

Keywords

8.2ka BP event
8200
Data model comparison
North Atlantic
Palaeoclimate
Stable water isotopes

UN SDGs

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Daley, T. J., Thomas, E. R., Holmes, J. A., Street-Perrott, F. A., Chapman, M. R., Tindall, J. C., Valdes, P. J., Loader, N. J., Marshall, J. D., Wolff, E. W., Hopley, P. J., Atkinson, T., Barber, K. E., Fisher, E. H., Robertson, I., Hughes, P. D. M., & Roberts, C. N. (2011). The 8200yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region. Global and Planetary Change, 79(3-4), 288-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.03.006

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title = "The 8200yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region",

abstract = "An abrupt cold event ca. 8200cal.yr BP, is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic release of ice-dammed meltwater from Lake Agassiz and associated disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Previous reviews have highlighted both the {"}ideal{"} nature of the 8200yr event as a target for numerical model validation and the likely geographical restriction of the ensuing cold event to the circum-North Atlantic region but have cited a lack of sufficiently resolved palaeoclimatic records to test this hypothesis. We review the current set of high-resolution stable isotope records from multiple archives (lake, bog, marine and ice cores) in the North Atlantic region for the period 9200-7400yr BP (present=AD 1950). The isotopic values of terrestrial records are closely linked to isotopic values of palaeoprecipitation. All sites provided evidence for at least one centennial-scale anomaly (beginning ~8500-8250yr BP) that exceeded background variability. No evidence for spatial or temporal transgression of the isotope anomalies was identified, implying that a simultaneous climate signal was observed in the circum-North Atlantic region. Comparison with new simulations using the UK Hadley Centre model HadCM3, which was isotope-enabled to simulate changes in the stable isotope composition of precipitation and forced by freshwater input ({"}hosing{"}) of 5 Sverdrups (Sv) (0.005km3/s), for 1yr, indicated agreement with the observed decrease in the amplitude of the isotope anomaly with distance from the NW North Atlantic. The model-simulated duration of the event, however, was consistently shorter than that observed in palaeoclimatic records. A review of evidence for forcing additional to the catastrophic release of meltwater from Lake Agassiz (solar variability, sea-ice feedback and longer-term meltwater history) suggested that reduced solar output did not directly coincide with the 8200yr event, but that a more complex history of meltwater discharges and sea-ice feedback may have conditioned the AMOC for sustained climatic impact.",

keywords = "8.2ka BP event, 8200, Data model comparison, North Atlantic, Palaeoclimate, Stable water isotopes",

author = "Daley, {Timothy J.} and Thomas, {Elizabeth R.} and Holmes, {Jonathan A.} and Street-Perrott, {F. Alayne} and Chapman, {Mark R.} and Tindall, {Julia C.} and Valdes, {Paul J.} and Loader, {Neil J.} and Marshall, {James D.} and Wolff, {Eric W.} and Hopley, {Philip J.} and Tim Atkinson and Barber, {Keith E.} and Fisher, {Elizabeth H.} and Iain Robertson and Hughes, {Paul D M} and Roberts, {C. Neil}",

year = "2011",

month = dec,

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doi = "10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.03.006",

language = "English",

volume = "79",

pages = "288--302",

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Daley, TJ, Thomas, ER, Holmes, JA, Street-Perrott, FA, Chapman, MR, Tindall, JC, Valdes, PJ, Loader, NJ, Marshall, JD, Wolff, EW, Hopley, PJ, Atkinson, T, Barber, KE, Fisher, EH, Robertson, I, Hughes, PDM & Roberts, CN 2011, 'The 8200yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region', Global and Planetary Change, vol. 79, no. 3-4, pp. 288-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.03.006

TY - JOUR

T1 - The 8200yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region

AU - Daley, Timothy J.

AU - Thomas, Elizabeth R.

AU - Holmes, Jonathan A.

AU - Street-Perrott, F. Alayne

AU - Chapman, Mark R.

AU - Tindall, Julia C.

AU - Valdes, Paul J.

AU - Loader, Neil J.

AU - Marshall, James D.

AU - Wolff, Eric W.

AU - Hopley, Philip J.

AU - Atkinson, Tim

AU - Barber, Keith E.

AU - Fisher, Elizabeth H.

AU - Robertson, Iain

AU - Hughes, Paul D M

AU - Roberts, C. Neil

PY - 2011/12/1

Y1 - 2011/12/1

N2 - An abrupt cold event ca. 8200cal.yr BP, is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic release of ice-dammed meltwater from Lake Agassiz and associated disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Previous reviews have highlighted both the "ideal" nature of the 8200yr event as a target for numerical model validation and the likely geographical restriction of the ensuing cold event to the circum-North Atlantic region but have cited a lack of sufficiently resolved palaeoclimatic records to test this hypothesis. We review the current set of high-resolution stable isotope records from multiple archives (lake, bog, marine and ice cores) in the North Atlantic region for the period 9200-7400yr BP (present=AD 1950). The isotopic values of terrestrial records are closely linked to isotopic values of palaeoprecipitation. All sites provided evidence for at least one centennial-scale anomaly (beginning ~8500-8250yr BP) that exceeded background variability. No evidence for spatial or temporal transgression of the isotope anomalies was identified, implying that a simultaneous climate signal was observed in the circum-North Atlantic region. Comparison with new simulations using the UK Hadley Centre model HadCM3, which was isotope-enabled to simulate changes in the stable isotope composition of precipitation and forced by freshwater input ("hosing") of 5 Sverdrups (Sv) (0.005km3/s), for 1yr, indicated agreement with the observed decrease in the amplitude of the isotope anomaly with distance from the NW North Atlantic. The model-simulated duration of the event, however, was consistently shorter than that observed in palaeoclimatic records. A review of evidence for forcing additional to the catastrophic release of meltwater from Lake Agassiz (solar variability, sea-ice feedback and longer-term meltwater history) suggested that reduced solar output did not directly coincide with the 8200yr event, but that a more complex history of meltwater discharges and sea-ice feedback may have conditioned the AMOC for sustained climatic impact.

AB - An abrupt cold event ca. 8200cal.yr BP, is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic release of ice-dammed meltwater from Lake Agassiz and associated disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Previous reviews have highlighted both the "ideal" nature of the 8200yr event as a target for numerical model validation and the likely geographical restriction of the ensuing cold event to the circum-North Atlantic region but have cited a lack of sufficiently resolved palaeoclimatic records to test this hypothesis. We review the current set of high-resolution stable isotope records from multiple archives (lake, bog, marine and ice cores) in the North Atlantic region for the period 9200-7400yr BP (present=AD 1950). The isotopic values of terrestrial records are closely linked to isotopic values of palaeoprecipitation. All sites provided evidence for at least one centennial-scale anomaly (beginning ~8500-8250yr BP) that exceeded background variability. No evidence for spatial or temporal transgression of the isotope anomalies was identified, implying that a simultaneous climate signal was observed in the circum-North Atlantic region. Comparison with new simulations using the UK Hadley Centre model HadCM3, which was isotope-enabled to simulate changes in the stable isotope composition of precipitation and forced by freshwater input ("hosing") of 5 Sverdrups (Sv) (0.005km3/s), for 1yr, indicated agreement with the observed decrease in the amplitude of the isotope anomaly with distance from the NW North Atlantic. The model-simulated duration of the event, however, was consistently shorter than that observed in palaeoclimatic records. A review of evidence for forcing additional to the catastrophic release of meltwater from Lake Agassiz (solar variability, sea-ice feedback and longer-term meltwater history) suggested that reduced solar output did not directly coincide with the 8200yr event, but that a more complex history of meltwater discharges and sea-ice feedback may have conditioned the AMOC for sustained climatic impact.

KW - 8.2ka BP event

KW - 8200

KW - Data model comparison

KW - North Atlantic

KW - Palaeoclimate

KW - Stable water isotopes

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U2 - 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.03.006

DO - 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.03.006

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

AN - SCOPUS:80655144441

SN - 0921-8181

VL - 79

SP - 288

EP - 302

JO - Global and Planetary Change

JF - Global and Planetary Change

IS - 3-4

ER -

The 8200yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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