Simulating the Last Interglacial Greenland stable water isotope peak: the role of Arctic sea ice changes

Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2871-9741; Sime, Louise C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9093-7926; Tindall, Julia C; Capron, Emilie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0784-1884; Valdes, Paul J; Vinther, Bo M. 2018 Simulating the Last Interglacial Greenland stable water isotope peak: the role of Arctic sea ice changes. Quaternary Science Reviews, 198. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.07.027

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.07.027

Abstract/Summary

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.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.07.027
ISSN:	0277-3791
Date made live:	18 Oct 2018 17:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519617

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.07.027

ISSN:

0277-3791

Date made live:

18 Oct 2018 17:01 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519617