High-resolution Greenland ice core data show abrupt climate change happens in a few years

Steffensen, Jorgen Peder; Andersen, Katrine K.; Bigler, Matthias; Clausen, Henrik B.; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Fischer, Hubertus; Goto-Azuma, Kumiko; Hansson, Margareta; Johnsen, Sigfus J.; Jouzel, Jean; Masson-Delmotte, Valerie; Popp, Trevor; Rasmussen, Sune O.; Rothlisberger, Regine; Ruth, Urs; Stauffer, Bernhard; Siggaard-Andersen, Marie-Louise; Sveinbjörnsdottir, Arny E.; Svensson, Anders; White, James W.C.. 2008 High-resolution Greenland ice core data show abrupt climate change happens in a few years. Science, 321 (5889). 680-684. 10.1126/science.1157707

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Abstract/Summary

The last two abrupt warmings at the onset of our present warm interglacial period, interrupted by the Younger Dryas cooling event, were investigated at high temporal resolution from the North Greenland Ice Core Project ice core. The deuterium excess, a proxy of Greenland precipitation moisture source, switched mode within 1 to 3 years over these transitions and initiated a more gradual change (over 50 years) of the Greenland air temperature, as recorded by stable water isotopes. The onsets of both abrupt Greenland warmings were slightly preceded by decreasing Greenland dust deposition, reflecting the wetting of Asian deserts. A northern shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone could be the trigger of these abrupt shifts of Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, resulting in changes of 2 to 4 kelvin in Greenland moisture source temperature from one year to the next.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1126/science.1157707
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Climate and Chemistry - Forcings and Phasings in the Earth System
ISSN:	0036-8075
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology Glaciology Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	19 Jan 2009 13:23 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5684

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