Deglacial temperature history of West Antarctica Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • SignificanceThe magnitude and timing of Antarctic temperature change through the last deglaciation reveal key aspects of Earth’s climate system. Prior attempts to reconstruct this history relied on isotopic indicators without absolute calibration. To overcome this limitation, we combined isotopic data with measurements of in situ temperatures along a 3.4-km-deep borehole. Deglacial warming in Antarctica was two to three times larger than the contemporaneous global temperature change, quantifying the extent to which feedback processes amplify global changes in polar regions, a key prediction of climate models. Warming progressed earlier in Antarctica than in the Northern Hemisphere but coincident with glacier recession in southern mountain ranges, a manifestation of changing oceanic heat transport, insolation, and atmospheric CO2that can further test models.

publication date

  • December 13, 2016

has restriction

  • green

Date in CU Experts

  • January 24, 2017 7:10 AM

Full Author List

  • Cuffey KM; Clow GD; Steig EJ; Buizert C; Fudge TJ; Koutnik M; Waddington ED; Alley RB; Severinghaus JP

author count

  • 9

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0027-8424

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1091-6490

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 14249

end page

  • 14254

volume

  • 113

issue

  • 50