Rapid fluctuations in the deep North Atlantic heat budget during the last glacial period

TitleRapid fluctuations in the deep North Atlantic heat budget during the last glacial period
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsSkinner, LC, Elderfield, H
JournalPaleoceanography
Volume22
PaginationPA1205
ISBN Number0883-8305
Keywords4532 Oceanography: Physical: General circulation, 4901 Paleoceanography: Abrupt/rapid climate change, 4962 Paleoceanography: Thermohaline, deepwater temperature, overturning circulation, stadial-interstadial
Abstract

Our understanding of past ocean-climate interactions has been hampered by a paucity of proxy reconstructions of physical ocean circulation parameters. Here we present the first detailed record of deepwater temperature variability that resolves Dansgaard-Oeschger climate fluctuations during the last glaciation. Results indicate a positive coupling between abrupt temperature changes over Greenland and in the deep North Atlantic that was mediated by perturbations to the Atlantic overturning circulation. The occurrence of sharp warming events at the center of the “Heinrich” stadials 4 and 5 further indicates that the response of the ocean interior was less static across these major climate events than has been previously apparent.

URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2006PA001338