The two-mile time machine: Ice cores, abrupt climate change and our future

Sea-ice switches and abrupt climate change.

We propose that past abrupt climate changes were probably a result of rapid and extensive variations in sea-ice cover. We explain why this seems a perhaps more likely explanation than a purely thermohaline circulation mechanism. We emphasize that because of the significant influence of sea ice on the climate system, it seems that high priority should be given to developing ways for reconstructi...

Direct North-South synchronization of abrupt climate change record in ice cores using beryllium 10

Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures ◭ ◮ ◭ ◮ Back Close Full Screen / Esc Printer-friendly Version Interactive Discussion EGU Abstract A new, decadally resolved record of the 10 Be peak at 41 kyr from the EPICA Dome C ice core (Antarctica) is used to match it with the same peak in the GRIP ice core (Greenland). This permits a direct synchronisation of the climatic variations aroun...

Chapter Two Challenges to our understanding of the general circulation : abrupt climate change

Two Challenges to our understanding of the general circulation : abrupt climate change

Past temperature reconstructions from deep ice cores: relevance for future climate change

Ice cores provide unique archives of past climate and environmental changes based only on physical processes. Quantitative temperature reconstructions are essential for the comparison between ice core records and climate models. We give an overview of the methods that have been developed to reconstruct past local temperatures from deep ice cores and highlight several points that are relevant fo...