Last deglacial abrupt climate changes caused by meltwater pulses in the Labrador Sea
Type | Article | ||||||||||||||||
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Date | 2023-03 | ||||||||||||||||
Language | English | ||||||||||||||||
Author(s) | You Defang1, Stein Ruediger1, 2, 3, Fahl Kirsten1, Williams Maricel C.4, Schmidt Daniela N.4, McCave Ian Nicholas5, Barker Stephen6, Schefuß Enno2, Niu Lu1, Kuhn Gerhard1, Niessen Frank1 | ||||||||||||||||
Affiliation(s) | 1 : Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, 27568, Germany 2 : MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, 28359, Germany 3 : Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China 4 : School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK 5 : Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, UK 6 : School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK |
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Source | Communications Earth & Environment (2662-4435) (Springer Science and Business Media LLC), 2023-03 , Vol. 4 , N. 1 , P. 81 (12p.) | ||||||||||||||||
DOI | 10.1038/s43247-023-00743-3 | ||||||||||||||||
WOS© Times Cited | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
Abstract | Freshwater perturbations are often thought to be associated with abrupt climate changes during the last deglaciation, while many uncertainties remain regarding the exact timing, pathway, mechanism, and influence of meltwater release. Here, we present very well-dated and high-resolution records from the eastern Labrador Sea representing the last 19.000 years, which demonstrate abrupt changes in sea surface characteristics. Four millennial-scale meltwater events have been identified between the last 14.000 and 8.200 years based on independent biomarker proxies and X-ray fluorescence scanning data. These events are characterized by increased sea ice formation and decreased sea surface temperatures which might have occurred within a few decades. We propose these abrupt changes were triggered by meltwater pulsing into the Labrador Sea periodically, resulting from collapse of the Laurentide-Greenland Ice Sheets caused by (sub-)surface ocean warming in the Labrador Sea. Our findings provide more precise information about impact of freshwater forcing on abrupt climate changes, which may help to improve simulations for past and future changes in ocean circulation and climate. |
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