Complexity of Holocene Climate as Reconstructed from a Greenland Ice Core

Glaciochemical time series developed from Summit, Greenland, indicate that the chemical composition of the atmosphere was dynamic during the Holocene epoch. Concentrations of sea salt and terrestrial dusts increased in Summit snow during the periods 0 to 600, 2400 to 3100, 5000 to 6100, 7800 to 8800...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1995-12, Vol.270 (5244), p.1962-1964
Main Authors: O'Brien, S. R., Mayewski, P. A., Meeker, L. D., Meese, D. A., Twickler, M. S., Whitlow, S. I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospherics
Chemistry
Climate
Climate change
Climate models
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Geological time
Geology
Glacial epoch
Glaciers
Holocene epoch
Ice ages
Ice core dating
Ice cores
Ice sheets
Marine and continental quaternary
Paleoclimatology
Salts
Seas
Surficial geology
Ventilation
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Summary:Glaciochemical time series developed from Summit, Greenland, indicate that the chemical composition of the atmosphere was dynamic during the Holocene epoch. Concentrations of sea salt and terrestrial dusts increased in Summit snow during the periods 0 to 600, 2400 to 3100, 5000 to 6100, 7800 to 8800, and more than 11,300 years ago. The most recent increase, and also the most abrupt, coincides with the Little Ice Age. These changes imply that either the north polar vortex expanded or the meridional air flow intensified during these periods, and that temperatures in the mid to high northern latitudes were potentially the coldest since the Younger Dryas event.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.270.5244.1962