Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Published Online January 31, 2002
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1066174

Research Articles

Submitted on September 12, 2001
Accepted on January 16, 2002

Instability of Glacial Climate in a Model of the Ocean-Atmosphere-Cryosphere System

Andreas Schmittner 1*, Masakazu Yoshimori 1, Andrew J. Weaver 1

1 School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Post Office Box 3055, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, Canada.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: andreas{at}ocean.seos.uvic.ca.

In contrast to the relatively stable climate of the last 10,000 years, during glacial times the North Atlantic region experienced large-amplitude transitions between cold (stadial) and warm (interstadial) states. Here, using an Earth System Climate Model, we demonstrate that hydrological interactions between the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) and adjacent continental ice sheets can trigger abrupt warming events and also limit the lifetime of the interstadial circulation mode. These interactions have the potential to destabilize the THC, which is already more sensitive for glacial conditions than for the present day climate, thus providing an explanation for the increased variability of glacial climate.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Stochastic models of the meridional overturning circulation: time scales and patterns of variability.
A. H Monahan, J. Alexander, and A. J Weaver (2008)
Phil Trans R Soc A 366, 2525-2542
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Climate and the migration of early peoples into the Americas.
R. Hetherington, A. J. Weaver, and A. Montenegro (2007)
Geological Society of America Special Papers 426, 113-132
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Rapid Rise of Sea Level 19,000 Years Ago and Its Global Implications.
P. U. Clark, A. M. McCabe, A. C. Mix, and A. J. Weaver (2004)
Science 304, 1141-1144
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Meltwater Pulse 1A from Antarctica as a Trigger of the Bolling-Allerod Warm Interval.
A. J. Weaver, O. A. Saenko, P. U. Clark, and J. X. Mitrovica (2003)
Science 299, 1709-1713
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Structure of the 8200-Year Cold Event Revealed by a Speleothem Trace Element Record.
J. U. L. Baldini, F. McDermott, and I. J. Fairchild (2002)
Science 296, 2203-2206
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)