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Synchronous timing of abrupt climate changes during the last glacial period
Ellen C Corrick1,2, Russell N Drysdale3,2, John C Hellstrom4
1School of Geography, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ecorrick@student.unimelb.edu.au.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 22, 2020
Summary
Sudden climate shifts during the last glacial period were globally synchronized within decades. Greenland warmings coincided with rapid climate changes across multiple continents, revealing interconnected climate systems.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Climate dynamics
- Quaternary geology
Background:
- Abrupt climate changes occurred during the last glacial period.
- The precise timing and regional synchrony of these events are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the absolute timing and regional synchrony of abrupt climate changes during the last glacial period.
- To establish a globally coherent framework for validating climate models.
Main Methods:
- Compilation of 63 published speleothem records with independent dating.
- Analysis of speleothem data to identify synchronous climate changes.
Main Results:
- Abrupt warmings in Greenland were linked to synchronous climate changes in the Asian Monsoon, South American Monsoon, and European-Mediterranean regions.
- These changes occurred within decades, demonstrating rapid climate coupling.
- Bipolar synchrony in atmospheric response was also observed.
Conclusions:
- Provides evidence for synchronous high-latitude-to-tropical climate coupling during abrupt warming events.
- Offers a framework for validating climate model simulations of abrupt climate change.
- Aids in constraining ice-core chronologies.
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