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Tropical mountain ice core δ18O: A Goldilocks indicator for global temperature change
Zhengyu Liu1,2,3, Yuntao Bao1, Lonnie G Thompson3,4
1Department of Geography, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Tropical alpine ice cores reveal past climate changes. Stable water oxygen isotopes (δ18Oice) indicate middle/upper troposphere temperatures and global cooling during glacial periods.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Climate Modeling
- Glaciology
Background:
- Tropical alpine ice cores offer valuable paleoclimate data for the upper atmosphere.
- Interpreting the stable water oxygen isotopic ratio (δ18Oice) as a climate proxy is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the climatic interpretation of tropical ice core stable water oxygen isotopes (δ18Oice).
- To establish δ18Oice as an indicator for middle and upper troposphere temperatures and global mean surface temperature change.
Main Methods:
- Integration of proxy records from ice cores.
- Utilizing climate models and modern satellite measurements.
- Application of radiative-convective equilibrium theory.
Main Results:
- Tropical δ18Oice accurately reflects middle and upper troposphere temperatures.
- Estimated glacial cooling in the middle/upper troposphere: -7.35° ± 1.1°C.
- Provided an independent estimate of global mean surface cooling during glacial stages: -5.9° ± 1.2°C.
Conclusions:
- Stable water oxygen isotopes in tropical ice cores are a reliable proxy for past atmospheric temperatures.
- This research offers a novel, marine-independent method for estimating glacial cooling.
- The maximum likelihood estimate for glacial cooling, integrating all data, is -5.85° ± 0.51°C.
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