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Main Authors: Gkinis, Vasileios, Simonsen, Sebastian B, Buchardt, Susanne L, White, James W C, Vinther, Bo Møllesøe
Format: Dataset Open Access
Language:en
Published: PANGAEA 2014
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.871566
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author Gkinis, Vasileios
Simonsen, Sebastian B
Buchardt, Susanne L
White, James W C
Vinther, Bo Møllesøe
author_facet Gkinis, Vasileios
Simonsen, Sebastian B
Buchardt, Susanne L
White, James W C
Vinther, Bo Møllesøe
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents A high resolution (0.05 m) water isotopic record (d18O) is available from the NorthGRIP ice core. In this study we look into the water isotope diffusion history as estimated by the spectral characteristics of the d18O time series covering the last 16,000 years. The diffusion of water vapor in the porous medium of the firn pack attenuates the initial isotopic signal, predominantly having an impact on the high frequency components of the power spectrum. Higher temperatures induce higher rates of smoothing and thus the signal can be used as a firn paleothermometer. We use a water isotope diffusion model coupled to a steady-state densification model in order to infer the temperature signal from the site, assuming the accumulation and strain rate history as estimated using the GICC05 layer counted chronology and a Dansgaard-Johnsen ice flow model. The temperature reconstruction accurately captures the timing and magnitude of the Bølling-Allerød and Younger Dryas transitions. A Holocene climatic optimum is seen between 7 and 9 ky b2k with an apparent cooling trend thereafter. Our temperature estimate for the Holocene climatic optimum, points to a necessary adjustment of the ice thinning function indicating that the ice flow model overestimates past accumulation rates by about 10% at 8 ky b2k. This result, is supported by recent gas isotopic fractionation studies proposing a similar reduction for glacial conditions. Finally, the record presents a climatic variability over the Holocene spanning millennial and centennial scales with a profound cooling occurring at approximately 4000 years b2k. The new reconstruction technique is able to provide past temperature estimates by overcoming the issues apparent in the use of the classical d18O slope method. It can at the same time resolve temperature signals at low and high frequencies.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_871566
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2014
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle NorthGRIP firn temperature reconstruction based on water isotope firn diffusion
Gkinis, Vasileios
Simonsen, Sebastian B
Buchardt, Susanne L
White, James W C
Vinther, Bo Møllesøe
NGRIP; North Greenland Ice Core Project
A high resolution (0.05 m) water isotopic record (d18O) is available from the NorthGRIP ice core. In this study we look into the water isotope diffusion history as estimated by the spectral characteristics of the d18O time series covering the last 16,000 years. The diffusion of water vapor in the porous medium of the firn pack attenuates the initial isotopic signal, predominantly having an impact on the high frequency components of the power spectrum. Higher temperatures induce higher rates of smoothing and thus the signal can be used as a firn paleothermometer. We use a water isotope diffusion model coupled to a steady-state densification model in order to infer the temperature signal from the site, assuming the accumulation and strain rate history as estimated using the GICC05 layer counted chronology and a Dansgaard-Johnsen ice flow model. The temperature reconstruction accurately captures the timing and magnitude of the Bølling-Allerød and Younger Dryas transitions. A Holocene climatic optimum is seen between 7 and 9 ky b2k with an apparent cooling trend thereafter. Our temperature estimate for the Holocene climatic optimum, points to a necessary adjustment of the ice thinning function indicating that the ice flow model overestimates past accumulation rates by about 10% at 8 ky b2k. This result, is supported by recent gas isotopic fractionation studies proposing a similar reduction for glacial conditions. Finally, the record presents a climatic variability over the Holocene spanning millennial and centennial scales with a profound cooling occurring at approximately 4000 years b2k. The new reconstruction technique is able to provide past temperature estimates by overcoming the issues apparent in the use of the classical d18O slope method. It can at the same time resolve temperature signals at low and high frequencies.
title NorthGRIP firn temperature reconstruction based on water isotope firn diffusion
topic NGRIP; North Greenland Ice Core Project
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.871566