scholarly journals Influence of regional precipitation patterns on stable isotopes in ice cores from the central Himalayas

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1871-1905 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Pang ◽  
S. Hou ◽  
S. Kaspari ◽  
P. A. Mayewski
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Central Himalayas ◽  
Precipitation Patterns ◽  
The North ◽  
Stable Isotopic ◽  
Dasuopu Ice Core ◽  
Isotopic Records ◽  
Temperature Proxy

Abstract. Several ice cores have been recovered from the Dasuopu Glacier and the East Rongbuk (ER) Glacier in the central Himalayas since the 1990s. Although the distance between the ER and the Dasuopu ice core drilling sites is only ∼125 km, the stable isotopic record (δ18O or δD) of the ER core is interpreted as a precipitation proxy while the Dasuopu core as a temperature proxy. Thus, the climatological significance of the stable isotopic records of these Himalayan ice cores remains a subject of debate. Based on analysis of regional precipitation patterns over the region, we find that the different interpretations of the Dasuopu and Everest isotopic records may not be contradictive. The north–south and west–east seesaws of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) precipitation are primarily responsible for precipitation falling at the ER site, which results in a negative correlation between the ER δ18O or δD record and precipitation amount along the southern slope of the central Himalayas, corresponding to the "amount effect". In addition to the ISM precipitation, non-summer monsoonal precipitation associated with winter westerlies also significantly contributes to precipitation falling at the Dasuopu site, which may cause a positive correlation between the Dasuopu stable isotopic record and temperature, in response to the "temperature effect". Our results have important implications for interpreting the stable isotopic ice core records recovered from different climatological regimes of the Himalayas.

scholarly journals Influence of regional precipitation patterns on stable isotopes in ice cores from the central Himalayas

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Pang ◽  
S. Hou ◽  
S. Kaspari ◽  
P. A. Mayewski
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Central Himalayas ◽  
Precipitation Patterns ◽  
Western Disturbances ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Stable Isotopic ◽  
Core Site ◽  
Temperature Proxy

Abstract. Several ice cores have been recovered from the Dasuopu (DSP) Glacier and the East Rongbuk (ER) Glacier in the central Himalayas since the 1990s. Although the distance between the DSP and the ER ice core drilling sites is only ~ 125 km, the stable isotopic record (δ18O or δD) of the DSP core is interpreted in previous studies as a temperature proxy, while the ER core is interpreted as a precipitation proxy. Thus, the climatological significance of the stable isotopic records of these Himalayan ice cores remains a subject of debate. Based on analysis of regional precipitation patterns over the region, we find that remarkable discrepancy in precipitation seasonality between the two sites may account for their disparate isotopic interpretations. At the ER core site, the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) precipitation is dominating due to topographic blocking of the moisture from westerlies by the high ridges of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), which results in a negative correlation between the ER Δ18O or δD record and precipitation amount along the southern slope of the central Himalayas in response to the "amount effect". At the DSP core site, in comparison with the ISM precipitation, the wintertime precipitation associated with the westerlies is likely more important owing to its local favorable topographic conditions for interacting with the western disturbances. Therefore, the DSP stable isotopic record may be primarily controlled by the westerlies. Our results have important implications for interpreting the stable isotopic ice core records recovered from different climatological regimes of the Himalayas.

scholarly journals The Recurrence Time of Dansgaard–Oeschger Events and Limits on the Possible Periodic Component

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 2594-2603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D. Ditlevsen ◽  
Mikkel S. Kristensen ◽  
Katrine K. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Waiting Times ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Recurrence Time ◽  
Objective Criterion ◽  
Climate Signal ◽  
The North ◽  
Climate Shifts ◽  
Isotopic Records ◽  
Core Project

Abstract By comparing the high-resolution isotopic records from the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) and the North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP) ice cores, the common climate signal in the records has been approximately separated from local noise. From this, an objective criterion for defining Dansgaard–Oeschger (DO) events is achieved. The analysis identifies several additional short-lasting events, increasing the total number of DO events to 27 in the period 12–90 kyr before present (BP). The quasi-regular occurrence of the DO events could indicate a stochastic or coherent resonance mechanism governing their origin. From the distribution of waiting times, a statistical upper bound on the strength of a possible periodic forcing is obtained. This finding indicates that the climate shifts are purely noise driven with no underlying periodicity.

scholarly journals Ice core precipitation record in central Tibetan plateau since AD 1600

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Yao ◽  
K. Duan ◽  
B. Xu ◽  
N. Wang ◽  
X. Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
The North ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Northern Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Central Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Precipitation Record ◽  
High Precipitation

Abstract. Lack of reliable long-term precipitation record from northern Tibetan Plateau has constrained the understanding of precipitation variation in this region. An ice core drilled from the Puruogangri Ice Field on central Tibetan Plateau in the year 2000 helped reveal the precipitation variations since AD 1600. Analysis of the annual accumulation data presented precipitation changes from AD 1600, indicative of wet and dry periods in the past 400 year in the central Tibetan Plateau. Accordingly, the 18th and 20th centuries experienced high precipitation period, whilst the 19th century experienced low precipitation period. Such a feature was consistent with precipitation recorded in ice cores from Dunde and Guliya Glaciers, northern Tibetan Plateau. Besides, the results also pointed to consistency in precipitation-temperature correlation on the northern Tibetan Plateau, in a way that temperature and precipitation were positively correlated. But this feature was contrary to the relationship revealed from Dasuopu ice cores, southern Tibetan Plateau, where temperature and precipitation were negatively correlated. The north-south contrast in precipitation amount and its relationship with temperature may shed light on the reconstruction of Asian monsoon since AD 1600.

scholarly journals Glacial Stage Ice-Core Records from the Subtropical Dunde Ice Cap, China

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 288-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.G. Thompson ◽  
E. Mosley-Thompson ◽  
M.E. Davis ◽  
J.F. Bolzan ◽  
J. Dai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Late Glacial ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
The North ◽  
Glacial Stage ◽  
Isotope Record ◽  
Temperature Proxy

The first ice-core record of both the Holocene and Wisconsin/Würm Late Glacial Stage (LGS) from the subtropics has been extracted from three ice cores to bedrock from the Dunde ice cap on the north-central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Ice thicknesses at the ice-cap summit average 138 m, the bedrock surface is relatively flat, surface and basal temperatures are −7.3 and −4.7°C, respectively and the ice cap exhibits radial flow away from the summit dome. These records reveal a major change in the climate of the plateau ∼10 000 years ago and suggest that LGS conditions were colder, wetter and dustier than Holocene conditions. This is inferred from the more negative δ18O ratios, increased dust content, decreased soluble aerosol concentrations, and reduced ice-crystal sizes, which characterize the LGS part of the cores. Total β radioactivity from shallow ice cores indicates that over the last 24 years the average accumulation rate has been ∼400 mm a−1 at the summit. The ice cores have been dated using a combination of annual layers in the insoluble dust and δ18O in the upper sections of core, visible dust layers which are annual, and ice-flow modeling. The oxygen-isotope record which serves as a temperature proxy indicates that the last 60 years have been the warmest in the entire record.

scholarly journals Glacial Stage Ice-Core Records from the Subtropical Dunde Ice Cap, China

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 288-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.G. Thompson ◽  
E. Mosley-Thompson ◽  
M.E. Davis ◽  
J.F. Bolzan ◽  
J. Dai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Late Glacial ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
The North ◽  
Glacial Stage ◽  
Isotope Record ◽  
Temperature Proxy

The first ice-core record of both the Holocene and Wisconsin/Würm Late Glacial Stage (LGS) from the subtropics has been extracted from three ice cores to bedrock from the Dunde ice cap on the north-central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Ice thicknesses at the ice-cap summit average 138 m, the bedrock surface is relatively flat, surface and basal temperatures are −7.3 and −4.7°C, respectively and the ice cap exhibits radial flow away from the summit dome. These records reveal a major change in the climate of the plateau ∼10 000 years ago and suggest that LGS conditions were colder, wetter and dustier than Holocene conditions. This is inferred from the more negative δ18O ratios, increased dust content, decreased soluble aerosol concentrations, and reduced ice-crystal sizes, which characterize the LGS part of the cores. Total β radioactivity from shallow ice cores indicates that over the last 24 years the average accumulation rate has been ∼400 mm a−1 at the summit. The ice cores have been dated using a combination of annual layers in the insoluble dust and δ18O in the upper sections of core, visible dust layers which are annual, and ice-flow modeling. The oxygen-isotope record which serves as a temperature proxy indicates that the last 60 years have been the warmest in the entire record.

scholarly journals High-resolution ice-core stable-isotopic records from Antarctica: towards interannual climate reconstruction

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Schneider ◽  
Eric J. Steig ◽  
Tas Van Ommen
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
The United States ◽  
Seasonal Temperature ◽  
Stable Isotopic ◽  
Isotopic Records ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Ice Core Records

AbstractIce-core records are a key resource for reconstructing Antarctic climate. However, a number of physical processes preclude the simple interpretation of ice-core properties such as oxygen isotopic ratios in terms of climate variables like temperature or sea-level pressure. We show that well-dated, sub-annually resolved stable-isotopic records from the United States International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (US-ITASE) traverses and other sources have a high correlation with local seasonal temperature variation. However, this temporal relationship cannot be simply extended to quantitative interannual resolution reconstructions of site temperature. We suggest that a consistent and important target for ice-core calibrations is a composite of annual mean temperature records from Antarctic weather stations, which covaries strongly with the dominant mode (from principal component analysis) of temperature variability in the Antarctic. Significant correlations with this temperature index are found with individual ice-core records, with a composite of the ice cores, and through a multiple linear regression model with the ice cores as predictors. These results imply that isotopic signals, like the instrumental temperature mode itself, have a strong response to large-scale atmospheric circulation variability, which in the Antarctic region is dominated by the Southern Annular Mode.

scholarly journals A Synoptic Scale Perspective on Greenland Ice Core δ18O Variability and Related Teleconnection Patterns

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Norel Rimbu ◽  
Monica Ionita ◽  
Gerrit Lohmann
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Synoptic Scale ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Rossby Wave Breaking ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Teleconnection Patterns ◽  
Climate Anomalies ◽  
The North ◽  
Oxygen Isotope Ratios

The variability of stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) from Greenland ice cores is commonly linked to changes in local climate and associated teleconnection patterns. In this respect, in this study we investigate ice core δ18O variability from a synoptic scale perspective to assess the potential of such records as proxies for extreme climate variability and associated weather patterns. We show that positive (negative) δ18O anomalies in three southern and central Greenland ice cores are associated with relatively high (low) Rossby Wave Breaking (RWB) activity in the North Atlantic region. Both cyclonic and anticyclonic RWB patterns associated with high δ18O show filaments of strong moisture transport from the Atlantic Ocean towards Greenland. During such events, warm and wet conditions are recorded over southern, western and central part of Greenland. In the same time the cyclonic and anticyclonic RWB patterns show enhanced southward advection of cold polar air masses on their eastern side, leading to extreme cold conditions over Europe. The association between high δ18O winters in Greenland ice cores and extremely cold winters over Europe is partly explained by the modulation of the RWB frequency by the tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature forcing, as shown in recent modeling studies. We argue that δ18O from Greenland ice cores can be used as a proxy for RWB activity in the Atlantic European region and associated extreme weather and climate anomalies.

scholarly journals Impact of precipitation intermittency on NAO-temperature signals in proxy records

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 871-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Casado ◽  
P. Ortega ◽  
V. Masson-Delmotte ◽  
C. Risi ◽  
D. Swingedouw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Stable Isotope Ratio ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Temporal Correlations ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic Oscillation ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. In mid and high latitudes, the stable isotope ratio in precipitation is driven by changes in temperature, which control atmospheric distillation. This relationship forms the basis for many continental paleoclimatic reconstructions using direct (e.g. ice cores) or indirect (e.g. tree ring cellulose, speleothem calcite) archives of past precipitation. However, the archiving process is inherently biased by intermittency of precipitation. Here, we use two sets of atmospheric reanalyses (NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) and ERA-interim) to quantify this precipitation intermittency bias, by comparing seasonal (winter and summer) temperatures estimated with and without precipitation weighting. We show that this bias reaches up to 10 °C and has large interannual variability. We then assess the impact of precipitation intermittency on the strength and stability of temporal correlations between seasonal temperatures and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Precipitation weighting reduces the correlation between winter NAO and temperature in some areas (e.g. Québec, South-East USA, East Greenland, East Siberia, Mediterranean sector) but does not alter the main patterns of correlation. The correlations between NAO, δ18O in precipitation, temperature and precipitation weighted temperature are investigated using outputs of an atmospheric general circulation model enabled with stable isotopes and nudged using reanalyses (LMDZiso (Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Zoom)). In winter, LMDZiso shows similar correlation values between the NAO and both the precipitation weighted temperature and δ18O in precipitation, thus suggesting limited impacts of moisture origin. Correlations of comparable magnitude are obtained for the available observational evidence (GNIP (Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation) and Greenland ice core data). Our findings support the use of archives of past δ18O for NAO reconstructions.

scholarly journals A 60 000 year Greenland stratigraphic ice core chronology

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Svensson ◽  
K. K. Andersen ◽  
M. Bigler ◽  
H. B. Clausen ◽  
D. Dahl-Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
The North ◽  
Annual Layer ◽  
Zone Ii ◽  
Absolute Age ◽  
Age Estimates ◽  
New Time

Abstract. The Greenland Ice Core Chronology 2005 (GICC05) is a time scale based on annual layer counting of high-resolution records from Greenland ice cores. Whereas the Holocene part of the time scale is based on various records from the DYE-3, the GRIP, and the NorthGRIP ice cores, the glacial part is solely based on NorthGRIP records. Here we present an 18 ka extension of the time scale such that GICC05 continuously covers the past 60 ka. The new section of the time scale places the onset of Greenland Interstadial 12 (GI-12) at 46.9±1.0 ka b2k (before year AD 2000), the North Atlantic Ash Zone II layer in GI-15 at 55.4±1.2 ka b2k, and the onset of GI-17 at 59.4±1.3 ka b2k. The error estimates are derived from the accumulated number of uncertain annual layers. In the 40–60 ka interval, the new time scale has a discrepancy with the Meese-Sowers GISP2 time scale of up to 2.4 ka. Assuming that the Greenland climatic events are synchronous with those seen in the Chinese Hulu Cave speleothem record, GICC05 compares well to the time scale of that record with absolute age differences of less than 800 years throughout the 60 ka period. The new time scale is generally in close agreement with other independently dated records and reference horizons, such as the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion, the French Villars Cave and the Austrian Kleegruben Cave speleothem records, suggesting high accuracy of both event durations and absolute age estimates.

scholarly journals Ranges of moisture-source temperature estimated from Antarctic ice cores stable isotope records over glacial–interglacial cycles

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1109-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Uemura ◽  
V. Masson-Delmotte ◽  
J. Jouzel ◽  
A. Landais ◽  
H. Motoyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Source Temperature ◽  
Moisture Source ◽  
Isotopic Model ◽  
Temperature Proxy ◽  
Coefficient Of Regression

Abstract. A single isotope ratio (δD or δ18O) of water is widely used as an air-temperature proxy in Antarctic ice core records. These isotope ratios, however, do not solely depend on air-temperature but also on the extent of distillation of heavy isotopes out of atmospheric water vapor from an oceanic moisture source to a precipitation site. The temperature changes at the oceanic moisture source (Δ Tsource) and at the precipitation site (Δ Tsite) can be retrieved by using deuterium-excess (d) data. A new d record from Dome Fuji, Antarctica spanning the past 360 000 yr is presented and compared with records from Vostok and EPICA Dome C ice cores. In previous studies, to retrieve Δ Tsource and Δ Tsite information, different linear regression equations were proposed using theoretical isotope distillation models. A major source of uncertainty lies in the coefficient of regression, βsite which is related to the sensitivity of d to Δ Tsite. We show that different ranges of temperature and selections of isotopic model outputs may increase the value of βsite by more than a factor of two. To explore the impacts of this coefficient on reconstructed temperatures, we apply for the first time the exact same methodology to the isotope records from the three Antarctica ice cores. We show that uncertainties in the βsite coefficient strongly affect (i) the glacial–interglacial magnitude of Δ Tsource; (ii) the imprint of obliquity in Δ Tsource and in the site-source temperature gradient. By contrast, we highlight the robustness of Δ Tsite reconstruction using water isotopes records.

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