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Oceanic Evidence for the Mechanism of Rapid Northern Hemisphere Glaciation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

W. F. Ruddiman ,
A. McIntyre ,
V. Niebler-Hunt  and
J. T. Durazzi
W. F. Ruddiman
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University Palisades, New York 10964
A. McIntyre
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University Palisades, New York 10964 Queens College of The City University of New York, Flushing, New York 11367
V. Niebler-Hunt
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University Palisades, New York 10964
J. T. Durazzi
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University Palisades, New York 10964
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Abstract

The oxygen isotopic stage 5/4 boundary in deep-sea sediments marks a prominent interval of northern hemisphere ice-sheet growth that lasted about 10,000 yr. During much of this rapid ice growth, the North Atlantic Ocean from at least 40°N to 60°N maintained warm sea-surface temperatures, within 1° to 2°C of today's subpolar ocean. This oceanic warmth provided a local source of moisture for ice-sheet accretion on the adjacent continents. The unusually strong thermal gradient off the east coast of North America (an “interglacial” ocean alongside a “glacial” land mass) also should have directed low-pressure storms from warm southern latitudes north-ward toward the Laurentide Ice Sheet. In addition, minimal calving of ice into the North Atlantic occurred during most of the stage 5/4 transition, indicative of ice retention within the continents. Diminished summer and autumn insolation, a warm subpolar ocean, and minimal calving of ice are conducive to rapid and extensive episodes of northern hemisphere ice-sheet growth.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , January 1980 , pp. 33 - 64
Copyright
University of Washington

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