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A mechanism for reconciling the synchronisation of Heinrich events and Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles

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  • Clemens Schannwell

    (Max Planck Institute for Meteorology)

  • Uwe Mikolajewicz

    (Max Planck Institute for Meteorology)

  • Marie-Luise Kapsch

    (Max Planck Institute for Meteorology)

  • Florian Ziemen

    (Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum)

Abstract

The evolution of the northern hemispheric climate during the last glacial period was beset by quasi-episodic iceberg discharge events from the Laurentide ice sheet, known as Heinrich events (HEs). The paleo record places most HEs into the cold stadial of the Dansgaard-Oeschger cycle. However, not every Dansgaard-Oeschger cycle is associated with a HE, revealing a complex interplay between the two modes of glacial variability. Here, using a coupled ice sheet-solid earth model, we introduce a mechanism that explains the synchronicity of HEs and Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles. Unlike earlier studies, our mechanism does not require a trigger during the stadial. Instead, the atmospheric warming signal during the interstadial of the Dansgaard-Oeschger cycle causes enhanced ice stream thickening that leads to the HE during the late interstadial. We demonstrate that this mechanism reproduces the key HE characteristics and provides an explanation for synchronous HEs from different regions of the Laurentide ice sheet.

Suggested Citation

  • Clemens Schannwell & Uwe Mikolajewicz & Marie-Luise Kapsch & Florian Ziemen, 2024. "A mechanism for reconciling the synchronisation of Heinrich events and Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47141-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47141-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeremy N. Bassis & Sierra V. Petersen & L. Mac Cathles, 2017. "Heinrich events triggered by ocean forcing and modulated by isostatic adjustment," Nature, Nature, vol. 542(7641), pages 332-334, February.
    2. Lars Max & Dirk Nürnberg & Cristiano M. Chiessi & Marlene M. Lenz & Stefan Mulitza, 2022. "Subsurface ocean warming preceded Heinrich Events," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
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