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Antarctic last interglacial isotope peak in response to sea ice retreat not ice-sheet collapse

Author

Listed:
  • Max D. Holloway

    (Ice Dynamics and Paleoclimate, British Antarctic Survey
    School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol)

  • Louise C. Sime

    (Ice Dynamics and Paleoclimate, British Antarctic Survey)

  • Joy S. Singarayer

    (University of Reading)

  • Julia C. Tindall

    (School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds)

  • Pete Bunch

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Paul J. Valdes

    (School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol)

Abstract

Several studies have suggested that sea-level rise during the last interglacial implies retreat of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). The prevalent hypothesis is that the retreat coincided with the peak Antarctic temperature and stable water isotope values from 128,000 years ago (128 ka); very early in the last interglacial. Here, by analysing climate model simulations of last interglacial WAIS loss featuring water isotopes, we show instead that the isotopic response to WAIS loss is in opposition to the isotopic evidence at 128 ka. Instead, a reduction in winter sea ice area of 65±7% fully explains the 128 ka ice core evidence. Our finding of a marked retreat of the sea ice at 128 ka demonstrates the sensitivity of Antarctic sea ice extent to climate warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Max D. Holloway & Louise C. Sime & Joy S. Singarayer & Julia C. Tindall & Pete Bunch & Paul J. Valdes, 2016. "Antarctic last interglacial isotope peak in response to sea ice retreat not ice-sheet collapse," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12293
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12293
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    Cited by:

    1. David K. Hutchinson & Laurie Menviel & Katrin J. Meissner & Andrew McC. Hogg, 2024. "East Antarctic warming forced by ice loss during the Last Interglacial," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Ilaria Crotti & Aurélien Quiquet & Amaelle Landais & Barbara Stenni & David J. Wilson & Mirko Severi & Robert Mulvaney & Frank Wilhelms & Carlo Barbante & Massimo Frezzotti, 2022. "Wilkes subglacial basin ice sheet response to Southern Ocean warming during late Pleistocene interglacials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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