Rapid Reductions in North Atlantic Deep Water During the Peak of the Last Interglacial Period

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Galaasen, Eirik Vinje, Ninnemann, Ulysses S., Irvalı, Nil, Kleiven, Helga (Kikki) F., Rosenthal, Yair, Kissel, Catherine, Hodell, David A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2014
• Subjects: North Atlantic Deep Water; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1248667; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1248667

Limited Stability Deep ocean circulation is thought to be stable during warm, interglacial periods. Galaasen et al. (p. 1129 , published online 20 February) constructed a highly resolved record of North Atlantic Deep Water production during the last interglacial period, around 128,000 to 116,000 years ago. The findings reveal large, centennial-scale reductions—in contrast to the prevailing paradigm. These changes occurred in an ocean warmer than that of today, but in a temperature regime similar to that expected because of global warming, raising the possibility that future ocean circulation, regional climate, and CO 2 sequestration pathways could be impacted.