The sensitivity of the Late Saalian (140 ka) and LGM (21 ka) Eurasian ice sheets to sea surface conditions

• Published in: Climate Dynamics
• Main Authors: Colleoni, F., Liakka, J., Krinner, G., Jakobsson, M., Masina, S., Peyaud, V.
• Other Authors: Colleoni, F.; Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici, Liakka, J.; Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Krinner, G.; Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Ge´ophysique de l’Environnement, UJF, CNRS, Jakobsson, M.; Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, Masina, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia, Peyaud, V.; Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Ge´ophysique de l’Environnement, UJF, CNRS, Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici, Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Ge´ophysique de l’Environnement, UJF, CNRS, Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Verlag GMBH Germany 2011
• Subjects: Sea surface temperatures; Late Saalian; Last Glacial Maximum; Eurasian ice sheet; Climate modelling; Quaternary; 01. Atmosphere::01.01. Atmosphere::01.01.02. Climate; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.02. Cryosphere/atmosphere Interaction; 03. Hydrosphere::03.01. General::03.01.06. Paleoceanography and paleoclimatology; Ice Sheet; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7742; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-010-0870-7

This work focuses on the Late Saalian (140 ka) Eurasian ice sheets’ surface mass balance (SMB) sensitivity to changes in sea surface temperatures (SST). An Atmospheric General Circulation Model (AGCM), forced with two preexisting Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 21 ka) SST reconstructions, is used to compute climate at 140 and 21 ka (reference glaciation). Contrary to the LGM, the ablation almost stopped at 140 ka due to the climatic cooling effect from the large ice sheet topography. Late Saalian SST are simulated using an AGCM coupled with a mixed layer ocean. Compared to the LGM, these 140 ka SST show an inter-hemispheric asymmetry caused by the larger ice-albedo feedback, cooling climate. The resulting Late Saalian ice sheet SMB is smaller due to the extensive simulated sea ice reducing the precipitation. In conclusion, SST are important for the stability and growth of the Late Saalian Eurasian ice sheet. Published 531-553 3.7. Dinamica del clima e dell'oceano JCR Journal restricted