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

Max D. Holloway (), Louise C. Sime, Joy S. Singarayer, Julia C. Tindall, Pete Bunch and Paul J. Valdes
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Max D. Holloway: Ice Dynamics and Paleoclimate, British Antarctic Survey
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

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12293

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