Spatially coherent late Holocene Antarctic Peninsula surface air temperature variability

• DOI: 10.1130/g45347.1
• Publication Date: 2018-11-10T09:28:12Z
• Authors: Dan J. Charman; Matthew J. Amesbury; Thomas P. Roland; Jessica Royles; Dominic A. Hodgson; Peter Convey; Howard Griffiths
• Keywords: Westerlies; Peninsula; Temperature record; Ice core

The Antarctic Peninsula experienced a rapid rise in regional temperature during the second half of 20th century, but pattern multi-centennial changes and their dynamical drivers remain poorly understood. Here we use proxies biological productivity rare, deep moss banks to infer past surface air on identify these changes. Late Holocene temperatures are broadly consistent between low-elevation bank records high-elevation ice core site, conclude that variation strength westerlies, linked Southern Annular Mode, is most likely driver. Our data do not support hypothesized persistent dipole over related strong influence El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Rates change peninsula century unusual context late Holocene, further warming will drive future increases growth microbial populations.