Sensitivity of the North Atlantic climate to Greenland Ice Sheet melting during the Last Interglacial

• DOI: 10.5194/cpd-7-2763-2011
• Publication Date: 2011-08-31T09:15:29Z
• Authors: P. Bakker; C. J. Van Meerbeeck; H. Renssen
• Keywords: Greenland ice sheet; Proxy (statistics); Paleoclimatology

Abstract. During the Last Interglacial (LIG; ~130 thousand years BP), part of Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) melted under influence a warmer than present-day climate. However, impact this melting on LIG climate in North Atlantic region is unknown. Using LOVECLIM earth system model intermediate complexity we have systematically tested sensitivity to increased freshwater runoff from GIS. Moreover, additional experiments been performed investigate an idealized reduction both altitude and extent GIS By comparing simulated deep ocean circulation with proxy-based reconstructions, most realistic could be discerned. The resulting characterized by shutdown convection Labrador Sea subsequent cooling here ~6 °C ~2 over southern Baffin Island Ocean between 40° N 60° N. results local warming up 6 accompanying Nordic Seas. Combining reconstructions enabled us constrain possible melt rate flux 0.052 Sv 0.13 Sv. A further comparison summer temperatures continental oceanic proxy-records reveals that partial during delayed maximum western relative insolation maximum.