Projects per year
Abstract
North Pacific atmospheric and oceanic circulations are key missing
pieces in our understanding of the reorganisation of the global climate
system since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Here, using a basin‐wide
compilation of planktic foraminiferal δ18O, we show that the
North Pacific subpolar gyre extended ~3° further south during the LGM,
consistent with sea surface temperature and productivity proxy data.
Climate models indicate that the expansion of the subpolar gyre was
associated with a substantial gyre strengthening, and that these gyre
circulation changes were driven by a southward shift of the mid‐latitude
westerlies and increased wind‐stress from the polar easterlies. Using
single‐forcing model runs, we show that these atmospheric circulation
changes are a non‐linear response to ice‐sheet topography/albedo, and CO2.
Our reconstruction indicates that the gyre boundary (and thus westerly
winds) began to migrate northward at ~16.5 ka, driving changes in ocean
heat transport, biogeochemistry, and North American hydroclimate.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e2019GL086328 |
Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 17 Mar 2020 |
Keywords
- North Pacific
- Deglaciation
- Gyre circulation
- Westerlies
- Oxygen isotopes
- Climate models
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Dive into the research topics of 'Wind-driven evolution of the North Pacific subpolar gyre over the last deglaciation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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INTRIGUED: Investigating the role of the: INTRIGUED: Investigating The Role of the North Pacific in Glacial and Deglacial CO2 and Climate
Rae, J. W. B. (PI) & Burke, A. (CoI)
1/06/16 → 31/01/20
Project: Standard