Quaternary Paleoclimatic Variations of Beringia: Large-scale Controls and Regional Responses

Patrick J. Bartlein (Principal Investigator current)
Cary J. Mock  (Co-Principal Investigator current)
                    
Abstract    

     Abstract  ATM-9532074  Bartlein, Patrick J.  University of Oregon  Title:
     Quaternary Paleoclimatic Variations of Beringia: Large-scale          Controls
     and Regional Responses    The climate system of the Arctic is a key component
     of the global  system, and an understanding of the nature of paleoclimatic
     variations in the Arctic is therefore an important element in  predicting how
     that region may respond to changes in the large-  scale controls of climate.
     This PALE/ARCSS award supports the  analysis of Quaternary paleoecological
     records from Beringia to a)  document the nature and magnitude of past climatic
     changes, b) test  hypotheses about the controls of regional climatic
     variations, and  how changes in those controls are expressed at the regional
     and  local levels, and c) exploit the growing number of  paleoenvirnomental
     records from this region for use in the  examination of paleoclimatic
     variations along key transects and for  application in model-validation
     studies.  This analysis requires  the compilation of modern sets of climate and
     vegetation data from  the region, and their use to establish relationships
     between  vegetation and climate.  These relationships can then be applied to a)
     interpret fossil-pollen data in climate terms, thereby  illustrating the range
     of past climate changes, b) test specific  hypotheses about the controls of
     past climatic variations by  comparing the "observed" record of vegetation
     change with that  implied by the hypotheses, and c) validate climate model
     simulations of Arctic paleoclimates.