(ESH) Holocene Climate Variability

Investigator: Paul A. Mayewski   (Principal Investigator current)          Loren D. Meeker  (Co-Principal Investigator current)

Abstract

Abstract

To address a variety of paleoclimatic questions, this proposal is to further refine and expand previous investigations of the Holocene GISP2 ice core glaciochemical record and utilize several other existing paleoclimate records (e.g., ice cores, marine sediments) for comparison. Well-dated, continuous Holocene climate records from the Antarctic are rare and large regional differences are expected over the continent. Thus, the proposal plans to develop a bipolar comparison by utilizing records developed from the proponents involvement in the Siple Dome (West Antarctica) ice core and an East Antarctic glaciochemical record to be developed from Law Dome in collaboration with Australian colleagues. The primary laboratory analytical emphasis in this proposal is the production of detailed (~ 10+ samples/year) major ion series (chloride, nitrate, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and ammonium) and MSA. These ions represent >95% of the soluble ions in the atmosphere and can be used: (1) to develop environmental records (eg., volcanic history, marine and continental biogenic source productivity); (2) in the reconstruction of atmospheric circulation systems, and (3) to develop even more precise dating of existing ice core records. The proponents plan to utilize a variety of multivariate statistical analyses in our interpretation of temporal and spatial data series. The study is expected to add a new dimension to the classic stable isotope-temperature reconstruction of climate by defining, through the examination of glaciochemical series, complementary measures of variability in atmospheric circulation.