Transient simulation of last deglaciation with a new mechanism for bolling-allerod warming

  • Z. Liu
  • , B. L. Otto-Bliesner
  • , F. He
  • , E. C. Brady
  • , R. Tomas
  • , P. U. Clark
  • , A. E. Carlson
  • , J. Lynch-Stieglitz
  • , W. Curry
  • , E. Brook
  • , D. Erickson
  • , R. Jacob
  • , J. Kutzbach
  • , J. Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

994 Scopus citations

Abstract

We conducted the first synchronously coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model simulation from the Last Glacial Maximum to the B0lling-Aller0d (BA) warming. Our model reproduces several major features of the deglacial climate evolution, suggesting a good agreement in climate sensitivity between the model and observations. In particular, our model simulates the abrupt BA warming as a transient response of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) to a sudden termination of freshwater discharge to the North Atlantic before the BA. In contrast to previous mechanisms that invoke AMOC multiple equilibrium and Southern Hemisphere climate forcing, we propose that the BA transition is caused by the superposition of climatic responses to the transient CO2 forcing, the AMOC recovery from Heinrich Event 1, and an AMOC overshoot.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)310-314
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume325
Issue number5938
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 17 2009

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