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©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate

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Page 1: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Page 2: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

PaleoclimatologyRedistribution of oxygen isotopes:

Interglacial

Page 3: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Page 4: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Vostok

- +

Page 5: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Natural Causes for Climate ChangeNatural Causes for Climate Change

1. Solar Fluctuations

2. Orbital Fluctuations

3. Volcanic Emissions

4. Plate Tectonics

5. Changing Ocean Circulation

Page 6: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Solar Fluctuations

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Solar Fluctuat

ion

Solar Fluctuat

ion

Page 7: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Milankovitch theory of climate change:

Eccentricity: 400

ka and 100 ka

Page 8: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Energy Budget

animate

Shortwave energy per square meter will decrease at lower sun angles and shorter daylight

periods.

Page 9: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Milankovitch theory of climate change:

Obliquity: 41 ka

Page 10: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Milankovitch theory of climate change:

Axial Precessio

n: 23 ka

Page 11: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Milankovitch theory of climate change:

Glacial

Ice Growth Configuration: High eccentricityHigh TiltSmall Earth-Sun Distance in Summer

Net Effect: More seasonal contrast

Page 12: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Milankovitch theory of climate change:

Inter- Glacial

Ice Growth Configuration: Low eccentricityLow TiltLarge Earth-Sun Distance in Summer

Net Effect: Less seasonal contrast

Page 13: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Climate ModelsGOOD NEWS: It has been possible to reproduce past climates using Milankovitch theory plus changes observed in greenhouse gas concentrations.

BAD NEWS: Changes were slow and we have little experience modeling rapid change.

Page 14: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Climate Models

Page 15: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

320

340

360

380

12500 10000 7500 5000 2500 0

Age (yr BP)

Taylor Dome

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

320

340

360

380

Age (kyr BP)

0100200300400

Changes in CO2 (0 - 12,500 YBP)

Paleoclimatology

NOW

Page 16: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Energy Budget

Page 17: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Climate

Page 18: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

ClimateGlacial retreat of North American ice sheets (1000s of years)

Glacial retreat of North American ice sheets (1000s of years)

Page 19: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Sea Level Change1-meter rise of sea level equivalent to 0.4 million cubic kilometers of ice

1-meter rise of sea level equivalent to 0.4 million cubic kilometers of ice

Page 20: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Sea Level Change

1-meter rise of sea level equivalent to 0.4 million cubic kilometers of ice

1-meter rise of sea level equivalent to 0.4 million cubic kilometers of ice

Page 21: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

RAPIDChanges

in ClimateHappen

Climate

Warmer

Cooler

Page 22: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

Climate

Page 23: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

ClimateCaCO3shells of ocean plankton from the Norwegian Sea and the Gulf of Mexico record pulses of low 18O meltwater delivery from nearby ice sheets.

[from Ruddiman, 2001]

Page 24: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

ClimateCaCO3shells of ocean plankton from the Norwegian Sea and the Gulf of Mexico record pulses of low 18O meltwater delivery from nearby ice sheets.

[from Ruddiman, 2001]

Page 25: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

ClimateDuring deglaciation the direction of drainage changed.

[from Ruddiman, 2001]

Page 26: Natural Fluctuations in Climate Natural Climate Summary Rapid Change Issues Paleoclimate ©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

©2004, Perry Samson, University of Michigan

Natural Fluctuations in Climate

Natural Climate

Summary

Rapid Change

Issues

Paleoclimate

ClimateCaCO3shells of ocean plankton from the Norwegian Sea and the Gulf of Mexico record pulses of low 18O meltwater delivery from nearby ice sheets.

[from Ruddiman, 2001]