Overview of the Reconstructed Sea Ice Changes (IMAGE)

Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

Overview of the Reconstructed Sea Ice Changes

Caption

These maps give an overview of the reconstructed changes in sea ice conditions in the Fram Strait and their consequences for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. 19,000 years before present permanent sea ice coverage had formed, which prevented any serious sea ice export from the Arctic Ocean (left). 1,400 years later this ice coverage broke up during an Heinrich Event 1 (center), starting a massive drift of sea ice and icebergs into the North Atlantic. Such an increased sea ice formation and discharge was also reconstructed for the period of the Younger Dryas, 12,800 years before present.

The green shadings represent the extent of continental ice sheets; the points stand for sediment drilling sites. The sediment core used in this study was drilled at the site marked in yellow.

Credit

Illustrations: Juliane Müller, Alfred-Wegener-Institut

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