----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William M Connolley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Newsgroups: gmane.science.general.global-change
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 3:57 AM
Subject: [Global Change: 610] Re: "Tipping points" again

>
>
> On Sat, 9 Sep 2006, Don Libby wrote:
>> Gr maybe - we don't really know the extent of ice cover during the 
>> Holocene
>> Thermal Maximum, approx 5-10 k years ago, when temps were an estimated 3
>> degrees C higher - do we?
>
> Try: 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Holocene_Temperature_Variations.png
>
> -W.

This image shows a maximum anomaly less than 2 deg C, which conflicts with 
statements that arctic temps were 3 deg C higher 5-10k ybp.  Perhaps I am 
confusing average temps above the arctic circle with global average temps?

WHEN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC WAS 5°C WARMER THAN TODAY
    J.P. Briner et al., Quaternary Research. Volume 65, Issue 3, May 2006
Numerous proxies, including chironomid-inferred July air temperatures, 
diatom-inferred lakewater pH, and sediment organic matter, reveal a 
pronounced Holocene thermal maximum as much as 5°C warmer than historic 
summer temperatures from 10,000 to 8500 cal yr B.P.

A wider look puts the estimated Holocene Thermal Maximum between 0.8 and 2.4 
deg C :

Holocene thermal maximum in the western Arctic (0-180deg W)
D.S. Kaufman, et al  Quaternary Science Reviews 23 (2004) 529-560

And from Greenland proper - it would appear that the ice sheet survived the 
Eemian Thermal Maximum:

Here we present an undisturbed climate record from a North Greenland ice 
core, which extends back to 123,000 years before the present, within the 
last interglacial period. The oxygen isotopes in the ice imply that climate 
was stable during the last interglacial period, with temperatures 5 degC 
warmer than today.
K. K. Andersen, et al NATURE , VOL 431, 9 SEPTEMBER 2004

So, to my rather less expert eyes, it would appear that stabilization at 440 
ppmv may be adequate to preserve a substantial portion of the Greenland ice 
sheet for several thousand years.  Is this a reasonable doubt?

-dl 



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