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Antarctic Ice Sheet elevation impacts on water isotope records during the Last Interglacial
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  • Sentia Goursaud,
  • Max Daniel Holloway,
  • Louise C Sime,
  • Eric W. Wolff,
  • Paul Valdes,
  • Eric J. Steig,
  • Andrew George Pauling
Sentia Goursaud
University of Cambridge

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Max Daniel Holloway
British Antarctic Survey
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Louise C Sime
British Antarctic Survey
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Eric W. Wolff
University of Cambridge
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Paul Valdes
University of Bristol
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Eric J. Steig
University of Washington
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Andrew George Pauling
University of Washington
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Abstract

Knowledge of how the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) has varied in response to past climates can inform the prediction of future AIS behaviour. Water stable isotope records from Antarctic ice cores traditionally provide information on past temperature changes. However, these reconstructions neglect changes in atmospheric circulation, which can be induced by elevation changes. Here, we simulate an ensemble of idealised AIS elevation change scenarios using the isotope-enabled HadCM3 climate model during the Last Interglacial period (LIG). Our ensemble is used to investigate the isotope-elevation relationship. Changing AIS elevations linearly modify the response in surface air temperature, as precipitation and $\delta^{18}$O. Especially, we observe $\delta^{18}$O decrease with the AIS elevation, with higher slopes on the coast compared to the plateau, reflecting different processes. We note that the effect of sea-ice induced by AIS changes is small. These results help to isolate the effect of AIS changes on the LIG $\delta^{18}$O signals.
28 Mar 2021Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 48 issue 6. 10.1029/2020GL091412