Proximal trigger for late glacial Antarctic circulation and CO2 changes

Abstract

Discusses remarkable relationship between late Pleistocene carbon dioxide variations and Antarctic temperatures, and suggests that overlooked feature of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) see-saw provides additional insight into nature of "bolt of warmth" that characterized Antarctic temperature change at this time. Shutdown of NADW production "banks" about one petawatt (PW) of heat in South Atlantic, which would otherwise be exported north of equator to compensate for southward outflow of NADW across equator. Modelling study indicates that adjustment of South Atlantic to this shutdown involves one PW increase in heat transport, which is shunted southward into higher latitudes via Brazil Current, i.e., western boundary surface current of South Atlantic CN - 86 D