The role/response of ocean heat content during deglaciations and in setting early interglacial climate

Abstract:

The ocean represents the largest energy reservoir in the climate system and plays a crucial role in regulating the global response to climate perturbations. Reconstructions of mean ocean temperature from ice core noble gases during the last two terminations show a similar magnitude of glacial-interglacial change once mean ocean temperature has stabilized. However, the evolution of mean ocean temperature is quite different for these two intervals. Comparing records from the last two terminations, we show that ocean circulation played a critical role setting the timing and magnitude of mean ocean temperature change during these intervals and may have aided in pushing the climate out of a glacial state via radiative imbalance.