COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Response of the Northwest Greenland Cryosphere to Holocene Climate Change

这项由三所大学的研究人员合作的项目的目的是开发格陵兰西北部过去气候的记录，并将它们与冰缘位置的记录相结合，以评估格陵兰冰盖对过去暖期的响应，例如全新世气候最佳时期(大约5000至9000年前)。最近的研究表明，冰的迅速消融正在向北扩展到格陵兰岛西北部，彼得曼冰川2010年8月戏剧性的崩解事件就证明了这一点。然而，尽管格陵兰岛西北部靠近图勒空军基地的一个后勤中心，但几乎没有进行过古气候和冰盖研究。这项研究综合了图勒地区的多种气候指标和冰川模拟实验，其研究目标如下：1)根据重建的当地冰盖范围(北冰盖、图托冰盖)、冰芯稳定同位素和降水记录以及附近湖泊沉积物的数据，重建格陵兰西北部的全新世气候。2)研究了西北格陵兰冰盖对全新世气候变化的敏感性，建立了格陵兰冰盖面积变化的历史，并将冰川模拟实验与代理数据相结合，检验了过去格陵兰冰盖的变化，并预测了未来格陵兰冰盖的退缩。研究人员建议通过使用简化的基于网络的气候和冰川学模型开发教育模块来加强公众宣传和K-12科学教育。他们将让研究生和本科生参与实地和实验室研究，参与达特茅斯女性科学项目，并与达特茅斯极地IGERT计划合作。

The aim of this collaborative project between investigators at three universities is to develop records of past climate in northwest (NW) Greenland and synthesize them with records of the position of ice margin to evaluate the response of the Greenland Ice Sheet to past warm periods, such as the Holocene Climatic Optimum (approximately 5 to 9 thousand years ago). Recent studies suggest that rapid ice loss is expanding northwards into NW Greenland, as demonstrated by the dramatic August, 2010 calving event from Petermann Glacier. However, little paleoclimate and ice sheet research has been conducted in NW Greenland, despite the proximity to a logistics center at Thule Air Base. The proposed research integrates multiple climate proxies and glaciological modeling experiments in the Thule region with the following research objectives:1) Reconstruct Holocene climate in NW Greenland via inferences from reconstructed local ice cap extents (North Ice Cap, Tuto Ice Cap), ice core stable isotope and precipitation records, and data from nearby lake sediments. 2) Examine the sensitivity of the NW Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) to Holocene climate changes by developing the history of the areal extent of the GIS and synthesizing proxy data with glaciological modeling experiments to examine past GIS changes and predict future GIS retreat.Results from the proposed research will enable a more accurate prediction of the NW Greenland cryospheric response to a future warmer world and provide information directly relevant to predictions of future sea-­level rise. The investigators propose to enhance public outreach and K-­12 science education through development of educational modules using simplified, web-­based, climate and glaciological models. They would involve graduate and undergraduate students in field and lab research, participate in the Dartmouth Women­ In Science Project, and partner with the Dartmouth polar IGERT program.