Back to the Future: Interglacial Warming and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

南极对气候系统内的临界点经过所引起的突然变化高度敏感。至关重要的是，仪器记录的时间太短，无法解决围绕未来变暖的主要不确定性。最后一次间冰期(125,000年前)比今天高2摄氏度，经历了全球海平面上升6-11米。南极洲的作用对于限制海平面预测至关重要。这个由澳大利亚牵头的国际项目旨在确定过去间冰期南极变暖至2摄氏度(相对于工业化前)的机制和影响。将水平冰芯和高分辨率海洋记录相结合的创新技术将有助于确定极地临界点，并更好地规划澳大利亚的影响。

The Antarctic is highly-sensitive to abrupt changes caused by the passing of tipping points within the climate system. Crucially, the instrumental record is too short to resolve major uncertainties surrounding future warming. The Last Interglacial (125,000 yrs ago) was 2°C warmer than today and experienced 6-11 m higher global sea levels. The role of Antarctica is vital for constraining sea-level projections. This Australian-led international project aims to determine the mechanisms and impacts of past interglacial Antarctic warming up to 2°C (relative to pre-industrial). Innovative techniques integrating horizontal ice cores and high resolution marine records will help identify polar tipping points and better plan for impacts in Australia.