Sea-level rise due to polar ice-sheet mass loss during past warm periods

Dutton, A.; Carlson, A.E.; Long, A.J.; Milne, G.A.; Clark, P.U.; DeConto, R.; Horton, B.P.; Rahmstorf, S.; Raymo, M.E.

Abstract

Interdisciplinary studies of geologic archives have ushered in a new era of deciphering magnitudes, rates, and sources of sea-level rise from polar ice-sheet loss during past warm periods. Accounting for glacial isostatic processes helps to reconcile spatial variability in peak sea level during marine isotope stages 5e and 11, when the global mean reached 6 to 9 meters and 6 to 13 meters higher than present, respectively. Dynamic topography introduces large uncertainties on longer time scales, precluding robust sea-level estimates for intervals such as the Pliocene. Present climate is warming to a level associated with significant polar ice-sheet loss in the past. Here, we outline advances and challenges involved in constraining ice-sheet sensitivity to climate change with use of paleo–sea level records.

Citation

Dutton, A., Carlson, A., Long, A., Milne, G., Clark, P., DeConto, R., …Raymo, M. (2015). Sea-level rise due to polar ice-sheet mass loss during past warm periods. Science, 349(6244), Article aaa4019. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa4019

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 2, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jul 9, 2015
• Publication Date: Jul 10, 2015
• Deposit Date: Sep 2, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 24, 2016
• Journal: Science
• Print ISSN: 0036-8075
• Electronic ISSN: 1095-9203
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 349
• Issue: 6244
• Article Number: aaa4019
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa4019
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1423507