understanding artic climate evolution
TRANSCRIPT
What was the Lake El’gygytgyn Drilling Project, NE Russia: What does it mean for understanding Arctic Climate Evolution?
Julie Brigham-Grette, UMASS -Amherst Martin Melles, Univ of Cologne Pavel Minyuk, NEISRI-Magadan and El’gygytgyn Science Party
Career of Understanding Cenozoic Climate History of the Arctic
Created by Bill Manley, INSTAAR
….3.6 Million Years ago (Middle Pliocene)
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Location- central Chukotka
LakeLakeEl‘gygytgynEl‘gygytgyn
LakeLakeEl‘gygytgyEl‘gygytgy
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Meteorite Impact Lake created3.58+/- 0.04 Ma (Layer 2000)
Leg 323
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Drilling and Science Team (day and night shifts)
Science, drilling, and Russian camp staff
Group Success!
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Finding good Colleagues
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1998 Expedition
2000 Expedition
2003 Expedition
Three Site Survey
expeditions
2 trips to MoscowEvery year for 4-5 years = lots of
Vodka
Frank Rack
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11stst transport transportto Lake E to Lake E
CCampampsset upet up
M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A
201020092008
- Drilling Operation -- Drilling Operation -
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lakelakedrillingdrilling
22ndnd transport transportto Lake E to Lake E
PermafrostPermafrostdrilling (D3)drilling (D3)
11stst transport transportto Lake E to Lake E
CCampampsset upet up
iice roadce road& thickening& thickening
M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A
201020092008
- Drilling Operation -- Drilling Operation -
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How do I study Arctic climate – lake sediments
04/15/23 17
18Picture courtesy of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
3.6 Ma = Peak of Pliocene Warming
Greenland courtesy of Svend Funder
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Drilling Targets – continuous to 3.6 Ma
Most continuous record in terrestrial Arctic!
- Results-- Results- (2) Long-term History
> -4°C
Nolan(2012)
13.5 13.6Field depth (mblf)
Line scan picture
X-radiograph
13.7Field depth (mblf)
9.29.1 9.3
Line scan picture
X-radiograph
after Melles et al. (2007)
- Results-- Results- (2) Long-term History
after Melles et al. (2007)Field depth (mblf)
58.658.5 58.7
Line scan picture
X-radiograph
Line scan picture
X-radiograph
9.6 9.7Field depth (mblf)
9.5
100 kyrs 41 kyrs 21 & 23 kyrs
MIS 31 orbital parameters
Lisiecki and Raymo, 2005; Laskar, 2004
ANDRILL Lake El’gygytgyn Polar Programs with International partners
With Germany, Russia, AustriaWith New Zealand, UK, Italy, Germany,
Conclusions:
Key points and Scientific Firsts 1. First continuous record of Middle Pliocene with
sustained summer temperatures in range of 15-16oC and precipitation 3 times higher than today. Warmth occurred throughout both warm and cold orbital cycles
2. New evidence of 17 super interglacials in Arctic that might be tied to times of Antarctic ice retreat.
3. Stepped pacing of the transition from a warm, forested Arctic to glacial onset, esp. 2.4 to 2.8 ma
4. Finally, paleoclimate reconstructions consistent with estimates of atmospheric pCO2