Mass loss from the southern half of the Greenland Ice Sheet since the Little Ice Age

Kristian Kjellerup Kjeldsen; Kurt H. Kjær; Anders Anker Bjørk; Shfaqat Abbas Khan; Niels Jákup Korsgaard; Svend Visby Funder; Nicolaj Krog Larsen; Bo Vinther; Camilla S Andresen; Antony J. Long; Sarah A. Woodroffe; Eric Steen Hansen; Jesper Olsen

Abstract

Northern hemisphere temperatures reached their Holocene minimum and most glaciers reached their maximum during The Little Ice Age (LIA), but the timing of specific cold intervals is site-specific. In southern Greenland, we have compiled data from organic matter incorporated in LIA sediments, used as a signal for ice-free terrain being overridden by LIA glacier advances, and data from threshold lakes showing the onset of glacier-fed lakes, thus revealing the advance-maximum phase initiating the LIA. Finally, we have compiled lichenometry results indicating the onset of bedrock vegetation succeeding ice retreat. Our results show that the advance of glaciers
during the LIA occurs early after the Medieval Warm Period terminating soon after 1200 AD and culminates c. 1500-1600 AD. Historical maps also show that many glaciers on the western coast occupy a still-stand near the LIA maximum until 1900 AD before retreat commence.

Thus in southern Greenland, we define LIA as the period between the first signs of Late Holocene glacier readvance and the latest onset of retreat – i.e. from ca. 1200 to c. 1900. During this period northern hemisphere annual mean temperatures, although fluctuating, were generally below the 1961-1990 average, with the coldest interval between c. 1600 and 1800. Even though winter temperatures may have dominated the cooling, also the summer temperatures which are most closely correlated with glacier mass balances, dropped, to c. 0.6 below the average in the northern hemisphere including the Arctic. Furthermore, the glacier response seems to be mirrored
by a oceanic cooling between 500-1000 AD, followed by onset of the LIA at 1150-1250 AD as seen in the relative strength of warm subsurface water and the influence of the East Greenland Current.

Original language	English
Publication date	11 Apr 2013
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published - 11 Apr 2013
Event	European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2013 - Vienna, Austria Duration: 7 Apr 2013 → 12 May 2013

Conference

Conference	European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2013
Country/Territory	Austria
City	Vienna
Period	07/04/2013 → 12/05/2013

Access to Document

Kjeldsen_2013_Mass_lossFinal published version, 35.2 KBLicence: CC BY

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2013/EGU2013-10321.pdfLicence: CC BY

EGU General Assembly 2013
Kristian Kjellerup Kjeldsen (Participant)
7 Apr 2013 → 12 Apr 2013
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

Cite this

Kjeldsen, K. K., Kjær, K. H., Bjørk, A. A., Khan, S. A., Korsgaard, N. J., Funder, S. V., Larsen, N. K., Vinther, B., Andresen, C. S., Long, A. J., Woodroffe, S. A., Hansen, E. S., & Olsen, J. (2013). Mass loss from the southern half of the Greenland Ice Sheet since the Little Ice Age. Abstract from European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2013, Vienna, Austria. http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2013/EGU2013-10321.pdf

Kjeldsen, KK, Kjær, KH , Bjørk, AA, Khan, SA, Korsgaard, NJ, Funder, SV, Larsen, NK, Vinther, B, Andresen, CS, Long, AJ, Woodroffe, SA, Hansen, ES & Olsen, J 2013, 'Mass loss from the southern half of the Greenland Ice Sheet since the Little Ice Age', European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2013, Vienna, Austria, 07/04/2013 - 12/05/2013. <http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2013/EGU2013-10321.pdf>

@conference{62996e1954af4a98bb2fa26ad0a2dd49,

title = "Mass loss from the southern half of the Greenland Ice Sheet since the Little Ice Age",

abstract = "Northern hemisphere temperatures reached their Holocene minimum and most glaciers reached their maximum during The Little Ice Age (LIA), but the timing of specific cold intervals is site-specific. In southern Greenland, we have compiled data from organic matter incorporated in LIA sediments, used as a signal for ice-free terrain being overridden by LIA glacier advances, and data from threshold lakes showing the onset of glacier-fed lakes, thus revealing the advance-maximum phase initiating the LIA. Finally, we have compiled lichenometry results indicating the onset of bedrock vegetation succeeding ice retreat. Our results show that the advance of glaciersduring the LIA occurs early after the Medieval Warm Period terminating soon after 1200 AD and culminates c. 1500-1600 AD. Historical maps also show that many glaciers on the western coast occupy a still-stand near the LIA maximum until 1900 AD before retreat commence.Thus in southern Greenland, we define LIA as the period between the first signs of Late Holocene glacier readvance and the latest onset of retreat – i.e. from ca. 1200 to c. 1900. During this period northern hemisphere annual mean temperatures, although fluctuating, were generally below the 1961-1990 average, with the coldest interval between c. 1600 and 1800. Even though winter temperatures may have dominated the cooling, also the summer temperatures which are most closely correlated with glacier mass balances, dropped, to c. 0.6 below the average in the northern hemisphere including the Arctic. Furthermore, the glacier response seems to be mirroredby a oceanic cooling between 500-1000 AD, followed by onset of the LIA at 1150-1250 AD as seen in the relative strength of warm subsurface water and the influence of the East Greenland Current.",

author = "Kjeldsen, {Kristian Kjellerup} and Kj{\ae}r, {Kurt H.} and Bj{\o}rk, {Anders Anker} and Khan, {Shfaqat Abbas} and Korsgaard, {Niels J{\'a}kup} and Funder, {Svend Visby} and Larsen, {Nicolaj Krog} and Bo Vinther and Andresen, {Camilla S} and Long, {Antony J.} and Woodroffe, {Sarah A.} and Hansen, {Eric Steen} and Jesper Olsen",

year = "2013",

month = apr,

day = "11",

language = "English",

note = "European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2013 ; Conference date: 07-04-2013 Through 12-05-2013",

}

TY - ABST

T1 - Mass loss from the southern half of the Greenland Ice Sheet since the Little Ice Age

AU - Kjeldsen, Kristian Kjellerup

AU - Kjær, Kurt H.

AU - Bjørk, Anders Anker

AU - Khan, Shfaqat Abbas

AU - Korsgaard, Niels Jákup

AU - Funder, Svend Visby

AU - Larsen, Nicolaj Krog

AU - Vinther, Bo

AU - Andresen, Camilla S

AU - Long, Antony J.

AU - Woodroffe, Sarah A.

AU - Hansen, Eric Steen

AU - Olsen, Jesper

PY - 2013/4/11

Y1 - 2013/4/11

N2 - Northern hemisphere temperatures reached their Holocene minimum and most glaciers reached their maximum during The Little Ice Age (LIA), but the timing of specific cold intervals is site-specific. In southern Greenland, we have compiled data from organic matter incorporated in LIA sediments, used as a signal for ice-free terrain being overridden by LIA glacier advances, and data from threshold lakes showing the onset of glacier-fed lakes, thus revealing the advance-maximum phase initiating the LIA. Finally, we have compiled lichenometry results indicating the onset of bedrock vegetation succeeding ice retreat. Our results show that the advance of glaciersduring the LIA occurs early after the Medieval Warm Period terminating soon after 1200 AD and culminates c. 1500-1600 AD. Historical maps also show that many glaciers on the western coast occupy a still-stand near the LIA maximum until 1900 AD before retreat commence.Thus in southern Greenland, we define LIA as the period between the first signs of Late Holocene glacier readvance and the latest onset of retreat – i.e. from ca. 1200 to c. 1900. During this period northern hemisphere annual mean temperatures, although fluctuating, were generally below the 1961-1990 average, with the coldest interval between c. 1600 and 1800. Even though winter temperatures may have dominated the cooling, also the summer temperatures which are most closely correlated with glacier mass balances, dropped, to c. 0.6 below the average in the northern hemisphere including the Arctic. Furthermore, the glacier response seems to be mirroredby a oceanic cooling between 500-1000 AD, followed by onset of the LIA at 1150-1250 AD as seen in the relative strength of warm subsurface water and the influence of the East Greenland Current.

AB - Northern hemisphere temperatures reached their Holocene minimum and most glaciers reached their maximum during The Little Ice Age (LIA), but the timing of specific cold intervals is site-specific. In southern Greenland, we have compiled data from organic matter incorporated in LIA sediments, used as a signal for ice-free terrain being overridden by LIA glacier advances, and data from threshold lakes showing the onset of glacier-fed lakes, thus revealing the advance-maximum phase initiating the LIA. Finally, we have compiled lichenometry results indicating the onset of bedrock vegetation succeeding ice retreat. Our results show that the advance of glaciersduring the LIA occurs early after the Medieval Warm Period terminating soon after 1200 AD and culminates c. 1500-1600 AD. Historical maps also show that many glaciers on the western coast occupy a still-stand near the LIA maximum until 1900 AD before retreat commence.Thus in southern Greenland, we define LIA as the period between the first signs of Late Holocene glacier readvance and the latest onset of retreat – i.e. from ca. 1200 to c. 1900. During this period northern hemisphere annual mean temperatures, although fluctuating, were generally below the 1961-1990 average, with the coldest interval between c. 1600 and 1800. Even though winter temperatures may have dominated the cooling, also the summer temperatures which are most closely correlated with glacier mass balances, dropped, to c. 0.6 below the average in the northern hemisphere including the Arctic. Furthermore, the glacier response seems to be mirroredby a oceanic cooling between 500-1000 AD, followed by onset of the LIA at 1150-1250 AD as seen in the relative strength of warm subsurface water and the influence of the East Greenland Current.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

T2 - European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2013

Y2 - 7 April 2013 through 12 May 2013

ER -

Mass loss from the southern half of the Greenland Ice Sheet since the Little Ice Age

Abstract

Conference

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Activities

EGU General Assembly 2013

Cite this