Tropical climate at the last glacial maximum inferrred from glacier mass-balance modeling

Author:

Hostetler, Steven W., Clark, Peter U.

Title:

Tropical climate at the last glacial maximum inferrred from glacier mass-balance modeling

Periodical:

Science

Year:

2000

Volume:

290

Pages:

1747-1750

Subject:

Glaciation Glaciers Equilibrium Line Altitudes (ELAs) Paleoclimatology Mauna Kea

Summary:

This study applied a mass-balance model to several tropical glaciers, including Mauna Kea, to determine the last glacial maximum temperature and precipitation climatolgies required to produce glaciers. GENESIS atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) was used. Relative to the present, LGM ELAs were maintained by air temperatures that were 3.5 degrees to 6.6 degrees lower and precipitation that ranged from 63% wetter in Hawaii to 25% drier on Mt. Kenya, Africa. The results suggested a ~3 degree coolingling of LGM sea surface temperatures to support glaciation on Hawaii and New Guinea.

Label:

Geology - Glaciation

URL:

http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2074/10.1126/science.290.5497.1747

Collection:

Periodicals