Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort Sea
Abstract The leading hypothesis attributes the Younger Dryas (YD) event to a disruption in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, driven by meltwater input from North America. Determining the origin, timing, and magnitude of YD freshening are crucial for understanding abrupt climate change...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112485 |
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| author | Junjie Wu Ruediger Stein Julian P. Sachs Matthew Wolhowe Kirsten Fahl Defang You |
| author_facet | Junjie Wu Ruediger Stein Julian P. Sachs Matthew Wolhowe Kirsten Fahl Defang You |
| author_sort | Junjie Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The leading hypothesis attributes the Younger Dryas (YD) event to a disruption in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, driven by meltwater input from North America. Determining the origin, timing, and magnitude of YD freshening are crucial for understanding abrupt climate change. This study examines the δ2H values of specific lipids in response to freshwater discharge and provides a quantitative estimate of YD freshening, using a marine sediment core from the Canadian Beaufort Sea, a region with documented evidence of a YD flood event. A pronounced reduction in δ2H values of leaf wax lipids and microalgal dinosterol indicates marked freshening at the onset of the YD, with the YD flood and the melting Laurentide Ice Sheet likely reducing surface water salinity by ∼15–24. In contrast, salinity levels remained high and stable for the last 8 kyr, likely implying a drier climate in the Mackenzie River basin. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea6ae8bb9b924b009809b9304f631c43 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea6ae8bb9b924b009809b9304f631c432025-08-20T03:09:49ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-02-01524n/an/a10.1029/2024GL112485Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort SeaJunjie Wu0Ruediger Stein1Julian P. Sachs2Matthew Wolhowe3Kirsten Fahl4Defang You5Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Bremerhaven GermanyAlfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Bremerhaven GermanySchool of Oceanography University of Washington Seattle WA USASchool of Oceanography University of Washington Seattle WA USAAlfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Bremerhaven GermanyInstitute of Earth Sciences Heidelberg University Heidelberg GermanyAbstract The leading hypothesis attributes the Younger Dryas (YD) event to a disruption in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, driven by meltwater input from North America. Determining the origin, timing, and magnitude of YD freshening are crucial for understanding abrupt climate change. This study examines the δ2H values of specific lipids in response to freshwater discharge and provides a quantitative estimate of YD freshening, using a marine sediment core from the Canadian Beaufort Sea, a region with documented evidence of a YD flood event. A pronounced reduction in δ2H values of leaf wax lipids and microalgal dinosterol indicates marked freshening at the onset of the YD, with the YD flood and the melting Laurentide Ice Sheet likely reducing surface water salinity by ∼15–24. In contrast, salinity levels remained high and stable for the last 8 kyr, likely implying a drier climate in the Mackenzie River basin.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112485Arctic OceanYounger Dryascompound‐specific hydrogen isotope analysissea surface salinity |
| spellingShingle | Junjie Wu Ruediger Stein Julian P. Sachs Matthew Wolhowe Kirsten Fahl Defang You Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort Sea Geophysical Research Letters Arctic Ocean Younger Dryas compound‐specific hydrogen isotope analysis sea surface salinity |
| title | Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort Sea |
| title_full | Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort Sea |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort Sea |
| title_short | Quantitative Estimates of Younger Dryas Freshening From Lipid δ2H Analysis in the Beaufort Sea |
| title_sort | quantitative estimates of younger dryas freshening from lipid δ2h analysis in the beaufort sea |
| topic | Arctic Ocean Younger Dryas compound‐specific hydrogen isotope analysis sea surface salinity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112485 |
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