Palaeoclimate: ocean tides and Heinrich events.
Climate varied enormously over the most recent ice age--for example, large pulses of ice-rafted debris, originating mainly from the Labrador Sea, were deposited into the North Atlantic at roughly 7,000-year intervals, with global climatic implications. Here we show that ocean tides within the Labrador Sea were exceptionally large over the period spanning these huge, abrupt ice movements, which are known as Heinrich events. We propose that tides played a catalytic role in liberating iceberg armadas during that time.
Arbic
Brian K
BK
Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University, PO Box CN710, Sayre Hall, Princeton, New Jersey 08544-0710, USA. arbic@splash.princeton.edu
Macayeal
Douglas R
DR
Mitrovica
Jerry X
JX
Milne
Glenn A
GA