Long-term variations in Iceland-Scotland overflow strength during the Holocene.

The overflow of deep water from the Nordic seas into the North Atlantic plays a critical role in global ocean circulation and climate. Approximately half of this overflow occurs via the Iceland-Scotland (I-S) overflow, yet the history of its strength throughout the Holocene (~0-11 700 yr ago, ka) is poorly constrained, with previous studies presenting apparently contradictory evidence regarding its longterm variability. Here, we provide a comprehensive reconstruction of I-S overflow strength throughout the Holocene using sediment grain size data from a depth transect of 13 cores from the Iceland Basin. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the main axis of the I-S overflow on the Iceland slope was shallower during the early Holocene, deepening to its present depth by ~7 ka. Our results also reveal weaker I-S overflow during the early and late Holocene, with maximum overflow strength occurring at ~7 ka, the time of a regional climate thermal maximum. Climate model simulations suggest a shoaling of deep convection in the Nordic seas during the early and late Holocene, consistent with our evidence for weaker I-S overflow during these intervals. Whereas the reduction in I-S overflow strength during the early Holocene likely resulted from melting remnant glacial ice sheets, the decline throughout the last 7000 yr was caused by an orbitally induced increase in the amount of Arctic sea ice entering the Nordic seas. Although the flux of Arctic sea ice to the Nordic seas is expected to decrease throughout the next century, model simulations predict that under high emissions scenarios, competing effects, such as warmer sea surface temperatures in the Nordic seas, will result in reduced deep convection, likely driving a weaker I-S overflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Climate of the Past is the property of Copernicus Gesellschaft mbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)