Open AccessModeling past atmospheric CO 2 : Results of a challenge
Author(s) -
Wolff Eric,
Kull Christoph,
Chappellaz Jerome,
Fischer Hubertus,
Miller Heinz,
Stocker Thomas F.,
Watson Andrew J.,
Flower Benjamin,
Joos Fortunat,
Köhler Peter,
Matsumoto Katsumi,
Monnin Eric,
Mudelsee Manfred,
Paillard Didier,
Shackleton Nick
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2005eo380003
Subject(s) - interglacial , ice core , paleoclimatology , glacial period , climatology , physical geography , climate change , climate state , greenhouse gas , environmental science , geology , carbon dioxide , oceanography , global warming , geography , effects of global warming , paleontology , chemistry , organic chemistry
The models and concepts used to predict future climate are based on physical laws and information obtained from observations of the past. New paleoclimate records are crucial for a test of our current understanding. The Vostok ice core record [ Petit et al. , 1999] showed that over the past 420 kyr (1 kyr = 1000 years), Antarctic climate and concentrations of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ,) were tightly coupled. In particular, CO 2 seemed to be confined between bounds of about 180 ppmv (parts per million by volume) in glacial periods and 280 ppmv in interglacials; both gases rose and fell with climate as the Earth passed through four glacial/interglacial cycles.