Statistical detection of the mid-Pleistocene transition

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Climate Dynamics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01053471· OSTI ID:6691889

Maasch, K A ^[1]

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1. Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (USA)

Statistical methods have been used to show quantitatively that the transition in mean and variance observed in delta O-18 records during the middle of the Pleistocene was abrupt. By applying these methods to all of the available records spanning the entire Pleistocene, it appears that this jump was global and primarily represents an increase in ice mass. At roughly the same time an abrupt decrease in sea surface temperature also occurred, indicative of sudden global cooling. This kind of evidence suggests a possible bifurcation of the climate system that must be accounted for in a complete explanation of the ice ages. Theoretical models including internal dynamics are capable of exhibiting this kind of rapid transition. 50 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6691889
• Journal Information: Climate Dynamics; (USA), Vol. 2; ISSN 0930-7575
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
PLEISTOCENE EPOCH
CLIMATES
CLIMATE MODELS
COOLING
GLOBAL ASPECTS
ICE
OXYGEN 18
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
SEAS
STATISTICS
TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS
CENOZOIC ERA
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GEOLOGIC AGES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
NUCLEI
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
PALEONTOLOGY
QUATERNARY PERIOD
STABLE ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
580000* - Geosciences