Arctic sea ice and freshwater in the East Greenland Current during the Deglacial

The oceans transport heat and moisture from the equator to the poles; this is governed by the temperature and salinity of the water masses that drive ocean circulation. The input of freshwater from melting glaciers and sea ice in the Arctic, that is increasing because of climate change, is contributing to weakening ocean circulation. Examining previous periods of climatic change, that occurred before human measurements began, can help us understand how our oceans may respond to climate change in the future. This project focuses on the Younger Dryas, an abrupt cool period that occurred 11.7-12.9 thousand years ago; it has long captured the attention of climate scientists, who have tried to understand its cause and global reach. Using marine sediment cores, we aim to test whether sea ice and freshwater export from the Arctic played a role in slowing ocean circulation at this time, triggering this dramatic cooling.