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SUMMARY:Exploration of a simple model for ice ages  - Andrew Fowler (OCIAM
 \, Oxford &amp\; MACSI\, Limerick)
DTSTART:20130121T130000Z
DTEND:20130121T140000Z
UID:TALK42750@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Doris Allen
DESCRIPTION:We argue that\, while Milanković variations in solar radiatio
 n undoubtedly have a major influence on the timing of the Quaternary ice a
 ges\, they are partly incidental to their underlying causes. Based on obse
 rvations of the significance of CO2\, we propose a conceptually simple (bu
 t complicated in detail) energy balance\ntype model which has the ability 
 to explain the underlying oscillatory nature of ice ages.We are led to dev
 elop a model which combines ice sheet growth and atmospheric energy balanc
 e with ocean carbon balance. In order to provide results which mimicthe ba
 sic features of the observations\, we develop novel hypotheses as follows.
  The\nsuccession of the most recent ice ages can be explained as being due
  to an oscillation due to the interaction of the growing northern hemisphe
 re ice sheets and proglacial lakes which form as they migrate south. The C
 O2 signal which faithfully follows the\nproxy temperature signal can then 
 be explained as being due to a combination of thermally activated ocean bi
 omass production\, which enables the rapid CO2 rise at glacial termination
 s\, and enhanced glacial carbonate weathering through the exposure of cont
 inental shelves\, which enables CO2 to passively follow the subsequent gla
 cial cooling cycle. Milanković variations provide for modulations of the 
 amplitude and periods of the resulting signals.
LOCATION:MR5\, Centre for Mathematical Sciences
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