Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Jomelli V., Khodri Myriam, Favier V., Brunstein D., Ledru Marie-Pierre, Wagnon Patrick, Blard P. H., Sicart Jean-Emmanuel, Braucher R., Grancher D., Bourlès D. L., Braconnot P., Vuille M. (2011). Irregular tropical glacier retreat over the Holocene epoch driven by progressive warming. Nature, 474 (7350), p. 196-199. ISSN 0028-0836.

Titre du document
Irregular tropical glacier retreat over the Holocene epoch driven by progressive warming
Année de publication
2011
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000291397800046
Auteurs
Jomelli V., Khodri Myriam, Favier V., Brunstein D., Ledru Marie-Pierre, Wagnon Patrick, Blard P. H., Sicart Jean-Emmanuel, Braucher R., Grancher D., Bourlès D. L., Braconnot P., Vuille M.
Source
Nature, 2011, 474 (7350), p. 196-199 ISSN 0028-0836
The causes and timing of tropical glacier fluctuations during the Holocene epoch (10,000 years ago to present) are poorly understood. Yet constraining their sensitivity to changes in climate(1) is important, as these glaciers are both sensitive indicators of climate change and serve as water reservoirs for highland regions(2). Studies have so far documented extra-tropical glacier fluctuations(3,4), but in the tropics, glacier-climate relationships are insufficiently understood. Here we present a Be-10 chronology for the past 11,000 years (11 kyr), using 57 moraines from the Bolivian Telata glacier (in the Cordillera Real mountain range). This chronology indicates that Telata glacier retreated irregularly. Arapid and strong melting from the maximum extent occurred from 10.8 +/- 0.9 to 8.5 +/- 0.4 kyr ago, followed by a slower retreat until the Little Ice Age, about 200 years ago. A dramatic increase in the rate of retreat occurred over the twentieth century. A glacier-climate model indicates that, relative to modern climate, annual mean temperature for the Telata glacier region was -3.3 +/- 0.8 degrees C cooler at 11 kyr ago and remained -2.1 +/- 0.8 degrees C cooler until the end of the Little Ice Age. We suggest that long-term warming of the eastern tropical Pacific and increased atmospheric temperature in response to enhanced austral summer insolation were the main drivers for the long-term Holocene retreat of glaciers in the southern tropics.
Plan de classement
Sciences du milieu [021]
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010053585]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010053585
Contact