Danny Sigman and Ellen Ai solve glacial cycle mystery (IMAGE)

Princeton University

Danny Sigman and Ellen Ai solve glacial cycle mystery

Caption

Since the discovery that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations were lower during past ice ages, the cause has been a mystery. Now, Princeton geoscientists Danny Sigman and Ellen Ai (seen here in 2019, at left with other graduate student members of the Sigman Lab) have discovered that a weakening in upwelling in the Antarctic Ocean, the ocean around Antarctica, kept more CO2 in the deep ocean during the ice ages. This brings scientists closer to a complete explanation for the climate cycle between the ice ages and warm periods such as today. This also suggests that upwelling will strengthen under human-driven global warming, altering the concentration of atmospheric CO2, global climate and ocean ecosystems.

Credit

Laura Pedrick

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