Dre Isabela Moreno Cordeiro de Sousa, Geotop-UQAM
19 septembre 2023
The Piacenzian stage (3.6 - 2.58 Ma) of the Pliocene (5.333 - 2.58 Ma) was the last time when Earth was warmer for a period longer than any Quaternary interglacial. According to recent studies, it was characterized by an atmospheric pCO2 concentration close to 400 ppV and a mean global temperature about 3°C above the recent pre-industrial temperature. Exploring the dynamic relationship between the cryosphere and climate during the Pliocene offers a window into the future of a planet grappling with rising temperatures. Our investigation into the extent of the Greenland Ice during this interval involves the analysis of sedimentary records on the Eirik Drift. Remarkably, our findings unveil a surprising revelation: even in the face of relative warmer temperatures, ice cover persisted intermittently over Southern Greenland. This revelation challenges prior assumptions and underscores the complexity of the interactions between climatic shifts and glacial dynamics.