» Home > In the News

Modelling the Younger Dryas

7 November 2012
Geology

At http://phys.org/print271335383.html … we learn that computer modelling has been used to show the Younger Dryas event was caused by fresh water melt of the Laurentide ice sheet. The previous theory, the water emptied into the Atlantic, thereby influencing the global ocean circulation system by way of the St Lawrence river watershed, was dealt a mortal blow a year or so ago but all good theories do not come to an end, and neither do climate scientists concede defeat so easil, as we now learn that it has been modified and all the melt water (fresh and unsalty) found its way into the Arctic Ocean by way of the MacKenzie river valley. It moved NW is the argument rather than eastwards. It influenced the global ocean circulation system from the Arctic. 

The purpose of this paper and its lack of fieldwork comes under scrutiny in the comments to Anthony Watts post on the same paper – see http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/11/05/trigger-for-earths-last-big-freeze… but see also http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/06/19/the-intriguing-problem-of-the-youn… it-mean-and-what-caused-it/#-65956

Skip to content