Maslin, Mark A. and Ridgwell, Andy J. (2005): Mid-Pleistocene revolution and the "eccentricity myth"

Leg/Site/Hole:
ODP 108
ODP 108 659
Identifier:
2006-031593
georefid

Creator:
Maslin, Mark A.
University College London, Department of Geography, London, United Kingdom
author

Ridgwell, Andy J.
University of British Columbia, Canada
author

Identification:
Mid-Pleistocene revolution and the "eccentricity myth"
2005
In: Head, Martin J. (editor), Gibbard, Philip L. (editor), Early-middle Pleistocene transitions; the land-ocean evidence
Geological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
247
19-34
The mid-Pleistocene revolution (MPR) is the term used to describe the transition between 41 ka and 100 ka glacial-interglacial cycles which occurred about one million years ago. Despite eccentricity having by far the weakest influence on insolation received at the Earth's surface of any of the orbital parameters, it is often assumed to be the primary driver of the post-MPR 100 ka climate cycles. The traditional solution to this is to call for a highly nonlinear response by the global climate system to eccentricity. This 'eccentricity myth' is a simplified view of the relationship between global climate and orbital forcing and is in part due to an artefact of spectral analysis. Our aim here is to clarify the often confused role of eccentricity and review current theories of the MPR. We suggest that the post-MPR "100 Ka" glacial-interglacial cycles are more closely linked to precession, with the saw-toothed climate cycles being defined by every four or five precessional cycle. Because control over the number of precessional cycles involved is determined by eccentricity, eccentricity at most paces rather than drives the system. If true, then one must also question whether the MPR, itself defined by an abrupt change in spectral characteristics, is not also somewhat misconceived.
English
Coverage:Geographic coordinates:
North:18.3438
West:-21.0135East: -21.0134
South:18.0437

Quaternary geology; Isotope geochemistry; carbon cycle; carbon dioxide; Cenozoic; climate change; climate forcing; cores; cyclic processes; deglaciation; eccentricity; Foraminifera; geochemical cycle; glacial geology; glaciation; global change; ice; ice sheets; insolation; Invertebrata; isotope ratios; isotopes; Leg 108; lower Pleistocene; marine sediments; microfossils; middle Pleistocene; O-18/O-16; obliquity of the ecliptic; Ocean Drilling Program; ODP Site 659; orbital forcing; oxygen; paleoclimatology; paleoenvironment; Pleistocene; precession; Protista; Quaternary; sediments; spectra; stable isotopes; volume;

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