THE ROLE OF OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE REORGANIZATIONS IN GLACIAL CYCLES

A case is made that glacial-to-interglacial transitions involve major reorganizations of the ocean-atmosphere system. Such reorganizations constitute jumps between stable modes of operation which cause changes in the greenhouse gas content and albedo of the atmosphere. Only in this way can the rapidity of glacial terminations, the hemispheric synchroneity and symmetry of mountain glaciation, and the large polar air temperature and dustiness variations be accounted for. If these reorganizations are driven in some fashion by orbitally induced seasonal insolation changes, then the connection between insolation and climate is most likely through impacts of fresh water transport on the ocean's salinity distribution. © 1990.