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Project title

Abrupt Climate Change in Ireland: Redefining our climate future through a lens of high-resolution glacial reconstruction

Primary Funding Agency

Geological Survey Of Ireland (GSI)

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

Projecting accurately the impacts of future climate change on Ireland depends on understanding the mechanisms that drove similar changes in the past. However, the lack of spatially diverse climate records from terrestrial regions represents a persistent, fundamental knowledge gap which hinders the viability of current modelling efforts. We propose to exploit the unique glacialgeomorphic record preserved in the Glen of Imaal to reconstruct past abrupt climate change in Ireland and provide critical ground-truthing for CMIP6 models projecting future climate. Our temporal focus is the Last Glacial Termination, when Earth�s climate transitioned from glacial to interglacial climate, and which was characterised by abrupt �jumps� in atmospheric temperature that are potential analogues for anthropogenic climate change today. Through detailed lacialgeomorphic mapping and cosmogenic beryllium-10 surface-exposure dating, this project will determine the timing, sign, and magnitude of past glacial fluctuations in the Glen of Imaal throughout the termination. These data will permit us to reconstruct past regional temperature change during target abrupt climate shifts, thereby providing direct, Ireland-specific targets for climate modellers. This work will also comprise a portion of the Irish Ice Age Trail, a new collaborative venture to develop and deliver interactive educational materials to schools, third-level institutions, and public audiences.

Grant Approved

�29,975.00

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Relevant to other areas as well as climate

Start Date

01/12/2020

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/01/2022