Abstract
The reconstruction of palaeotemperatures from polar ice samples is essentially based on the isotopic composition of the ice. In this paper we propose a new and independent way to obtain such data by using crystal-size-change profiles. From central Antarctica Dome C and Vostok ice cores data we suggest that crystal growth rate is mainly driven by a built-in 'memory9 of the surface temperature conditions at the time of deposition. A semi-empirical model of crystal grain growth is proposed, leading to Last Glacial Maximum–Holocene temperature change estimates in good agreement with isotope interpretations. However, the possible palaeocli-matic application of this model suffers some limitations connected in particular with in situ strain conditions.
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Petit, J., Duval, P. & Lorius, C. Long-term climatic changes indicated by crystal growth in polar ice. Nature 326, 62–64 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/326062a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/326062a0
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