The Holocene
- This page is part of the topic Antarctic climate and environment history in the pre-instrumental period
In this section we review the climate changes that have occurred in the present Holocene interglacial. In many long ice core records this period may superficially appear to be one of relative climate and environmental stability. However, closer inspection of these and other records reveal a complex of changes resulting from the interplay between the ice sheet – ocean – sea ice – atmosphere system to past and present climate forcing. In this section we first examine evidence from the ice core record looking particularly at the phasing of these climate and environmental changes on regional to hemispheric timescales. Second we examine changes in sea ice extent through the Holocene and how these have interacted with changing climate and ocean circulation. Finally we look at the regional patterns of Holocene climate and environmental change experienced in the major regions of Antarctica which are the result of both continental and local forcing mechanisms.
