Figure 1.2

Figure 1.2. Various climate records from the Vostok ice core (East Antarctica) covering the last 160,000 years. Included are the CO2 and CH4 greenhouse gas records, which are closely tied to Antarctic temperature variations (Lorius et al., 1985; Barnola et al., 1987; Jouzel et al., 1987; Chappellaz et al., 1990). Temperature data are plotted as deviations from the present day mean annual temperature at the study site (-56oC). Also included is the record of the flux of dust to the area (shown on an inverted scale for comparison purposes) (Petit et al., 1990). Higher dust fluxes during glacial periods are related to increased transport efficiency (stronger winds) and increased aridity in source regions. Note differences in levels relative to Figure 1.1.