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Deuterium excess in an East Antarctic ice core suggests higher relative humidity at the oceanic surface during the last glacial maximum

Abstract

A continuous deuterium excess profile (d = δD − 8δ18O) was obtained from the Dome C ice core spanning 32,000 yr. It exhibits significant variations over this period. In particular, d was 4.5‰ lower around 18,000 yr BP than over the past 7,500 yr, interpreted as reflecting higher relative humidity (estimated 90%) over the oceanic areas providing moisture for Antarctic precipitation.

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Jouzel, J., Merlivat, L. & Lorius, C. Deuterium excess in an East Antarctic ice core suggests higher relative humidity at the oceanic surface during the last glacial maximum. Nature 299, 688–691 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299688a0

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