@article{MuenchKipfstuhlFreitagetal.2017,
  author    = {Muench, Thomas and Kipfstuhl, Sepp and Freitag, Johannes and Meyer, Hanno and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Constraints on post-depositional isotope modifications in East Antarctic firn from analysing temporal changes of isotope profiles},
  series = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1994-0416},
  doi       = {10.5194/tc-11-2175-2017},
  pages     = {2175 -- 2188},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {The isotopic composition of water in ice sheets is extensively used to infer past climate changes. In low-accumulation regions their interpretation is, however, challenged by poorly constrained effects that may influence the initial isotope signal during and after deposition of the snow. This is reflected in snow-pit isotope data from Kohnen Station, Antarctica, which exhibit a seasonal cycle but also strong interannual variations that contradict local temperature observations. These inconsistencies persist even after averaging many profiles and are thus not explained by local stratigraphic noise. Previous studies have suggested that post-depositional processes may significantly influence the isotopic composition of East Antarctic firn. Here, we investigate the importance of post-depositional processes within the open-porous firn (greater than or similar to 10 cm depth) at Kohnen Station by separating spatial from temporal variability. To this end, we analyse 22 isotope profiles obtained from two snow trenches and examine the temporal isotope modifications by comparing the new data with published trench data extracted 2 years earlier. The initial isotope profiles undergo changes over time due to downward advection, firn diffusion and densification in magnitudes consistent with independent estimates. Beyond that, we find further modifications of the original isotope record to be unlikely or small in magnitude (<< 1 parts per thousand RMSD). These results show that the discrepancy between local temperatures and isotopes most likely originates from spatially coherent processes prior to or during deposition, such as precipitation intermittency or systematic isotope modifications acting on drifting or loose surface snow.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LaeppleMuenchCasadoetal.2018,
  author    = {Laepple, Thomas and M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Casado, Mathieu and Hoerhold, Maria and Landais, Amaelle and Kipfstuhl, Sepp},
  title     = {On the similarity and apparent cycles of isotopic variations in East Antarctic snow pits},
  series = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1994-0416},
  doi       = {10.5194/tc-12-169-2018},
  pages     = {169 -- 187},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Stable isotope ratios delta O-18 and delta D in polar ice provide a wealth of information about past climate evolution. Snow-pit studies allow us to relate observed weather and climate conditions to the measured isotope variations in the snow. They therefore offer the possibility to test our understanding of how isotope signals are formed and stored in firn and ice. As delta O-18 and delta D in the snowfall are strongly correlated to air temperature, isotopes in the near-surface snow are thought to record the seasonal cycle at a given site. Accordingly, the number of seasonal cycles observed over a given depth should depend on the accumulation rate of snow. However, snow-pit studies from different accumulation conditions in East Antarctica reported similar isotopic variability and comparable apparent cycles in the delta O-18 and delta D profiles with typical wavelengths of similar to 20 cm. These observations are unexpected as the accumulation rates strongly differ between the sites, ranging from 20 to 80mmw.e.yr(-1) (similar to 6-21 cm of snow per year). Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain the isotopic variations individually at each site; however, none of these are consistent with the similarity of the different profiles independent of the local accumulation conditions. Here, we systematically analyse the properties and origins of delta O-18 and delta D variations in high-resolution firn profiles from eight East Antarctic sites. First, we confirm the suggested cycle length (mean distance between peaks) of similar to 20 cm by counting the isotopic maxima. Spectral analysis further shows a strong similarity between the sites but indicates no dominant periodic features. Furthermore, the appar-ent cycle length increases with depth for most East Antarctic sites, which is inconsistent with burial and compression of a regular seasonal cycle. We show that these results can be explained by isotopic diffusion acting on a noise-dominated isotope signal. The firn diffusion length is rather stable across the Antarctic Plateau and thus leads to similar power spectral densities of the isotopic variations. This in turn implies a similar distance between isotopic maxima in the firn profiles. Our results explain a large set of observations discussed in the literature, providing a simple explanation for the interpretation of apparent cycles in shallow isotope records, without invoking complex mechanisms. Finally, the results underline previous suggestions that isotope signals in single ice cores from low-accumulation regions have a small signal-to-noise ratio and thus likely do not allow the reconstruction of interannual to decadal climate variations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RehfeldMuenchHoetal.2018,
  author    = {Rehfeld, Kira and M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Ho, Sze Ling and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Global patterns of declining temperature variability from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene},
  series = {Nature : the international weekly journal of science},
  volume    = {554},
  journal   = {Nature : the international weekly journal of science},
  number    = {7692},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {0028-0836},
  doi       = {10.1038/nature25454},
  pages     = {356 -- 359},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Changes in climate variability are as important for society to address as are changes in mean climate(1). Contrasting temperature variability during the Last Glacial Maximum and the Holocene can provide insights into the relationship between the mean state of the climate and its variability(2,3). However, although glacial-interglacial changes in variability have been quantified for Greenland(2), a global view remains elusive. Here we use a network of marine and terrestrial temperature proxies to show that temperature variability decreased globally by a factor of four as the climate warmed by 3-8 degrees Celsius from the Last Glacial Maximum (around 21,000 years ago) to the Holocene epoch (the past 11,500 years). This decrease had a clear zonal pattern, with little change in the tropics (by a factor of only 1.6-2.8) and greater change in the mid-latitudes of both hemispheres (by a factor of 3.3-14). By contrast, Greenland ice-core records show a reduction in temperature variability by a factor of 73, suggesting influences beyond local temperature or a decoupling of atmospheric and global surface temperature variability for Greenland. The overall pattern of reduced variability can be explained by changes in the meridional temperature gradient, a mechanism that points to further decreases in temperature variability in a warmer future.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{LaeppleMuenchCasadoetal.2018,
  author    = {Laepple, Thomas and M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Casado, Mathieu and Hoerhold, Maria and Landais, Amaelle and Kipfstuhl, Sepp},
  title     = {On the similarity and apparent cycles of isotopic variations in East Antarctic snow pits},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {932},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44605},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-446052},
  pages     = {169 -- 187},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Stable isotope ratios delta O-18 and delta D in polar ice provide a wealth of information about past climate evolution. Snow-pit studies allow us to relate observed weather and climate conditions to the measured isotope variations in the snow. They therefore offer the possibility to test our understanding of how isotope signals are formed and stored in firn and ice. As delta O-18 and delta D in the snowfall are strongly correlated to air temperature, isotopes in the near-surface snow are thought to record the seasonal cycle at a given site. Accordingly, the number of seasonal cycles observed over a given depth should depend on the accumulation rate of snow. However, snow-pit studies from different accumulation conditions in East Antarctica reported similar isotopic variability and comparable apparent cycles in the delta O-18 and delta D profiles with typical wavelengths of similar to 20 cm. These observations are unexpected as the accumulation rates strongly differ between the sites, ranging from 20 to 80mmw.e.yr(-1) (similar to 6-21 cm of snow per year). Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain the isotopic variations individually at each site; however, none of these are consistent with the similarity of the different profiles independent of the local accumulation conditions. Here, we systematically analyse the properties and origins of delta O-18 and delta D variations in high-resolution firn profiles from eight East Antarctic sites. First, we confirm the suggested cycle length (mean distance between peaks) of similar to 20 cm by counting the isotopic maxima. Spectral analysis further shows a strong similarity between the sites but indicates no dominant periodic features. Furthermore, the appar-ent cycle length increases with depth for most East Antarctic sites, which is inconsistent with burial and compression of a regular seasonal cycle. We show that these results can be explained by isotopic diffusion acting on a noise-dominated isotope signal. The firn diffusion length is rather stable across the Antarctic Plateau and thus leads to similar power spectral densities of the isotopic variations. This in turn implies a similar distance between isotopic maxima in the firn profiles. Our results explain a large set of observations discussed in the literature, providing a simple explanation for the interpretation of apparent cycles in shallow isotope records, without invoking complex mechanisms. Finally, the results underline previous suggestions that isotope signals in single ice cores from low-accumulation regions have a small signal-to-noise ratio and thus likely do not allow the reconstruction of interannual to decadal climate variations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{CasadoLandaisPicardetal.2018,
  author    = {Casado, Mathieu and Landais, Amaelle and Picard, Ghislain and M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Laepple, Thomas and Stenni, Barbara and Dreossi, Giuliano and Ekaykin, Alexey and Arnaud, Laurent and Genthon, Christophe and Touzeau, Alexandra and Masson-Delmotte, Valerie and Jouzel, Jean},
  title     = {Archival processes of the water stable isotope signal in East Antarctic ice cores},
  series = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1994-0416},
  doi       = {10.5194/tc-12-1745-2018},
  pages     = {1745 -- 1766},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The oldest ice core records are obtained from the East Antarctic Plateau. Water isotopes are key proxies to reconstructing past climatic conditions over the ice sheet and at the evaporation source. The accuracy of climate reconstructions depends on knowledge of all processes affecting water vapour, precipitation and snow isotopic compositions. Fractionation processes are well understood and can be integrated in trajectory-based Rayleigh distillation and isotope-enabled climate models. However, a quantitative understanding of processes potentially altering snow isotopic composition after deposition is still missing. In low-accumulation sites, such as those found in East Antarctica, these poorly constrained processes are likely to play a significant role and limit the interpretability of an ice core's isotopic composition. By combining observations of isotopic composition in vapour, precipitation, surface snow and buried snow from Dome C, a deep ice core site on the East Antarctic Plateau, we found indications of a seasonal impact of metamorphism on the surface snow isotopic signal when compared to the initial precipitation. Particularly in summer, exchanges of water molecules between vapour and snow are driven by the diurnal sublimation-condensation cycles. Overall, we observe in between precipitation events modification of the surface snow isotopic composition. Using high-resolution water isotopic composition profiles from snow pits at five Antarctic sites with different accumulation rates, we identified common patterns which cannot be attributed to the seasonal variability of precipitation. These differences in the precipitation, surface snow and buried snow isotopic composition provide evidence of post-deposition processes affecting ice core records in low-accumulation areas.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MuenchLaepple2018,
  author    = {M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {What climate signal is contained in decadal- to centennial-scale isotope variations from Antarctic ice cores?},
  series = {Climate of the past : CP},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Climate of the past : CP},
  number    = {12},
  publisher = {Copernicus Gesellschaft mbH},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1814-9324},
  doi       = {10.5194/cp-14-2053-2018},
  pages     = {2053 -- 2070},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Ice-core-based records of isotopic composition are a proxy for past temperatures and can thus provide information on polar climate variability over a large range of timescales. However, individual isotope records are affected by a multitude of processes that may mask the true temperature variability. The relative magnitude of climate and non-climate contributions is expected to vary as a function of timescale, and thus it is crucial to determine those temporal scales on which the actual signal dominates the noise. At present, there are no reliable estimates of this timescale dependence of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Here, we present a simple method that applies spectral analyses to stable-isotope data from multiple cores to estimate the SNR, and the signal and noise variability, as a function of timescale. The method builds on separating the contributions from a common signal and from local variations and includes a correction for the effects of diffusion and time uncertainty. We apply our approach to firn-core arrays from Dronning Maud Land (DML) in East Antarctica and from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). For DML and decadal to multi-centennial timescales, we find an increase in the SNR by nearly 1 order of magnitude (similar to 0.2 at decadal and similar to 1.0 at multi-centennial scales). The estimated spectrum of climate variability also shows increasing variability towards longer timescales, contrary to what is traditionally inferred from single records in this region. In contrast, the inferred variability spectrum for WAIS stays close to constant over decadal to centennial timescales, and the results even suggest a decrease in SNR over this range of timescales. We speculate that these differences between DML and WAIS are related to differences in the spatial and temporal scales of the isotope signal, highlighting the potentially more homogeneous atmospheric conditions on the Antarctic Plateau in contrast to the marine-influenced conditions on WAIS. In general, our approach provides a methodological basis for separating local proxy variability from coherent climate variations, which is applicable to a large set of palaeoclimate records.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HerzschuhCaoLaeppleetal.2019,
  author    = {Herzschuh, Ulrike and Cao, Xianyong and Laepple, Thomas and Dallmeyer, Anne and Telford, Richard J. and Ni, Jian and Chen, Fahu and Kong, Zhaochen and Liu, Guangxiu and Liu, Kam-Biu and Liu, Xingqi and Stebich, Martina and Tang, Lingyu and Tian, Fang and Wang, Yongbo and Wischnewski, Juliane and Xu, Qinghai and Yan, Shun and Yang, Zhenjing and Yu, Ge and Zhang, Yun and Zhao, Yan and Zheng, Zhuo},
  title     = {Position and orientation of the westerly jet determined Holocene rainfall patterns in China},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2041-1723},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41467-019-09866-8},
  pages     = {8},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Proxy-based reconstructions and modeling of Holocene spatiotemporal precipitation patterns for China and Mongolia have hitherto yielded contradictory results indicating that the basic mechanisms behind the East Asian Summer Monsoon and its interaction with the westerly jet stream remain poorly understood. We present quantitative reconstructions of Holocene precipitation derived from 101 fossil pollen records and analyse them with the help of a minimal empirical model. We show that the westerly jet-stream axis shifted gradually southward and became less tilted since the middle Holocene. This was tracked by the summer monsoon rain band resulting in an early-Holocene precipitation maximum over most of western China, a mid-Holocene maximum in north-central and northeastern China, and a late-Holocene maximum in southeastern China. Our results suggest that a correct simulation of the orientation and position of the westerly jet stream is crucial to the reliable prediction of precipitation patterns in China and Mongolia.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ReschkeKunzLaepple2018,
  author    = {Reschke, Maria and Kunz, Torben and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Comparing methods for analysing time scale dependent correlations in irregularly sampled time series data},
  series = {Computers \& geosciences : an international journal devoted to the publication of papers on all aspects of geocomputation and to the distribution of computer programs and test data sets ; an official journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology},
  volume    = {123},
  journal   = {Computers \& geosciences : an international journal devoted to the publication of papers on all aspects of geocomputation and to the distribution of computer programs and test data sets ; an official journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0098-3004},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.cageo.2018.11.009},
  pages     = {65 -- 72},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Time series derived from paleoclimate archives are often irregularly sampled in time and thus not analysable using standard statistical methods such as correlation analyses. Although measures for the similarity between time series have been proposed for irregular time series, they do not account for the time scale dependency of the relationship. Stochastically distributed temporal sampling irregularities act qualitatively as a low-pass filter reducing the influence of fast variations from frequencies higher than about 0.5 (Delta t(max))(-1) , where Delta t(max), is the maximum time interval between observations. This may lead to overestimated correlations if the true correlation increases with time scale. Typically, correlations are underestimated due to a non-simultaneous sampling of time series. Here, we investigated different techniques to estimate time scale dependent correlations of weakly irregularly sampled time series, with a particular focus on different resampling methods and filters of varying complexity. The methods were tested on ensembles of synthetic time series that mimic the characteristics of Holocene marine sediment temperature proxy records. We found that a linear interpolation of the irregular time series onto a regular grid, followed by a simple Gaussian filter was the best approach to deal with the irregularity and account for the time scale dependence. This approach had both, minimal filter artefacts, particularly on short time scales, and a minimal loss of information due to filter length.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ReschkeRehfeldLaepple2019,
  author    = {Reschke, Maria and Rehfeld, Kira and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Empirical estimate of the signal content of Holocene temperature proxy records},
  series = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  volume    = {15},
  journal   = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1814-9324},
  doi       = {10.5194/cp-15-521-2019},
  pages     = {521 -- 537},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Proxy records from climate archives provide evidence about past climate changes, but the recorded signal is affected by non-climate-related effects as well as time uncertainty. As proxy-based climate reconstructions are frequently used to test climate models and to quantitatively infer past climate, we need to improve our understanding of the proxy record signal content as well as the uncertainties involved. In this study, we empirically estimate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of temperature proxy records used in global compilations of the middle to late Holocene (last 6000 years). This is achieved through a comparison of the correlation of proxy time series from nearby sites of three compilations and model time series extracted at the proxy sites from two transient climate model simulations: a Holocene simulation of the ECHAM5/MPI-OM model and the Holocene part of the TraCE-21ka simulation. In all comparisons, we found the mean correlations of the proxy time series on centennial to millennial timescales to be low (R < 0.2), even for nearby sites, which resulted in low SNR estimates. The estimated SNRs depend on the assumed time uncertainty of the proxy records, the timescale analysed, and the model simulation used. Using the spatial correlation structure of the ECHAM5/MPI-OM simulation, the estimated SNRs on centennial timescales ranged from 0.05 - assuming no time uncertainty - to 0.5 for a time uncertainty of 400 years. On millennial timescales, the estimated SNRs were generally higher. Use of the TraCE-21ka correlation structure generally resulted in lower SNR estimates than for ECHAM5/MPI-OM. As the number of available high-resolution proxy records continues to grow, a more detailed analysis of the signal content of specific proxy types should become feasible in the near future. The estimated low signal content of Holocene temperature compilations should caution against over-interpretation of these multi-proxy and multisite syntheses until further studies are able to facilitate a better characterisation of the signal content in paleoclimate records.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{MuenchKipfstuhlFreitagetal.2016,
  author    = {M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Kipfstuhl, Sepp and Freitag, Johannes and Meyer, Hanno and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Regional climate signal vs. local noise},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {500},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-40838},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-408385},
  pages     = {17},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {In low-accumulation regions, the reliability of delta O-18-derived temperature signals from ice cores within the Holocene is unclear, primarily due to the small climate changes relative to the intrinsic noise of the isotopic signal. In order to learn about the representativity of single ice cores and to optimise future ice-core-based climate reconstructions, we studied the stable-water isotope composition of firn at Kohnen Station, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Analysing delta O-18 in two 50m long snow trenches allowed us to create an unprecedented, two-dimensional image characterising the isotopic variations from the centimetre to the 100-metre scale. Our results show seasonal layering of the isotopic composition but also high horizontal isotopic variability caused by local stratigraphic noise. Based on the horizontal and vertical structure of the isotopic variations, we derive a statistical noise model which successfully explains the trench data. The model further allows one to determine an upper bound for the reliability of climate reconstructions conducted in our study region at seasonal to annual resolution, depending on the number and the spacing of the cores taken.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HerzschuhBirksLaeppleetal.2016,
  author    = {Herzschuh, Ulrike and Birks, H. John B. and Laepple, Thomas and Andreev, Andrei and Melles, Martin and Brigham-Grette, Julie},
  title     = {Glacial legacies on interglacial vegetation at the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition in NE Asia},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2041-1723},
  doi       = {10.1038/ncomms11967},
  pages     = {11},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Broad-scale climate control of vegetation is widely assumed. Vegetation-climate lags are generally thought to have lasted no more than a few centuries. Here our palaeoecological study challenges this concept over glacial-interglacial timescales. Through multivariate analyses of pollen assemblages from Lake El'gygytgyn, Russian Far East and other data we show that interglacial vegetation during the Plio-Pleistocene transition mainly reflects conditions of the preceding glacial instead of contemporary interglacial climate. Vegetation-climate disequilibrium may persist for several millennia, related to the combined effects of permafrost persistence, distant glacial refugia and fire. In contrast, no effects from the preceding interglacial on glacial vegetation are detected. We propose that disequilibrium was stronger during the Plio-Pleistocene transition than during the Mid-Pliocene Warm Period when, in addition to climate, herbivory was important. By analogy to the past, we suggest today's widespread larch ecosystem on permafrost is not in climate equilibrium. Vegetation-based reconstructions of interglacial climates used to assess atmospheric CO2-temperature relationships may thus yield misleading simulations of past global climate sensitivity.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MuenchKipfstuhlFreitagetal.2016,
  author    = {M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Kipfstuhl, Sepp and Freitag, Johannes and Meyer, Hanno and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Regional climate signal vs. local noise: a two-dimensional view of water isotopes in Antarctic firn at Kohnen Station, Dronning Maud Land},
  series = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1814-9324},
  doi       = {10.5194/cp-12-1565-2016},
  pages     = {1565 -- 1581},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {In low-accumulation regions, the reliability of delta O-18-derived temperature signals from ice cores within the Holocene is unclear, primarily due to the small climate changes relative to the intrinsic noise of the isotopic signal. In order to learn about the representativity of single ice cores and to optimise future ice-core-based climate reconstructions, we studied the stable-water isotope composition of firn at Kohnen Station, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Analysing delta O-18 in two 50m long snow trenches allowed us to create an unprecedented, two-dimensional image characterising the isotopic variations from the centimetre to the 100-metre scale. Our results show seasonal layering of the isotopic composition but also high horizontal isotopic variability caused by local stratigraphic noise. Based on the horizontal and vertical structure of the isotopic variations, we derive a statistical noise model which successfully explains the trench data. The model further allows one to determine an upper bound for the reliability of climate reconstructions conducted in our study region at seasonal to annual resolution, depending on the number and the spacing of the cores taken.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LaeppleHoerholdMuenchetal.2016,
  author    = {Laepple, Thomas and H{\"o}rhold, Maria and M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Freitag, Johannes and Wegner, Anna and Kipfstuhl, Sepp},
  title     = {Layering of surface snow and firn at Kohnen Station, Antarctica: Noise or seasonal signal?},
  series = {Journal of geophysical research : Earth surface},
  volume    = {121},
  journal   = {Journal of geophysical research : Earth surface},
  publisher = {American Geophysical Union},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {2169-9003},
  doi       = {10.1002/2016JF003919},
  pages     = {1849 -- 1860},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The density of firn is an important property for monitoring and modeling the ice sheets as well as to model the pore close-off and thus to interpret ice core-based greenhouse gas records. One feature, which is still in debate, is the potential existence of an annual cycle of firn density in low-accumulation regions. Several studies describe or assume seasonally successive density layers, horizontally evenly distributed, as seen in radar data. On the other hand, high-resolution density measurements on firn cores in Antarctica and Greenland show no clear seasonal cycle in the top few meters. A major caveat of most existing snow-pit and firn-core-based studies is that they represent one vertical profile from a laterally heterogeneous density field. To overcome this, we created an extensive data set of horizontal and vertical density data at Kohnen Station, Dronning Maud Land, on the East Antarctic Plateau. We drilled and analyzed three 90m long firn cores as well as 143 one-meter-long vertical profiles from two elongated snow trenches to obtain a two-dimensional view of the density variations. The analysis of the 45m wide and 1m deep density fields reveals a seasonal cycle in density. However, the seasonality is overprinted by strong stratigraphic noise, making it invisible when analyzing single firn cores. Our density data set extends the view from the local ice core perspective to a hundred meter scale and thus supports linking spatially integrating methods such as radar and seismic studies to ice and firn cores.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{CasadoLandaisPicardetal.2018,
  author    = {Casado, Mathieu and Landais, Amaelle and Picard, Ghislain and M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Laepple, Thomas and Stenni, Barbara and Dreossi, Giuliano and Ekaykin, Alexey and Arnaud, Laurent and Genthon, Christophe and Touzeau, Alexandra and Masson-Delmotte, Valerie and Jouzel, Jean},
  title     = {Archival processes of the water stable isotope signal in East Antarctic ice cores},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {716},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-42705},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-427054},
  pages     = {22},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The oldest ice core records are obtained from the East Antarctic Plateau. Water isotopes are key proxies to reconstructing past climatic conditions over the ice sheet and at the evaporation source. The accuracy of climate reconstructions depends on knowledge of all processes affecting water vapour, precipitation and snow isotopic compositions. Fractionation processes are well understood and can be integrated in trajectory-based Rayleigh distillation and isotope-enabled climate models. However, a quantitative understanding of processes potentially altering snow isotopic composition after deposition is still missing. In low-accumulation sites, such as those found in East Antarctica, these poorly constrained processes are likely to play a significant role and limit the interpretability of an ice core's isotopic composition. By combining observations of isotopic composition in vapour, precipitation, surface snow and buried snow from Dome C, a deep ice core site on the East Antarctic Plateau, we found indications of a seasonal impact of metamorphism on the surface snow isotopic signal when compared to the initial precipitation. Particularly in summer, exchanges of water molecules between vapour and snow are driven by the diurnal sublimation-condensation cycles. Overall, we observe in between precipitation events modification of the surface snow isotopic composition. Using high-resolution water isotopic composition profiles from snow pits at five Antarctic sites with different accumulation rates, we identified common patterns which cannot be attributed to the seasonal variability of precipitation. These differences in the precipitation, surface snow and buried snow isotopic composition provide evidence of post-deposition processes affecting ice core records in low-accumulation areas.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{MuenchKipfstuhlFreitagetal.2017,
  author    = {M{\"u}nch, Thomas and Kipfstuhl, Sepp and Freitag, Johannes and Meyer, Hanno and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Constraints on post-depositional isotope modifications in East Antarctic firn from analysing temporal changes of isotope profiles},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {662},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-41876},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-418763},
  pages     = {14},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {The isotopic composition of water in ice sheets is extensively used to infer past climate changes. In low-accumulation regions their interpretation is, however, challenged by poorly constrained effects that may influence the initial isotope signal during and after deposition of the snow. This is reflected in snow-pit isotope data from Kohnen Station, Antarctica, which exhibit a seasonal cycle but also strong interannual variations that contradict local temperature observations. These inconsistencies persist even after averaging many profiles and are thus not explained by local stratigraphic noise. Previous studies have suggested that post-depositional processes may significantly influence the isotopic composition of East Antarctic firn. Here, we investigate the importance of post-depositional processes within the open-porous firn (greater than or similar to 10 cm depth) at Kohnen Station by separating spatial from temporal variability. To this end, we analyse 22 isotope profiles obtained from two snow trenches and examine the temporal isotope modifications by comparing the new data with published trench data extracted 2 years earlier. The initial isotope profiles undergo changes over time due to downward advection, firn diffusion and densification in magnitudes consistent with independent estimates. Beyond that, we find further modifications of the original isotope record to be unlikely or small in magnitude (<< 1 parts per thousand RMSD). These results show that the discrepancy between local temperatures and isotopes most likely originates from spatially coherent processes prior to or during deposition, such as precipitation intermittency or systematic isotope modifications acting on drifting or loose surface snow.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ReschkeKroenerLaepple2020,
  author    = {Reschke, Maria and Kr{\"o}ner, Igor and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Testing the consistency of Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum spatial correlations in temperature proxy records},
  series = {Journal of quaternary science : JQS},
  volume    = {36},
  journal   = {Journal of quaternary science : JQS},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {0267-8179},
  doi       = {10.1002/jqs.3245},
  pages     = {20 -- 28},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Holocene temperature proxy records are commonly used in quantitative synthesis and model-data comparisons. However, comparing correlations between time series from records collected in proximity to one another with the expected correlations based on climate model simulations indicates either regional or noisy climate signals in Holocene temperature proxy records. In this study, we evaluate the consistency of spatial correlations present in Holocene proxy records with those found in data from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Specifically, we predict correlations expected in LGM proxy records if the only difference to Holocene correlations would be due to more time uncertainty and more climate variability in the LGM. We compare this simple prediction to the actual correlation structure in the LGM proxy records. We found that time series data of ice-core stable isotope records and planktonic foraminifera Mg/Ca ratios were consistent between the Holocene and LGM periods, while time series of Uk'37 proxy records were not as we found no correlation between nearby LGM records. Our results support the finding of highly regional or noisy marine proxy records in the compilation analysed here and suggest the need for further studies on the role of climate proxies and the processes of climate signal recording and preservation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HebertHerzschuhLaepple2022,
  author    = {H{\´e}bert, Rapha{\"e}l and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Millennial-scale climate variability over land overprinted by ocean temperature fluctuations},
  series = {Nature geoscience},
  volume    = {15},
  journal   = {Nature geoscience},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {Nature portfolio},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {1752-0894},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41561-022-01056-4},
  pages     = {899},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Variations in regional temperature have widespread implications for society, but our understanding of the amplitude and origin of long-term natural variability is insufficient for accurate regional projections. This is especially the case for terrestrial temperature variability, which is currently thought to be weak over long timescales. By performing spectral analysis on climate reconstructions, produced using sedimentary pollen records from the Northern Hemisphere over the last 8,000 years, coupled with instrumental data, we provide a comprehensive estimate of regional temperature variability from annual to millennial timescales. We show that short-term random variations are overprinted by strong ocean-driven climate variability on multi-decadal and longer timescales. This may cause substantial and potentially unpredictable regional climatic shifts in the coming century, in contrast to the relatively muted and homogeneous warming projected by climate models. Due to the marine influence, regions characterized by stable oceanic climate at sub-decadal timescales experience stronger long-term variability, and continental regions with higher sub-decadal variability show weaker long-term variability. This fundamental relationship between the timescales provides a unique insight into the emergence of a marine-driven low-frequency regime governing terrestrial climate variability and sets the basis to project the amplitude of temperature fluctuations on multi-decadal timescales and longer. Temperature variability over land is enhanced by ocean temperature fluctuations on millennial timescales, with implications for regional-scale climate change, according to an analysis of Northern Hemisphere proxy records and observations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{ReschkeKroenerLaepple2021,
  author    = {Reschke, Maria and Kr{\"o}ner, Igor and Laepple, Thomas},
  title     = {Testing the consistency of Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum spatial correlations in temperature proxy records},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {1},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-53819},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-538197},
  pages     = {20 -- 28},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Holocene temperature proxy records are commonly used in quantitative synthesis and model-data comparisons. However, comparing correlations between time series from records collected in proximity to one another with the expected correlations based on climate model simulations indicates either regional or noisy climate signals in Holocene temperature proxy records. In this study, we evaluate the consistency of spatial correlations present in Holocene proxy records with those found in data from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Specifically, we predict correlations expected in LGM proxy records if the only difference to Holocene correlations would be due to more time uncertainty and more climate variability in the LGM. We compare this simple prediction to the actual correlation structure in the LGM proxy records. We found that time series data of ice-core stable isotope records and planktonic foraminifera Mg/Ca ratios were consistent between the Holocene and LGM periods, while time series of Uk'37 proxy records were not as we found no correlation between nearby LGM records. Our results support the finding of highly regional or noisy marine proxy records in the compilation analysed here and suggest the need for further studies on the role of climate proxies and the processes of climate signal recording and preservation.},
  language  = {en}
}