TRopical Indian Ocean variability versus global (PAlaeo)Climate Change (TRIOPACC)
General objective
The project targets both temperature change and temperature variability during the ice and warm ages of the past 500,000 years in the tropical Indian Ocean.
Why the Indian Ocean?
Because it is key to understand the response of climate to climate forcing (e.g., by rising atmospheric CO2 levels), in that its surface waters are rapidly warming while its deep waters are taking up a considerable amount of the heat stored in the ocean over the past decades.
Why the last 500,000 years?
Because this timespan ensures that a broad range of climate states is covered, including politically agreed global warming targets 1.5°C to 2°C warmer than pre-industrial.
Our approach
A full suite of traditional and novel geochemical tools and rigorous statistical assessment of uncertainties are used to document: (i) the surface temperature evolution of the tropical Indian Ocean and of its deep counterpart; and (ii) the nature of the seasonal and interannual variability during climate states both colder and warmer than pre-industrial.