New Science Affirms Arctic Region Was 6°C Warmer Than Now 9000 Years Ago, When CO2 Levels Were ‘Safe’

Unearthed new evidence (Mangerud and Svendsen, 2018) reveals that during the Early Holocene, when CO2 concentrations hovered around 260 ppm, “warmth-demanding species” were living in locations 1,000 km farther north of where they exist today in Arctic Svalbard, indicating that summer temperatures must have been about “6°C warmer than at present”.

Proxy evidence from two other new papers suggests Svalbard’s Hinlopen Strait  may have reached about 5 – 9°C warmer than 1955-2012 during the Early Holocene (Bartels et al., 2018), and Greenland may have been “4.0 to 7.0 °C warmer than modern [1952-2014]” between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago according to evidence found in rock formations at the bottom of ancient lakes (McFarlin et al., 2018). 

In these 3 new papers, none of the scientists connect the “pronounced” and “exceptional” Early Holocene warmth to CO2 concentrations. 


  Mangerud and Svendsen, 2018

The Holocene Thermal Maximum around Svalbard, Arctic

North Atlantic; molluscs show early and exceptional warmth

“Shallow marine molluscs that are today extinct close to Svalbard, because of the cold climate, are found in deposits there dating to the early Holocene. The most warmth-demanding species found, Zirfaea crispata, currently has a northern limit 1000 km farther south, indicating that August temperatures on Svalbard were 6°C warmer at around 10.2–9.2 cal. ka BP, when this species lived there. … After 8.2 cal. ka, the climate around Svalbard warmed again, and although it did not reach the same peak in temperatures as prior to 9 ka, it was nevertheless some 4°C warmer than present between 8.2 and 6 cal. ka BP. … The occurrence of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, suggests that climate around Svalbard was 2°C warmer than at present as early as about 11 cal. ka BP.  The climate was about 6°C warmer than at present between 10.0 and 9.2 cal. ka BP, as shown by the presence of Zirfaea crispata.  One single specimen of Mytilus is dated to 900 years BP, suggesting a short-lived warm period during the Medieval Warm Period of northern Europe.”


Bartels et al., 2018

Wahlenbergfjord, eastern Svalbard: a glacier-surrounded fjord

reflecting regional hydrographic variability during the Holocene?

“During summer, AW [Atlantic Water] rises up to waterdepths as shallow as ~55 m. … Summer surface temperatures [1955-2012] range between up to 3°C at the northern mouth and <-1.5 °C at the southern mouth of the Hinlopen Strait, while winter surface temperatures vary between 0.5 and <~1.5°C (averaged, 1955–2012; Locarnini et al. 2013). … Increased summer insolation probably amplified the surface melting of the glaciers resulting in enhanced meltwater production and in a very high accumulation of finegrained sediments within the fjord […].”

“In addition, during the mild early Holocene conditions, summer sea-surface temperatures probably reaching 8–10°C [~5 – 9°C warmer than 1955-2012] (indicated by M. edulis findings as discussed in Hansen et al. 2011) may have contributed to reducing the number of glaciers that entered the fjord directly as tidewater glaciers and thus causing a diminished IRD input.  … In lake sediments from northwestern Spitsbergen a temperature drop of ~6°C is recorded between c. 7.8 and c. 7 ka [-0.8°C per century], which has been connected to a stronger influence of Arctic Water and expanding sea ice (van der Bilt et al. 2018).”


McFarlin et al., 2018

Pronounced summer warming in northwest Greenland

during the Holocene and Last Interglacial

“(Greenland)  Early Holocene peak warmth has been quantified at only a few sites, and terrestrial sedimentary records of prior interglacials are exceptionally rare due to glacial erosion during the last glacial period. Here, we discuss findings from a lacustrine archive that records both the Holocene and the Last Interglacial (LIG) from Greenland, allowing for direct comparison between two interglacials. Sedimentary chironomid assemblages indicate peak July temperatures [Greenland] 4.0 to 7.0 °C warmer than modern during the Early Holocene maximum [10,000 to 8,000 years ago] in summer insolation. Chaoborus and chironomids in LIG [the last interglacial] sediments indicate July temperatures at least 5.5 to 8.5 °C warmer than modern.”

44 responses to “New Science Affirms Arctic Region Was 6°C Warmer Than Now 9000 Years Ago, When CO2 Levels Were ‘Safe’”

  1. Bitter&twisted

    Wouldn’t have made it past review if they had the temerity to point out the low atmospheric CO2 concentration.

  2. SebastianH

    Do you think your logic is sound, Kenneth?

    1. spike55

      “Do you think your logic is sound”

      We know YOURS isn’t, seb..

      You are almost totally irrational because of your AGW cult-like zealotry.

      We know you cannot even accept the fact that there is no evidence for CO2 causing warming anywhere, anytime.

  3. Ed Bo

    What nobody here, or in the papers, is acknowledging, is the precession of the earth’s axis. Presently, the earth’s aphelion is in July, so the northern hemisphere’s summer has an insolation (top of atmosphere) of about 1325 W/m2.

    11,000 years ago, the perihelion was in July, so then the northern hemisphere summer had an insolation of about 1420 W/m2. These papers describe elevated summer temperatures not far from this time.

    These effects dwarf any possible effect from elevated CO2 (possibly about 2 W/m2).

    1. spike55

      Southern hemisphere was also warmer.

      Basically EVERYTHING dwarfs the immeasurable, unmeasured effect of CO2.

  4. Penelope

    Although we are winning scientifically, we are losing politically– because they have nearly unlimited funds to spend on gibberish like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szt7f5NmE9E

    1. SebastianH

      Although we are winning scientifically […]

      We as in skeptics?

  5. M E

    Might I point out to Sebastian and others that a suppository is used in a medical procedure.
    I will not go into it’s use here on the blog it may give rise to bawdy humour. Just look it up and remember it.

    Perhaps you meant supposition?

    1. SebastianH

      Oh I am sure spikey means what he writes. He has no clue, but is very creative at inventing new forms of insults. I actually enjoy that part of him. I imagine him sitting at some beach trying to come up with the perfect troll posts to annoy any opposition new or old. Like that cranky grandpa who always yells at kids in the park or something like that … at first annoying as hell, but experience it every day and you’ll find him kind of cute for being the clichee …

    2. spike55

      “a suppository is used in a medical procedure.”

      Which is where the AGW meme comes from.

      Not human, but bovine. !

      It is a very apt word to use, because it flows so freely.

  6. Scientists Discover That Arctic Region Was 6°C Warmer 9000 Years Ago Than Today | The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF)

    […] Full post […]

  7. agadinmar

    Few ever consider Solar Cycles and variations and the affect of Solar Minimums and Maximums. https://arxiv.org/pdf/1602.02483.pdf

  8. Neue wissenschaft­liche Erkennt­nisse: Arktis war vor 9000 Jahren ca.6°C wärmer als heute – als das CO2-Niveau ,sicher‘ war – EIKE – Europäisches Institut für Klima & Energie
  9. Arctic Climate--Long-term Reconstructions | Pearltrees

    […] New Science Affirms Arctic Region Was 6°C Warmer Than Now 9000 Years Ago, When CO2 Levels Were ‘S…’ Unearthed new evidence (Mangerud and Svendsen, 2018) reveals that during the Early Holocene, when CO2 concentrations hovered around 260 ppm, “warmth-demanding species” were living in locations 1,000 km farther north of where they exist today in Arctic Svalbard, indicating that summer temperatures must have been about “6°C warmer than at present”. […]

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. More information at our Data Privacy Policy

Close