Stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O) in the Bona‐Churchill (B‐C) ice core from southeast Alaska provide a valuable, high‐resolution history of climate variability and sea ice cover in the western Arctic over the last 800 years. Multiple ice cores have been collected from the Wrangell‐St. Elias Mountain Range; however, their δ18O records exhibit little consistency as each core offers a unique view on local, regional, and/or global climate variability. To explore the primary mechanisms influencing the isotopic signature at the B‐C site, we utilize isotope‐enabled model data, reanalysis data, and observations, which all indicate a strong connection between isotopes at the B‐C site and western Arctic climate, likely established by the location of the storm track in this region. Enriched B‐C δ18O reflects increased southerly flow and warmer waters in the Bering Sea, which modulates the heat flux through the Bering Strait and into the Arctic, thereby affecting sea ice cover in the western Arctic. The B‐C δ18O paleorecord shares some remarkable similarities (
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10032303
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Volume:
- 44
- Issue:
- 14
- ISSN:
- 0094-8276
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 7447 to 7454
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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