The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Climate Effects of True Polar Wander During the Late Ediacaran Ice Age
ID:311 Oral Presentation

2027-01-12 11:10 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 35 - Ocean-climate dynamics through Earth history: integrating proxies, modeling, and data science

Abstract
True polar wander (TPW) has been proposed as a potential trigger for continental reorganization, yet its climatic consequences during the late Ediacaran ice age (ca. 580-560 Ma) have not been systematically quantified. Here, we use the Community Earth System Model version 1.2.2 to conduct simulations based on five continental reconstructions that incorporate TPW, and employ the energy-balance method to disentangle temperature contributions. Under an extremely cold scenario with atmospheric CO2 level (pCO2) set at 35 ppmv, the simulated global mean surface temperature during 580-560 Ma ranges from -8.1°C to -4.3°C, with a general warming trend from 580 Ma to the 575-560 Ma interval. Surface albedo feedback accounts for more than 50% of the temperature change, followed by greenhouse gas emissivity, while the contribution of cloud albedo exhibits a phased shift in response to TPW. When pCO2 is further raised to the glaciation threshold of 140 ppmv, global mean surface temperature increases to between -1.0°C and 1.7°C, accompanied by retreat of sea ice and land snow cover. In this scenario, the contribution of surface albedo weakens or even shifts toward cooling, whereas cloud albedo exerts a stronger warming effect. This study elucidates the mechanisms through which TPW modulated Ediacaran glacial climate during the late Neoproterozoic via the coupled interplay of albedo, greenhouse gas, and cloud feedbacks. 
Speaker
Xinyi Liu Ocean University of China

Author
Xinyi Liu Ocean University of China

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
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    • Apr 30

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    • Apr 30

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    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
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    • Aug 31

      2026

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    • Sep 15

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    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027