Explain what could have caused the large fluctuations in Greenland's climate in only a matter of years during the last glacial period

Answer 1

During the last glacial period, the climate around Greenland underwent shifts, from ice-age temperatures to much warmer conditions in a matter of years. It now appears that such large fluctuations in temperature over such a short period of time were due to the vast circulation pattern of ocean water, known as the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt, or thermohaline circulation, begins in the north Atlantic near Greenland and Iceland, where salty surface water is cooled through contact with cold Arctic air masses. the cold, dense water sinks and flows southward through the deep Atlantic Ocean, around Africa, and into the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This circulation pattern plays a major role in the world's climate system. When the conveyor belt is strong, winters in Greenland, and northern Europe, tend to be wet and relatively mild. However, when the conveyor belt is weak or stops altogether, winters in Greenland and northern Europe appear to turn much colder. This illustrates how an area's climate can change within a matter of years and then quickly return back to previous conditions.