LITTLE ICE-AGE CLEARLY RECORDED IN NORTHERN GREENLAND ICE CORES

Four ice cores drilled in the little investigated area of northern and northeastern Greenland were evaluated for their isotopic (delta(18)O) and chemical content. From these rather uniform records a stable isot ope temperature time series covering the last 500 years has been deduc ed, which reveals distinct climate cooling during the 17th and the fir st half of the 19th century. Timing of the preindustrial temperature d eviations agrees well with other northern hemisphere temperature recon structions, however, their extent (similar to 1 degrees C) significant ly exceeds both continental records as well as previous southern and c entral Greenland ice core time series. A 20-30 % increase in the sea s alt aerosol load during these periods supports accompanying circulatio n changes over the North Atlantic. Comparison with records of potentia l natural climate driving forces points to an important role of the lo ngterm solar influence but to only episodically relevant cooling durin g years directly following major volcano eruptions.