Influence of the Antarctic ice sheet on southern high latitude climate during the Cenozoic: Albedo vs topography effect

Sensitivity of high latitude temperature distribution to the variation of t he Antarctic ice sheet is investigated using an atmospheric general circula tion model coupled with a mixed layer ocean. Results suggest that cooling e ffect of the ice sheet is not negligible compared to the effect of atmosphe ric CO2 decrease such as during the Cenozoic. Cooling effect of high surfac e albedo of the ice sheet is enhanced over the ice sheet and slightly suppr essed over the circumpolar ocean by the high topography of the ice sheet. H igh surface albedo and high topography of the ice sheet each causes increas e and decrease of southward atmospheric heat transport respectively, whose contribution to maintaining the heat balance anomaly of atmosphere-ocean sy stem is comparable to that of local adjustment of radiation balance.