Ice cores comprise one of the most comprehensive records of Earth's past climate, extending back hundreds of thousands of years. However, disentangling the information contained in the ice cores's isotopic signal in order to retrieve information on specific atmospheric events remains challenging. In this study, the authors show how atmospheric rivers - an extreme event that changes temperatures and humidity - are imprinted in the water isotopes. The study represents a major step forward in closing the knowledge gap, by discerning the local versus large-scale drivers of the isotopic signal.

This paper investigates a puzzling and still-unresolved phenomenon: the presence of large plume-like features visible in the layers of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Although previous studies have proposed various explanations for these features, none have been confirmed to date. In this study, the authors investigate an unconventional and debated hypothesis: That local thermal convection may be responsible for the observed layer disruptions. This work opens new avenues for research and provides a fresh perspective on an intriguing scientific problem.