In and out of glacial extremes by way of dust−climate feedbacks

Significance In observational data, we find striking and globally coherent increases of atmospheric dust concentrations and deposition during the coldest phases of glacial−interglacial climate cycles. As shown by our simulations with a climate−carbon cycle model, such a relationship between dust and climate implies that dust-induced cooling is responsible for the final step from intermediate to extreme glacial cooling and drawdown of atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. These results also increase our overall understanding of glacial−interglacial cycles by putting further constraints on the timing and strength of other processes involved in these cycles, like changes in sea ice and ice sheet extents or changes in ocean circulation and deep water formation.