Modelling rapid events within the climate system.

Rapid climatic events are a major feature of the last glacial period. The thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic Ocean probably had a fundamental role in inducing large temperature changes in a very short time over most of the northern hemisphere. Still, the ultimate trigger of these climatic events is largely unknown. After a short description of the multiple equilibriums of the deep-ocean circulation, we will present several theories that can reproduce some characteristics of glacial variability: ice-sheet oscillations, ocean-ice sheet oscillations or externally forced oscillations. Finally, we will suggest a new theory for these oscillations, based only on the thermohaline circulation, and involving, in particular, the formation of salty bottom waters due to the freezing of the sea around Antarctica. (C) 2004 Academie des sciences. Publie par Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.