Pollen analyses from a 50 000‐yr rodent midden series in the southern Atacama Desert (25° 30′ S)

Precipitation in northern Chile is controlled by two great wind belts—the southern westerlies over the southern Atacama and points south (> 24° S) and the tropical easterlies over the northern and central Atacama Desert (16–24° S). At the intersection of these summer and winter rainfall regimes, respectively, is a Mars‐like landscape consisting of expansive surfaces devoid of vegetation (i.e. absolute desert) except in canyons that originate high enough to experience runoff once every few years. Pollen assemblages from 39 fossil rodent middens in one of these canyons, Quebrada del Chaco (25° 30′ S), were used to infer the history of vegetation and precipitation at three elevations (2670–2800 m; 3100–3200 m; 3450–3500 m) over the past 50 000 years. When compared to modern conditions and fossil records to the north and south, the pollen evidence indicates more winter precipitation at > 52, 40–33, 24–17 k cal. yr BP, more precipitation in both seasons at 17–14 k cal. yr BP, and more summer precipitation from 14–11 k cal. yr BP. Younger middens are scarce at Quebrada del Chaco, and the few Holocene samples indicate hyperarid conditions comparable to today. The only exception is a pollen assemblage that indicates a brief but significant interlude of increased winter precipitation in the last millennium. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determining the spatial and temporal patterns of climate changes in China's western interior during the last 15 ka from lacustrine oxygen isotope records

China's western interior is a climatologically complex region, where climatic conditions are primarily controlled by the westerly jet stream and the Asian monsoon system. Observations reveal that the δ¹⁸O signatures of these atmospheric elements as expressed in their meteoric waters are different, and these differences are reflected in the lacustrine systems that are ultimately fed by the meteoric waters. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition of 17 lacustrine δ¹⁸O records from this area clearly reveals the spatial and temporal structures of climate changes during the last 15 ka. The first EOF mode, dominated by sites in the NW sector, captures the temperature effect on the variability of the δ¹⁸O dataset. We interpret the variations through time in the amplitude of this mode to be indicative of changes in summer air temperature. The second EOF mode, heavily weighted by sites in the SE sector, reveals the ‘amount effect’ on δ¹⁸O, and thus its amplitude time series indicates changes in the intensity of the Asian summer monsoon. Our EOF‐based reconstructions of regional climate are generally consistent with the δ¹⁸O records of ice cores, cave speleothems and marine carbonates. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Letter to the editor

Using a method suggested by the authors earlier, the long-term trends of the F2-layer critical frequency, foF2 are derived for a set of ionospheric stations with a wide latitudinal and longitudinal coverage. All the trends are found to be negative. A pronounced dependence on geomagnetic latitude is found, the trend magnitude increasing with the latter. No globe scale longitudinal effect in trends is detected. For the majority of the stations there is also a pronounced seasonal effect, the trend magnitude being higher in summer than in winter.     

Does the Agulhas Current amplify global temperatures during super‐interglacials?

Future projections of climate suggest our planet is moving into a ‘super‐interglacial’. Here we report a global synthesis of ice, marine and terrestrial data from a recent palaeoclimate equivalent, the Last Interglacial (ca. 130–116 ka ago). Our analysis suggests global temperatures were on average ～1.5°C higher than today (relative to the AD 1961–1990 period). Intriguingly, we identify several Indian Ocean Last Interglacial sequences that suggest persistent early warming, consistent with leakage of warm, saline waters from the Agulhas Current into the Atlantic, intensifying meridional ocean circulation and increasing global temperatures. This mechanism may have played a significant positive feedback role during super‐interglacials and could become increasingly important in the future. These results provide an important insight into a future 2°C climate stabilisation scenario. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydroclimatic significance of stable isotopes in precipitation from glaciers of Garhwal Himalaya,Upper Ganga Basin (UGB), India

Stable isotopic composition of precipitation as preserved in continental proxy climate archives (e.g., ice cores, lacustrine sediments, tree rings, groundwater, and organic matter) can sensitively record fluctuations in local meteorological variables. These are important natural climatic tracers to understand the atmospheric circulation patterns and hydrological cycle and to reconstruct past climate from archives. Precipitation was collected at Dokriani Glacier to understand the response of glaciers to climate change in the Garhwal Central Himalaya, Upper Ganga Basin. The local meteoric water line deviates from the global meteoric water line and is useful for the identification of moisture source in the region. The data suggest different clusters of isotopic signals, that is, summer (June–September) and winter (November–April); the mean values of δ¹⁸O, δD, and d ‰ during summer are ?13.03‰, ?84.49‰, and 19.78 ‰, respectively, whereas during winter, the mean values of δ¹⁸O, δD, and d ‰ are ?7.59‰, ?36.28‰, and 24.46 ‰, respectively. Backward wind trajectory analysis ascertains that the major source of precipitation during summer is from the Indian Summer Monsoon and during winter from the westerlies. Regression analysis has been carried out in order to establish interrelationship between the precipitation isotopic signatures and meteorological variables such as air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation. Temperature and precipitation have good correlation with the isotopic signatures of precipitation with R² values >.5, suggesting that both temperature and amount effects prevail in the study region. Multiple regression analysis found strong relationships for both the seasons. The relationship of deuterium excess with δ¹⁸O, relative humidity, and precipitation are significant for the winter season. No significant relationships of deuterium excess were found with other meteorological variables such as temperature and radiation. The correlation and regression analysis performed are significant and valuable for interpretation of processes in the hydrological cycle as well as for interpretation of palaeoclimate records from the region.     

Vegetation and climate near Lago Llanquihue in the Chilean Lake District between 20200 and 9500 14C yr BP

Radiocarbon-dated pollen records of two adjacent sediment cores from Canal de la Puntilla (40°57′09″S, 72°54′18″W) in the Chilean Lake District reveal that a sparsely vegetated landscape prevailed during the portion of the Last Glacial Maximum between 20200 and about 14800 ¹⁴C yr BP. Dominating the vegetation was Nothofagus, Gramineae and Compositae, along with taxa commonly found today above the Andean treeline (Perezia-type, Valeriana) and in Magellanic Moorlands (Donatia, Astelia). Nothofagus expanded between 20200 and 15800 ¹⁴C yr BP, interrupted by a reversal at 19200 ¹⁴C yr BP and followed by a prominent increase in Gramineae pollen between 15800 and about 14800 ¹⁴C yr BP. A major increase in Nothofagus started at about 14800 ¹⁴C yr BP, followed by an abrupt expansion of thermophilous Valdivian/North Patagonian Rain Forest taxa (Myrtaceae, Lomatia/Gevuina, Hydrangea, etc.) at about 14000 ¹⁴C yr BP. An opening of the rain forest and an expansion of Podocarpus nubigena, Misodendrum, and Maytenus disticha-type subsequently occurred between 11000 and 10000 ¹⁴C yr BP. These results suggest that mean annual temperature was 6–7°C colder than at present, with twice the modern annual precipitation between 20200 and 14000 ¹⁴C yr BP, implying a northward shift and intensification of the westerlies storm-tracks. Slight climate warming occurred between 20200 and 15800 ¹⁴C yr BP, featuring cooling reversals at 19200 ¹⁴C yr BP, and later at 15800 ¹⁴C yr BP. The warming of the last termination started at about 14800 ¹⁴C yr BP, and reached a total temperature rise of ≥5°C by 12400 ¹⁴C yr BP, followed by cooling between 11000 and 10000 ¹⁴C yr BP. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

40～30ka B.P.中国西北地区暖湿气候的地质记录及成因探讨

新疆艾丁湖与柴窝堡湖记录、玛纳斯湖记录、巴里坤湖记录、伊犁黄土-古土壤记录、罗布泊沉积记录和塔里木盆地南缘克里雅河流阶地钙质结核层记录,青海察尔汗盐湖以及内蒙古古居延海沉积记录、白碱湖和吉兰泰盐湖、巴丹吉林沙漠钙质胶结层等记录均显示40～30kaB.P.时期整个西北地区气候温暖湿润.其中,内蒙古西部温度较现代高2.～3℃,西北大部分地区降水量成倍增加,气候显著湿润化.其成因可能是由于当时中、低纬度岁差周期高辐射所造成的海洋表面温度升高,蒸发加强,西风环流和夏季风为西北提供的水汽大幅度增多的缘故.     

青藏高原中部色林错中晚全新世以来古气候变化特征

色林错位于青藏高原中部印度季风和西风环流的过渡地带,同时受西风环流和印度季风系统控制,是研究二者进退变化特征的理想场所。本文利用色林错SL-1钻孔中介形虫Limnocythere inopinata的丰度及其壳体微量元素Mg/Ca和Mn/Ca比值重建了色林错5.3 ka BP以来的古气候环境变化特征。5.3～2.9 ka BP,L.inopinata丰度较小,壳体的低Mg/Ca比值和高Mn/Ca比值表明此阶段气候偏冷湿;2.9～1.8 ka BP,L.inopinata丰度较前一阶段增加,壳体Mg/Ca比值略有增长但仍为低值表明气温虽然有所回升但仍然较低,Mn/Ca比值较前一阶段明显降低,指示湖泊水位下降;1.8 ka BP至今,L.inopinata丰度达到最大,壳体的高Mg/Ca和Mn/Ca比值指示湖泊温度和水位均呈显著的上升趋势。通过与西风区、过渡区以及印度季风区其他湖泊的环境沉积记录对比,本文认为青藏高原中部地区在中全新世晚期主要受西风环流影响,气温较低,西风带来大量水汽使得湖面呈扩张趋势;而到晚全新世西风环流逐渐北撤,色林错受季风影响更大,季风带来的降水和气温升高导致的冰川融...     

Propagation and influence on tropical precipitation of intraseasonal variation over mid-latitude East Asia in boreal winter

本文研究冬季东亚中纬度地区9–29天季节内变化的传播特征和其对热带降水的影响。分析发现风场的季节内信号既可以向东传播,也可以向南传播。向东传播时,风场的季节内信号主要限于中纬度地区,表现为气旋和反气旋的向东移动。向南传播时,源于中纬度的经向风扰动可以深入到低纬度地区,甚至到达赤道附近。伴随的辐合辐散引起赤道附近地区降水异常,形成南海南部和中国东部-日本之间一个南北向偶极型降水异常。一个异常经向翻转环流在连接热带和中纬度季节内风场和降水变化中起着重要作用。     

Atmospheric Circulation Cells Associated with Anomalous East Asian Winter Monsoon

Atmospheric circulation cells associated with anomalous East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) were studied using the 1948/49 to 2002/03 NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and NCAR CAM3 AGCM simulations with monthly global sea surface temperatures from 1950 to 2000. Several atmospheric cells in the Pacific [i.e., the zonal Walker cell (ZWC) in the tropic, the Hadley cell in the western Pacific (WPHC), the midlatitude zonal cell (MZC) over the central North Pacific, and the Hadley cell in the eastern Pacific (EPHC)] are associated with anomalous EAWM. When the EAWM is strong, ZWC, WPHC, and MZC are enhanced, as opposed to EPHC. The anomalous enhanced ZWC is characterized by air parcels rising in the western tropical Pacific, flowing eastward in the upper troposphere, and descending in the tropical central Pacific before returning to the tropical western Pacific. The enhanced MZC has characteristics opposite those of the enhanced ZWC in the central North Pacific. The anomalous WPHC shows air parcels rising in the western Pacific, as in the case of ZWC, followed by flowing northward in the upper troposphere and descending in the west North Pacific, as in the case of the enhanced MZC before returning to the western tropical Pacific. The anomalous EPHC is opposite in properties to the anomalous WPHC. Opposite characteristics are found during the weak EAWM period. The model simulations and the observations show similar characteristics and indicate the important role of sea surface temperature. A possible mechanism is proposed to link interannual variation of EAWM with the central-eastern tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA).