Atmospheric particulates over the northwestern Pacific during the late Holocene: Volcanism, dust, and human perturbation.

ABSTRACT: Mineral aerosols form a key component of Earth's dynamic biogeochemical systems, yet their composition and mass are variable in time. We reconstruct patterns in mineral aerosol flux from East Asia, the second largest global dust source, in a peat mire in northern Japan. Using geochemical fingerprinting, we show for the past ~3600 years that high but variable tephra flux dominated regional aerosol loads. A human signal was discernible as elevated pollutant metals, along with East Asian mainland dust, identifiable by its geochemical signature. After ~700 years before the present, dust flux increased as the westerly jet intensified and moved south, the summer monsoon strength reduced, and agriculture expanded. From the 20th century, dust flux increased by two times. Attributable largely to hu

SUBMITTER: Marx SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12680304 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature