Past East Asian monsoon evolution controlled by paleogeography, not CO₂.

ABSTRACT: The East Asian monsoon plays an integral role in human society, yet its geological history and controlling processes are poorly understood. Using a general circulation model and geological data, we explore the drivers controlling the evolution of the monsoon system over the past 150 million years. In contrast to previous work, we find that the monsoon is controlled primarily by changes in paleogeography, with little influence from atmospheric CO₂. We associate increased precipitation since the Late Cretaceous with the gradual uplift of the Himalayan-Tibetan region, transitioning from an ITCZ-dominated monsoon to a sea breeze-dominated monsoon. The rising region acted as a mechanical barrier to cold and dry continental air advecting into the region, leading to increasing influenc

SUBMITTER: Farnsworth A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6821471 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature