Evidence of wet-dry cycles and mega-droughts in the Eemian climate of southeast Australia.

ABSTRACT: Understanding past climate variability is critical to informing debate of likely impacts of global warming on weather and climate, and water resources. Here we present a near annual resolution reconstruction of climate developed from a speleothem that spans the Eemian [Marine Isotope Stage 5e (MIS 5e)] from 117,500 to 123,500 years BP-the most recent period in the Earth's history when temperatures were similar to those of today. Using ²⁵ Mg, ⁸⁸Sr, and ¹³⁷Ba as proxies, we show the first indication of solar and teleconnection cyclic forcing of Eemian climate in southeast Australia, a region at present often affected by severe drought and bushfires. We find evidence for multi-centennial dry periods interpreted as mega-droughts, and highlight the importance of

SUBMITTER: McGowan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7581751 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature