Quaternary rainfall variability is governed by insolation in northern China and ice-sheet forcing in the South

Type Article
Date 2023-01
Language English
Author(s) Zhao DeboORCID1, Lu ZhengyaoORCID2, Wan ShimingORCID1, 3, 4, Cheng HaiORCID5, Shi XuefaORCID6, Li Anchun1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
2 : Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden
3 : Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, China
4 : CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi’an, 710061, China
5 : Institute of Global Environmental Change, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710054, China
6 : Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
Source Communications Earth & Environment (2662-4435) (Springer Science and Business Media LLC), 2023-01 , Vol. 4 , N. 1 , P. 7 (9p.)
DOI 10.1038/s43247-022-00670-9
WOS© Times Cited 3
Abstract

Quaternary Asian low-latitude hydroclimate cyclicity has long been attributed to insolation forcing, in contrast to the dominant ice-sheet and CO2 controls identified in mid-high-latitude regions. However, debates exist regarding these rainfall variations and forcings due to inconsistent reconstructions and simulations. Here, by combining rainfall proxy records with multi-model simulations, dominant 23 ka rainfall cycle in northern China and 100 ka rainfall cycle in southern China and Southeast Asia were found. We propose that rainfall mainly occurs in summer in the north, primarily driven by insolation. Rainfall in the south is largely forced by high-latitude ice sheets, with enhanced spring and autumn rainfall in southern China and weakened rainfall in western Maritime Continent during glacial periods. This study highlights the seasonal contributions to orbital-scale rainfall changes, and sheds light on the Asian hydroclimate conditions associated with high-low-latitude climate interactions.

Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Publisher's official version 9 6 MB Open access
Peer Review File 60 5 MB Open access
Supplementary Information 22 2 MB Open access
Top of the page