Central Mediterranean rainfall varied with high northern latitude temperatures during the last deglaciation
Journal
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
Journal Volume
3
Journal Issue
1
Date Issued
2022-12
Author(s)
Abstract
Similarly to the effects of current climate change, the last deglaciation (Termination I) rapidly altered northern latitude temperatures and ice-sheet extent, as well as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. However, it is still unclear how these changes propagated and impacted the central Mediterranean continental rainfall variability. This prevents a full understanding on how global warming will affect Mediterranean areas in the future. Here, we present a high-resolution reconstruction of rainfall changes in the central Mediterranean across Termination I, based on a novel δ18O time series from a southern Italian stalagmite. Across Termination I the availability of Atlantic moisture varied in response to northern latitude temperature increases (decreases) and ice-sheet decreases (increases), promoting a higher (lower) intensity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, and resulting in a relatively wetter (drier) climate in the Mediterranean. In the light of future warming, this study emphasises the role of high-latitude climate changes in causing rainfall variation in highly populated Mediterranean areas.
Subjects
CLIMATE VARIABILITY; ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION; GLACIAL MAXIMUM; SOUTHERN ALPS; RECORD; GREENLAND; SPELEOTHEMS; WATER; EVENTS; RECONSTRUCTION
SDGs
Publisher
SPRINGERNATURE
Type
journal article