Indonesian Throughflow drove Australian climate from humid Pliocene to arid Pleistocene
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal Volume
44
Journal Issue
13
Pages
6914-6925
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Christensen B.A
Renema W
Henderiks J
De Vleeschouwer D
Castañeda I.S
Reuning L
Bogus K
Auer G
Ishiwa T
McHugh C.M
Gallagher S.J
Fulthorpe C.S
IODP Expedition 356 Scientists, Mamo B.L
Kominz M.A
McGregor H.V
Petrick B.F
Takayanagi H
Levin E
Korpanty C.A
Potts D.C
Baranwal S
Franco D.R
Gurnis M
Haller C
He Y
Himmler T
Iwatani H
Jatiningrum R.S
Lee E.Y
Rastigar A
Zhang W.
Abstract
Late Miocene to mid-Pleistocene sedimentary proxy records reveal that northwest Australia underwent an abrupt transition from dry to humid climate conditions at 5.5 million years (Ma), likely receiving year-round rainfall, but after ~3.3 Ma, climate shifted toward an increasingly seasonal precipitation regime. The progressive constriction of the Indonesian Throughflow likely decreased continental humidity and transferred control of northwest Australian climate from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, leading to drier conditions punctuated by monsoonal precipitation. The northwest dust pathway and fully established seasonal and orbitally controlled precipitation were in place by ~2.4 Ma, well after the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. The transition from humid to arid conditions was driven by changes in Pacific and Indian Ocean circulation and regional atmospheric moisture transport, influenced by the emerging Maritime Continent. We conclude that the Maritime Continent is the switchboard modulating teleconnections between tropical and high-latitude climate systems. ©2017. The Authors.
Subjects
Australia; continental climate; Indonesian Throughflow; IODP; Maritime Continent; Neogene
Other Subjects
Atmospheric humidity; Glacial geology; Humidity control; Australia; Continental climate; Indonesian throughflow; IODP; Maritime Continent; Neo genes; Precipitation (meteorology); arid environment; atmospheric moisture; climate conditions; climate variation; glaciation; humid environment; humidity; Miocene; moisture transfer; monsoon; Northern Hemisphere; Ocean Drilling Program; paleoclimate; Pleistocene; Pliocene; proxy climate record; regional climate; seasonal variation; sedimentary sequence; throughflow; Australia; Indian Ocean; Indonesia; Pacific Ocean
Type
journal article