Precisely dated multidecadally resolved Asian summer monsoon dynamics 113.5–86.6 thousand years ago
Journal
Quaternary Science Reviews
Journal Volume
143
Pages
1-12
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Abstract
We present a new 230Th-dated absolute chronology of Asian summer monsoon (ASM) variability from 113.5 to 86.6 kyr BP (before 1950 AD). This integrated multidecadally resolved record, based on 1435 oxygen isotope data and 46 230Th dates with 2-sigma errors as low as ±0.3 kyr from three stalagmites collected in Sanxing Cave, southwestern China, can be a new reference for calibrating paleoclimate proxy sequences. The Sanxing δ18O record follows the 23 kyr precessional cycle of insolation and is punctuated by prominent millennial-scale oscillations of the Chinese Interstadials (CIS) 25 to 22, corresponding to Greenland Interstadials (GIS) 25 to 22. The onset of CIS 25, 24, 23 and 22 is dated to 113.1 ± 0.4, 108.1 ± 0.3, 103.7 ± 0.3 and 91.4 ± 0.6 kyr BP in the Sanxing record, respectively. The end of CIS 24 and CIS 22 is constrained to 105.5 ± 0.4 and 87.7 ± 0.3 kyr BP, respectively. A centennial-scale precursor event at 104.1 ± 0.3 kyr BP preceding CIS 23 is clearly registered. These events in the Sanxing record are synchronous with those identified in stalagmites from the European Alps (NALPS), except for the onset of GIS 25 and the end of GIS 22, and differ by up to 2.3 kyr from the corresponding ones in Greenland ice core records. The high degree of similarity of the δ18O records between Sanxing Cave and Greenland supports a Northern Hemisphere forcing of the ASM. The anti-phase relationship of δ18O records between Sanxing stalagmites and Antarctic ice cores suggests an additional ASM linkage to the Southern Hemisphere. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
Subjects
Asian summer monsoon; Chinese interstadials; MIS 5; Precursor event; Sanxing Cave
SDGs
Other Subjects
Caves; Climate change; Glacial geology; Asian summer monsoons; Degree of similarity; Greenland ice cores; Interstadials; Millennial scale oscillations; Northern Hemispheres; Precursor event; Southern Hemisphere; Atmospheric thermodynamics; chronology; dating method; GRIP; interstadial; monsoon; Northern Hemisphere; oxygen isotope; paleoclimate; precision; proxy climate record; Southern Hemisphere; summer; thorium isotope; Alps; Antarctica; Arctic; China; Greenland
Type
journal article