Title

Northward extent of East Asian monsoon covaries with intensity on orbital and millennial timescales

Authors

Goldsmith, Y; Broecker, WS; Xu, H; Polissar, PJ; Demenocal, PB; Porat, N; Lan, J; Cheng, P; Zhou, W; An, Z

Abstract

The magnitude, rate, and extent of past and future East Asian monsoon (EAM) rainfall fluctuations remain unresolved. Here, late Pleistocene-Holocene EAM rainfall intensity is reconstructed using a well-dated northeastern China closed-basin lake area record located at the modern northwestern fringe of the EAM. The EAM intensity and northern extent alternated rapidly between wet and dry periods on time scales of centuries. Lake levels were 60 mhigher than present during the early andmiddle Holocene, requiring a twofold increase in annual rainfall, which, based on modern rainfall distribution, requires a similar to 400 km northward expansion/migration of the EAM. The lake record is highly correlated with both northern and southern Chinese cave deposit isotope records, supporting rainfall "intensity based"interpretations of these deposits as opposed to an alternative "water vapor sourcing"interpretation. These results indicate that EAM intensity and the northward extent covary on orbital and millennial timescales. The termination of wet conditions at 5.5 ka BP (similar to 35 m lake drop) triggered a large cultural collapse of Early Neolithic cultures in north China, and possibly promoted the emergence of complex societies of the Late Neolithic.

Corresponding author

Goldsmith, Yonaton；Xu Hai

Volume

114

Issue

8

Page

1817-1821

Pub year

2017

Publication name

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Details

http://www.pnas.org/content/114/8/1817