A 250-year periodicity in Southern Hemisphere westerly winds over the last 2600 years

Turney, CSM; Jones, RT; Fogwill, C; Hatton, J; Williams, AN; Hogg, A; Thomas, ZA; Palmer, J; Mooney, S; Reimer, RW

A 250-year periodicity in Southern Hemisphere westerly winds over the last 2600 years

Turney, CSM Jones, RT Fogwill, C Hatton, J Williams, AN Hogg, A Thomas, ZA Palmer, J Mooney, S Reimer, RW

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Publisher:: COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Climate of the Past, 2016, 12, (2), pp. 189-200
Issue Date:: 2016-02-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Turney, CSM
dc.contributor.author	Jones, RT
dc.contributor.author	Fogwill, C
dc.contributor.author	Hatton, J
dc.contributor.author	Williams, AN
dc.contributor.author	Hogg, A
dc.contributor.author	Thomas, ZA
dc.contributor.author	Palmer, J
dc.contributor.author	Mooney, S
dc.contributor.author	Reimer, RW
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-11T00:09:08Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-11T00:09:08Z
dc.date.issued	2016-02-03
dc.identifier.citation	Climate of the Past, 2016, 12, (2), pp. 189-200
dc.identifier.issn	1814-9324
dc.identifier.issn	1814-9332
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152883
dc.description.abstract	Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow has a significant influence on the ocean-atmosphere system of the mid-to high latitudes with potentially global climate implications. Unfortunately, historic observations only extend back to the late 19th century, limiting our understanding of multi-decadal to centennial change. Here we present a highly resolved (30-year) record of past westerly wind strength from a Falkland Islands peat sequence spanning the last 2600 years. Situated within the core latitude of Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow (the so-called furious fifties), we identify highly variable changes in exotic pollen and charcoal derived from South America which can be used to inform on past westerly air strength. We find a period of high charcoal content between 2000 and 1000. BP, associated with increased burning in Patagonia, most probably as a result of higher temperatures and stronger westerly airflow. Spectral analysis of the charcoal record identifies a pervasive ca. 250-year periodicity that is coherent with radiocarbon production rates, suggesting that solar variability has a modulating influence on Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow. Our results have important implications for understanding global climate change through the late Holocene.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL100100195
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130104156
dc.relation.ispartof	Climate of the Past
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.5194/cp-12-189-2016
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
dc.subject.classification	Paleontology
dc.title	A 250-year periodicity in Southern Hemisphere westerly winds over the last 2600 years
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	12
utslib.for	0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-01-11T00:09:06Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	12
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow has a significant influence on the ocean-atmosphere system of the mid-to high latitudes with potentially global climate implications. Unfortunately, historic observations only extend back to the late 19th century, limiting our understanding of multi-decadal to centennial change. Here we present a highly resolved (30-year) record of past westerly wind strength from a Falkland Islands peat sequence spanning the last 2600 years. Situated within the core latitude of Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow (the so-called furious fifties), we identify highly variable changes in exotic pollen and charcoal derived from South America which can be used to inform on past westerly air strength. We find a period of high charcoal content between 2000 and 1000. BP, associated with increased burning in Patagonia, most probably as a result of higher temperatures and stronger westerly airflow. Spectral analysis of the charcoal record identifies a pervasive ca. 250-year periodicity that is coherent with radiocarbon production rates, suggesting that solar variability has a modulating influence on Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow. Our results have important implications for understanding global climate change through the late Holocene.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152883