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Rapid climate shifts in the southern African interior throughout the Mid to Late Holocene
Author(s) -
LeeThorp J. A.,
Holmgren K.,
Lauritzen S. E.,
Linge H.,
Moberg A.,
Partridge T. C.,
Stevenson C.,
Tyson P. D.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012728
Subject(s) - stalagmite , holocene , teleconnection , climatology , geology , ice core , cave , physical geography , paleoclimatology , precipitation , climate change , before present , el niño southern oscillation , oceanography , geography , archaeology , meteorology
A detailed climate proxy record based on δ 18 O, δ 13 O, and grey index of a well‐dated stalagmite from Cold Air Cave in the Makapansgat Valley of north‐eastern South Africa suggests that regional precipitation, temperatures and vegetation oscillated markedly and rapidly over the last ∼6500 years on centennial and multi‐decadal scales. The mid‐Holocene prior to 5200 years ago was humid and warm. A fundamental transition occurred 3200 years ago, leading to drier and cooler conditions that culminated at 1750 AD. Comparisons with ice core records suggest synchronous changes implicating rapid global teleconnections.