Premium
Oceanic evidence of climate change in southern Australia over the last three centuries
Author(s) -
Thresher Ronald,
Rintoul Stephen R.,
Koslow J. Anthony,
Weidman Chris,
Adkins Jess,
Proctor Craig
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1029/2003gl018869
Subject(s) - oceanography , temperate climate , climate change , geology , oceanic climate , shoaling and schooling , climatology , effects of global warming on oceans , continental shelf , boundary current , geography , ocean current , global warming , ecology , biology
Chemical analysis of deepwater octocorals collected at 1000 m depth off southern Australia indicates long‐term cooling, beginning in the mid‐18th century. This cooling appears to reflect shoaling of isotherms along the continental shelf, that can be related statistically, observationally and by modeling to increasing coastal sea‐surface temperatures, that in turn reflect a poleward extension of the SW Pacific boundary current (the East Australian Current). The oceanographic changes implied by the coral record suggest climate change in temperate Australia starting about the time of European settlement. Correlations between temperate Australian and Antarctic indices suggest these long‐term changes might also be relevant to Antarctic climate.