Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies

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dc.contributor.authorStager, J C
dc.contributor.authorMayewski, P A
dc.contributor.authorWhite, J
dc.contributor.authorChase, B M
dc.contributor.authorNeumann, F H
dc.contributor.authorMeadows, M E
dc.contributor.authorKing, C D
dc.contributor.authorDixon, D A
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T06:55:01Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T06:55:01Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThe austral westerlies strongly influence precipitation and ocean circulation in the southern temperate zone, with important consequences for cultures and ecosystems. Global climate models anticipate poleward retreat of the austral westerlies with future warming, but the available paleoclimate records that might test these models have been limited to South America and New Zealand, are not fully consistent with each other and may be complicated by influences from other climatic factors. Here we present the first high-resolution diatom and sedimentological records from the winter rainfall region of South Africa, representing precipitation in the equatorward margin of the westerly wind belt during the last 1400 yr. Inferred rainfall was relatively high ∼1400–1200 cal yr BP, decreased until ∼950 cal yr BP, and rose notably through the Little Ice Age with pulses centred on ∼600, 530, 470, 330, 200, 90, and 20 cal yr BP. Synchronous fluctuations in Antarctic ice core chemistry strongly suggest that these variations were linked to changes in the westerlies. Equatorward drift of the westerlies during the wet periods may have influenced Atlantic meridional overturning circulation by restricting marine flow around the tip of Africa. Apparent inconsistencies among some aspects of records from South America, New Zealand and South Africa warn against the simplistic application of single records to the Southern Hemisphere as a whole. Nonetheless, these findings in general do support model projections of increasing aridity in the austral winter rainfall zones with future warming.
dc.identifier.apacitationStager, J. C., Mayewski, P. A., White, J., Chase, B. M., Neumann, F. H., Meadows, M. E., ... Dixon, D. A. (2012). Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies. <i>Climate of the Past</i>, 8(3), 877 - 887. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34397en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationStager, J C, P A Mayewski, J White, B M Chase, F H Neumann, M E Meadows, C D King, and D A Dixon "Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies." <i>Climate of the Past</i> 8, 3. (2012): 877 - 887. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34397en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationStager, J.C., Mayewski, P.A., White, J., Chase, B.M., Neumann, F.H., Meadows, M.E., King, C.D. & Dixon, D.A. et al. 2012. Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies. <i>Climate of the Past.</i> 8(3):877 - 887. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34397en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1814-9324
dc.identifier.issn1814-9332
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Stager, J C AU - Mayewski, P A AU - White, J AU - Chase, B M AU - Neumann, F H AU - Meadows, M E AU - King, C D AU - Dixon, D A AB - The austral westerlies strongly influence precipitation and ocean circulation in the southern temperate zone, with important consequences for cultures and ecosystems. Global climate models anticipate poleward retreat of the austral westerlies with future warming, but the available paleoclimate records that might test these models have been limited to South America and New Zealand, are not fully consistent with each other and may be complicated by influences from other climatic factors. Here we present the first high-resolution diatom and sedimentological records from the winter rainfall region of South Africa, representing precipitation in the equatorward margin of the westerly wind belt during the last 1400 yr. Inferred rainfall was relatively high ∼1400–1200 cal yr BP, decreased until ∼950 cal yr BP, and rose notably through the Little Ice Age with pulses centred on ∼600, 530, 470, 330, 200, 90, and 20 cal yr BP. Synchronous fluctuations in Antarctic ice core chemistry strongly suggest that these variations were linked to changes in the westerlies. Equatorward drift of the westerlies during the wet periods may have influenced Atlantic meridional overturning circulation by restricting marine flow around the tip of Africa. Apparent inconsistencies among some aspects of records from South America, New Zealand and South Africa warn against the simplistic application of single records to the Southern Hemisphere as a whole. Nonetheless, these findings in general do support model projections of increasing aridity in the austral winter rainfall zones with future warming. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 3 J1 - Climate of the Past LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2012 SM - 1814-9324 SM - 1814-9332 T1 - Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies TI - Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34397 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34397
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationStager JC, Mayewski PA, White J, Chase BM, Neumann FH, Meadows ME, et al. Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies. Climate of the Past. 2012;8(3):877 - 887. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34397.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Environmental and Geographical Science
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceClimate of the Past
dc.source.journalissue3
dc.source.journalvolume8
dc.source.pagination877 - 887
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.5194/cp-8-877-2012
dc.subject.otherBurns
dc.subject.otherDisaster Planning
dc.subject.otherHumans
dc.subject.otherMass Casualty Incidents
dc.subject.otherNational Health Programs
dc.subject.otherPractice Guidelines as Topic
dc.subject.otherSocieties, Medical
dc.subject.otherSouth Africa
dc.titlePrecipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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