Inter-hemispheric synchroneity of Holocene precipitation anomalies controlled by Earth’s latitudinal insolation gradients

Michael Deininger (), Frank McDermott, Francisco W. Cruz, Juan Pablo Bernal, Manfred Mudelsee, Hubert Vonhof, Christian Millo, Christoph Spötl, Pauline C. Treble, Robyn Pickering and Denis Scholz
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Michael Deininger: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Frank McDermott: University College Dublin
Francisco W. Cruz: Universidade de São Paulo
Juan Pablo Bernal: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM –Juriquilla
Manfred Mudelsee: Climate Risk Analysis
Hubert Vonhof: Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry
Christian Millo: Universidade de São Paulo
Christoph Spötl: University of Innsbruck
Pauline C. Treble: UNSW Sydney
Robyn Pickering: University of Cape Town
Denis Scholz: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Atmospheric circulation is a fundamental component of Earth’s climate system, transporting energy poleward to partially offset the latitudinal imbalance in insolation. Changes in the latitudinal distribution of insolation thus force variations in atmospheric circulation, in turn altering regional hydroclimates. Here we demonstrate that regional hydroclimates controlled by the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude storm tracks and the African and South American Monsoons changed synchronously during the last 10 kyrs. We argue that these regional hydroclimate variations are connected and reflect the adjustment of the atmospheric poleward energy transport to the evolving differential heating of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These results indicate that changes in latitudinal insolation gradients and associated variations in latitudinal temperature gradients exert important control on atmospheric circulation and regional hydroclimates. Since the current episode of global warming strongly affects latitudinal temperature gradients through Arctic amplification, our results can inform projections of likely inter-hemispheric precipitation changes in the future.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19021-3

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