Oxygen isotope values of precipitation and surface waters in northern Central America (Belize and Guatemala) are dominated by temperature and amount effects

Lachniet, Matthew S.; Patterson, William P.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.05.010

Cited by 152 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…18 O values across the isthmus indicate the dominant moisture source is the Caribbean Sea (Lachniet and Patterson, 2002;Lachniet and Patterson, 2006;Lachniet et al, 2007;Lachniet and Patterson, 2009 (Lachniet, 2009b). These data suggest that precipitation d…”

Section: Modern Climatementioning

confidence: 59%

Late Quaternary moisture export across Central America and to Greenland: evidence for tropical rainfall variability from Costa Rican stalagmites

Lachniet

Johnson

Asmerom

et al. 2009

Quaternary Science Reviews

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a b s t r a c tWe present a high-resolution terrestrial archive of Central American rainfall over the period 100-24 and 8.1-6.5 ka, based on d that is interpreted to reflect rainfall variations over the cave site. Correlations with other paleoclimate proxy records suggest that the rainfall variations are forced by sea surface temperatures (SST) in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in a fashion analogous to the modern climate cycle. Higher rainfall is associated with periods of a warm tropical North Atlantic Ocean and large SST gradients between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Rainfall variability is likely linked to the intensity and/or latitudinal position of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Periods of higher rainfall in Costa Rica are also associated with an enhanced sea surface salinity gradient on either side of the isthmus, suggesting greater freshwater export from the Atlantic Basin when the ITCZ is stronger and/or in a more northerly position. Further, wet periods in Central America coincide with high deuterium excess values in Greenland ice, suggesting a direct link between low latitude SSTs, tropical rainfall, and moisture delivery to Greenland. Our results indicate that a stronger tropical hydrological cycle during warm periods and large inter-ocean SST gradients enhanced the delivery of low latitude moisture to Greenland.

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Section: Modern Climatementioning

confidence: 59%

Late Quaternary moisture export across Central America and to Greenland: evidence for tropical rainfall variability from Costa Rican stalagmites

Lachniet

Johnson

Asmerom

et al. 2009

Quaternary Science Reviews

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“…5e). Based on the modern relationship between d 18 O and regional precipitation anomalies 16 , the speleothem data indicate a 25% decrease in precipitation between 1810 and 1845 C. E., another comparable precipitation decrease between 1883 and 1925 C. E., and a third, smaller decrease from 1963 to the present. The drying steps are separated from one another by brief intervals of precipitation recovery in mid-century.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Amount effect. The amount effect on stalagmites has been rigorously studied for Mesoamerica and has shown to be valid 15,16 . The comparison between precipitation and d 18 O in Fig.…”

Section: Samples and Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent drying in the tropics linked to natural forcing

et al. 2015

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Approximately half of the world's population lives in the tropics, and future changes in the hydrological cycle will impact not just the freshwater supplies but also energy production in areas dependent upon hydroelectric power. It is vital that we understand the mechanisms/ processes that affect tropical precipitation and the eventual surface hydrological response to better assess projected future regional precipitation trends and variability. Paleo-climate proxies are well suited for this purpose as they provide long time series that pre-date and complement the present, often short instrumental observations. Here we present paleo-precipitation data from a speleothem located in Mesoamerica that reveal large multi-decadal declines in regional precipitation, whose onset coincides with clusters of large volcanic eruptions during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This reconstruction provides new independent evidence of long-lasting volcanic effects on climate and elucidates key aspects of the causal chain of physical processes determining the tropical climate response to global radiative forcing.

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“…∘ C km −1 [18], we estimate a MAT of 19.6 ∘ C. MAP at this elevation is estimated at 2100 to 2500 mm yr −1 [19]. In both areas, the mature forest is characterized by a discontinuous upper canopy, in which the taller trees are 15 m to 40 m tall, a well-developed sub-canopy, abundant vines and lianas, and epiphytes are common but not abundant [20].…”

Section: Study Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomass and Soil Carbon Stocks in Wet Montane Forest, Monteverde Region, Costa Rica: Assessments and Challenges for Quantifying Accumulation Rates

Tanner

Wilckens

Nivison

et al. 2016

International Journal of Forestry Research

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We measured carbon stocks at two forest reserves in the cloud forest region of Monteverde, comparing cleared land, experimental secondary forest plots, and mature forest at each location to assess the effectiveness of reforestation in sequestering biomass and soil carbon. The biomass carbon stock measured in the mature forest at the Monteverde Institute is similar to other measurements of mature tropical montane forest biomass carbon in Costa Rica. Local historical records and the distribution of large trees suggest a mature forest age of greater than 80 years. The forest at La Calandria lacks historical documentation, and dendrochronological dating is not applicable. However, based on the differences in tree size, above-ground biomass carbon, and soil carbon between the Monteverde Institute and La Calandria sites, we estimate an age difference of at least 30 years of the mature forests. Experimental secondary forest plots at both sites have accumulated biomass at lower than expected rates, suggesting local limiting factors, such as nutrient limitation. We find that soil carbon content is primarily a function of time and that altitudinal differences between the study sites do not play a role.

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Oxygen isotope values of precipitation and surface waters in northern Central America (Belize and Guatemala) are dominated by temperature and amount effects

Cited by 152 publications

References 56 publications

Late Quaternary moisture export across Central America and to Greenland: evidence for tropical rainfall variability from Costa Rican stalagmites

Late Quaternary moisture export across Central America and to Greenland: evidence for tropical rainfall variability from Costa Rican stalagmites

Persistent drying in the tropics linked to natural forcing

Biomass and Soil Carbon Stocks in Wet Montane Forest, Monteverde Region, Costa Rica: Assessments and Challenges for Quantifying Accumulation Rates

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