Synchronous 500-year oscillations of monsoon climate and human activity in Northeast Asia

Xu, Daokui; Lü, Houyuan; Chu, Guoqiang; Liu, Li; Shen, Caiming; Li, Fengjiang; Wang, Can; Wu, Naiqin

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12138-0

Cited by 122 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Over the last decade, the use of spectrum analysis on proxy-based paleoclimate reconstructions has produced increasing evidence to confirm the existence of Holocene centennial- to millennial climate cycles (e.g. Obrochta et al, 2012; Ojala et al, 2015; Soon et al, 2014; Stebich et al, 2015; Swindles et al, 2012; Xu et al, 2014, 2019, 2020). However, until now, an agreed theory for these Holocene periodic oscillations and their potential forcing is still lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although evidence for millennial- and centennial-scale climate cycles across East Asia is increasing, one single, agreed theory explaining the forcing factor and possible mechanism has not yet emerged (e.g. Beck et al, 2018; Jo et al, 2017; Lu et al, 2019; Stebich et al, 2015; Stevens et al, 2018; Wang et al, 2001, 2005a, 2005b, 2017; Xu et al, 2014, 2019, 2020). Therefore, additional terrestrial records from the EAM region are still required to establish a credible hypothesis regarding the cyclic characteristics of EASM activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Linking Holocene East Asian monsoon variability to solar forcing and ENSO activity: Multi-proxy evidence from a peatland in Northeastern China

Sharifi

Chambers

et al. 2021

The Holocene

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High-resolution proxy-based paleoenvironmental records derived from peatlands provide important insights into climate changes over centennial to millennial timescales. In this study, we present a composite climatic index (CCI) for the Hani peatland from northeastern China, based on an innovative combination of pollen-spore, phytolith, and grain size data. We use the CCI to reconstruct variations of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensity during the Holocene. This is accomplished with complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD), REDFIT, and cross-wavelet coherency analysis to reveal the periodicities (frequencies) of the multi-proxy derived CCI sequences and to assess potential external forcing of the EASM. The results showed that periodicities of ca. 300–350, 475, 600, 1075, and 1875 years were present in the Hani CCI sequence. Those periodicities are consistent with previously published periodicities in East Asia, indicating they are a product of external climate controls over an extensive region, rather than random variations caused by peatland-specific factors. Cross-wavelet coherency analysis between the decomposed CCI components and past solar activity reconstructions suggests that variations of solar irradiation are most likely responsible for the cyclic characteristics at 500-year frequency. We propose a conceptual model to interpret how the sun regulates the monsoon climate via coupling with oceanic and atmospheric circulations. It seems that slight solar irradiation changes can be amplified by coupling with ENSO events, which result in a significant impact on the regional climate in the East Asian monsoon area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Holocene East Asian monsoon variability to solar forcing and ENSO activity: Multi-proxy evidence from a peatland in Northeastern China

Sharifi

Chambers

et al. 2021

The Holocene

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“…In South America, Chen et al (2011) identified a correlation between the Oceanic Niño Index and the interannual fire activity in the eastern Amazon, whereas the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation index was more closely linked to the occurrence of forest fires in the south and southwest Amazon. A decadal‐resolution Holocene pollen record from northeast China revealed synchronous ~500‐year quasi‐periodic changes of the EASM over the last 8,000 years, which was linked to ENSO (Xu et al, 2019). Along Track Scanning Radiometer data from July 1996 to December 2001 in Indonesia inferred a strong correlation between forest fires and the Southern Oscillation Index ( r = −0.75) and the Niño 3.4 index ( r = 0.72) in forested regions of the equatorial belt (5.5°S–5.5°N) (Fuller & Murphy, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleofire, Vegetation, and Climate Reconstructions of the Middle to Late Holocene From Lacustrine Sediments of the Toushe Basin, Taiwan

Huang

Chyi

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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We identified four climatic stages between 6.2 and 1.3 cal kyr before present (BP) based on pollen and charcoal concentrations by high-resolution Accelerated mass spectrometer (AMS) 14 C-dated sediment profile from Taiwan's Toushe Basin. From 6.2 to 4.6 cal kyr BP, the region was warm-wet with infrequent wildfires and dominant subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests. The climate was cooler-drier from 4.6 to 3.0 cal kyr BP, with a decline in forest and increased fire frequency. From 3.0 to 2.1 cal kyr BP, climate further cooled and dried, with the development of alpine meadows and higher fire frequency. The region became warmer and wetter from 2.1 to 1.3 cal kyr BP, accompanied by forest recovery. Climatic changes were linked to changes in East Asia Summer Monsoon intensity, which is mainly controlled by solar radiation. Wildfires were likely controlled by precipitation variability that is influenced by East Asia Summer Monsoon and El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Toushe Basin experienced drought conditions and frequent wildfires during the El Niño years. Plain Language Summary The purpose of our study is to reveal the relationship between paleoclimate, vegetation, and wildfire. The study area is located in the Toushe Basin, central Taiwan. Through palynological and charcoal analysis, the vegetation, climate, and wildfire history of the past 6,000 to 1,000 years in the study area were reconstructed. The study found that after 4,600 years, the East Asian summer monsoon continued to weaken until approximately 2,000 years ago, during which time the climate was dry and cool, and wildfires were frequent. In addition, it is found that the climate in this region is mainly controlled by the changes in solar radiation. The cycle of climate change coincides with that of solar activity. In El Niño years, the Toushe Basin was dry and frequent wildfires occurred.

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“…In pollen zone I, Pinus pollen fluctuated but with slight increase trend (Figure 4). Numeric analyses also suggest that the pollen spectra in this zone was impacted by the sPDC which is a proxy of human activity (Wang et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2019). Therefore, the human activity had been impacting the vegetation composition during the pollen zone I.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Late-Holocene vegetation change reveals the environment of ancient people and the origin of Huashan cliff paintings in Guangxi, southwestern China

Zhang

Liao

et al. 2020

The Holocene

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Human activities in the historical period were determined by the natural environment and social characteristics. The Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape in Guangxi is the most important World Heritage for prehistorical culture in southwestern China. However, knowledge about the natural environment and associated historic human–climate interactions during the period of cliff painting creation remains scarce, which has been an obstacle to understanding the process of regional civilization. Here, we report a pollen record from the core distributing region of Huashan cliff paintings to interpret the natural environment and climate changes, and further to discuss how and why ancient people create these giant cliff paintings based on the relationships of human–climate interactions. Pollen results imply an existence of a mixed broad-leaf and conifer forest in the woodland landscape at Huashan region before 1860 cal. yr BP, after which pine forests were more prevalent. During the cliff painting period from 2370 to 2115 cal. yr BP, broad-leaf and conifer trees dominated the tree layer and provided the key source materials for painting. It can be reasonably assumed that people used stake or ladder to climb the cliffs and created the cliff paintings during a humid climate condition from 2560 to 2000 cal. yr BP. Furthermore, the humid climate during 2700 and 2400 cal. yr BP had been interrupted by short-term drought episodes. These turbulent climate episodes probably played the role of disasters and impacted on the human activities, leading to the social–political tensions and the out-break of war. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, social–political changes relieved the pressure from natural climate changes and led to a more stable society, in which the creating of cliff paintings was gradually fading. Our results manifest the necessity to analyze the natural environment and social–political background in combination in this study on ancient human activities.

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Synchronous 500-year oscillations of monsoon climate and human activity in Northeast Asia

Cited by 122 publications

References 48 publications

Linking Holocene East Asian monsoon variability to solar forcing and ENSO activity: Multi-proxy evidence from a peatland in Northeastern China

Linking Holocene East Asian monsoon variability to solar forcing and ENSO activity: Multi-proxy evidence from a peatland in Northeastern China

Paleofire, Vegetation, and Climate Reconstructions of the Middle to Late Holocene From Lacustrine Sediments of the Toushe Basin, Taiwan

Late-Holocene vegetation change reveals the environment of ancient people and the origin of Huashan cliff paintings in Guangxi, southwestern China

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