Indonesian Throughflow drove Australian climate from humid Pliocene to arid Pleistocene

Author(s)
Beth A. Christensen, Willem Renema, Jorijntje Henderiks, David De Vleeschouwer, Jeroen Groeneveld, Isla S. Castañeda, Lars Reuning, Kara A. Bogus, Gerald Auer, Takeshige Ishiwa, Cecilia McHugh, Stephen J. Gallagher, Craig S. Fulthorpe, Shipboard Scientists Expedition 356, Eun Young Lee
Abstract

Late Miocene to mid-Pleistocene sedimentary proxy records reveal that northwest Australia underwent an abrupt transition from dry to humid climate conditions at 5.5 million years (Ma), likely receiving year-round rainfall, but after ~3.3 Ma, climate shifted toward an increasingly seasonal precipitation regime. The progressive constriction of the Indonesian Throughflow likely decreased continental humidity and transferred control of northwest Australian climate from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, leading to drier
conditions punctuated by monsoonal precipitation. The northwest dust pathway and fully established seasonal and orbitally controlled precipitation were in place by ~2.4 Ma, well after the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. The transition from humid to arid conditions was driven by changes in Pacific and Indian Ocean circulation and regional atmospheric moisture transport, influenced by the emerging Maritime Continent. We conclude that the Maritime Continent is the switchboard modulating teleconnections between tropical and high-latitude climate systems.

Organisation(s)
Department of Geology
External organisation(s)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Adelphi University, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Uppsala University, Universität Bremen, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, International Ocean Discovery Program, Texas A&M University, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, National Institute of Polar Research, City University of New York, University of Melbourne, University of Texas, Austin
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
44
Pages
6914-6925
No. of pages
12
ISSN
0094-8276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ 2017GL072977
Publication date
2017
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105123 Stratigraphy, 105205 Climate change
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geophysics, General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 13 - Climate Action
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/0b633c0c-c6be-4b4c-b560-06d6e0b90572