Mid-Holocene Intertropical Convergence Zone migration: connection with Hadley cell dynamics and impacts on terrestrial hydroclimate

Bian, Jianpu; Räisänen, Jouni; Seppä, Heikki

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1209-2025

Articles | Volume 21, issue 7

https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1209-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1209-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 21, issue 7

Research article

|

14 Jul 2025

Research article |

| 14 Jul 2025

Mid-Holocene Intertropical Convergence Zone migration: connection with Hadley cell dynamics and impacts on terrestrial hydroclimate

Jianpu Bian, Jouni Räisänen, and Heikki Seppä

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1209-2025-supplement

Data sets

Mid-Holocene multiproxy compilation for eastern South America Luciana Figueiredo Prado et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.820035

PMIP4-CMIP6 dataset Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory https://esgf-node.llnl.gov/projects/esgf-llnl/

Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Climate Data Record (CDR), Version 2.3 (Monthly) Robert Adler et al. https://doi.org/10.7289/V56971M6

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - LGM and Mid-Holocene Pollen-Based Continental Climate Reconstructions P. J. Bartlein et al. https://doi.org/10.25921/zeyt-zq21

Model code and software

NCAR Command Language, Version 6.6.2 UCAR/NCAR/CISL/TDD https://doi.org/10.5065/D6WD3XH5

Short summary

This research explores the connection between the mid-Holocene northward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and Hadley cell changes and effects on terrestrial hydroclimate. Our findings show that the ITCZ shift coincides with a contraction and weakening of the northern Hadley cell and an expansion and intensification of the southern cell, leading to reduced (increased) terrestrial aridity and dryland contraction (expansion) in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere.