Received: 07 Sep 2019 – Accepted for review: 11 Nov 2019 – Discussion started: 21 Nov 2019
Abstract. Previous research has indicated that variations in moisture conditions in arid central Asia (ACA) were out-of-phase with those of monsoonal Asia during the Holocene. In order to investigate this phenomenon, we compared the pattern of moisture variations in ACA and the region dominated by the East Asia summer monsoon (EASM) during the last four interglacials. The results indicate that moisture variations in ACA lagged those in the EASM region by ~ 6 kyr during MIS 5, by −3 kyr during MIS 7, by 3 kyr during MIS 9, and by 7 kyr during MIS 11. We suggest that this lagged pattern in three out of four interglacials was the result of a zonal climatic teleconnection, westerly wind intensity, and evaporation upstream. Overall, our results shed new light on the climatic variability of central Asia and its origins during the Holocene.
Central Asia is characterized by scarce water resources, sparse vegetation cover and fragile ecosystems, making it very sensitive to climate change. Under the present global warming scenario, central Asia faces severe water resources problems. This study gives us an opportunity to insight understand the linkage between westerlies and Asia Monsoon circulation, which is helpful to assess the water resources and ecological systems changes responding to global warming.
Central Asia is characterized by scarce water resources, sparse vegetation cover and fragile...
IF 3.536
CiteScore 6.6
SNIP 1.262
SJR 2.185
h5-index 40
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