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Foto Zhengyao Lu

Zhengyao Lu

Researcher

Foto Zhengyao Lu

ENSO-like evolution of the tropical Pacific climate mean state and its potential causes since 300ka

Author

  • Yang Zhang
  • Jishang Xu
  • Guangxue Li
  • Zhengyao Lu
  • Zhaoxia Jiang
  • Wenchao Zhang
  • Yong Liu

Summary, in English

The tropical Pacific Ocean plays a significant role in climate change, and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is considered to be closely related to extreme climate phenomenon worldwide. However, the evolution of the ENSO-like patterns in the tropical Pacific during the Pleistocene glacial cycles remains controversial. In this study, we present geochemical indices and a transient model simulation to explore the ENSO-like evolution during the glacial-interglacial cycles and its driving mechanisms. Our results indicate that during the interglacial periods, the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP) is characterized by the modern El Niño-like conditions with relatively decreased precipitation and weakened East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM). By contrast, the mean state of WPWP during glacial periods is more similar to the modern La Niña-like conditions, with increased precipitation and the intensified of EASM. Spectral analyses showed that the WPWP hydrodynamics were controlled by the earth's orbital parameters through their impacts on ocean circulations. Combined with published data, we find that expansion of water masses formed in the Southern Ocean would change the deep-water redox conditions, subsurface water upwelling and surface productivity in the WPWP, and ultimately influence the ENSO-like conditions through CO2-related Walker Circulation on glacial-interglacial cycles.

Department/s

  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
  • MERGE: ModElling the Regional and Global Earth system
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2023-09-01

Language

English

Publication/Series

Quaternary Science Reviews

Volume

315

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Keywords

  • El niño-southern oscillation
  • Late pleistocene
  • Mg/Ca ratio
  • Southern ocean
  • Walker circulation
  • Western pacific warm pool

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0277-3791