| SPELEOTHEMS |
Lachniet et al. 2004 Chilibrillo Cave, Panama Speleothem Stable Isotope Data
|
|
Lachniet, M.S. 2004 A 1500-year El Niño/Southern Oscillation and rainfall history for the Isthmus of Panama from speleothem
calcite Journal of Geophysical Research, Atmospheres Vol. 109, D20117
| Data Coverage |
North: 9.2 * South: 9.2 |
|
West: -79.7 * East: -79.7 |
|
Altitude: 60 m |
Start Year: -230 AD
End Year: 1260 AD
Data: Please Cite Data Contributors!
|
|
Summary: The effect of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on tropical rainfall
variations of the past two millennia is largely unknown. High-resolution
monsoon records are sparse, despite the role of ENSO in generating global
hydrologic anomalies in modern climate. To investigate the relationship
between ENSO and the Central American Monsoon, we generated a high-resolution
(~2.9 yr/sample) oxygen-isotope monsoon rainfall record from a U/Th-dated
stalagmite (180 B.C. to 1310 A.D.) from the Isthmus of Panama. We present
evidence for a weakened monsoon during the "High Medieval" (1100 - 1200 A.D.)
and the Classic Maya Collapse (750 - 950 A.D.). Rainfall decreased and was
more variable after 550 A.D., and the period 900 - 1310 A.D. was drier than
the preceding millennium. A weaker monsoon corresponds with increased
El Niño variability, and our data display statistical variance in the ENSO
band. We conclude that ENSO variation has forced isthmian rainfall and may
have contributed to hemispheric climatic anomalies at this time.
More Info on Speleothems |
|
|
Complete XML Record: noaa-cave-5430
(Last Revised: 2007-10-18 )
|
|
 |
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC (National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce )
325 Broadway, E/CC23
Boulder, CO 80305
USA
|
| http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/ |
| E-mail: bruce.a.bauer@noaa.gov |
| E-mail: paleo@noaa.gov |
Phone: 303-497-6280
Fax: 303-497-6513
|
|
