| PALEOLIMNOLOGY |
Multidecadal drought and Holocene climate instability in the Rocky Mountains.
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Stone, J.,Fritz, S.C. 2006 Multidecadal drought and Holocene climate instability in the Rocky Mountains. Geology Vol.34, No.
5, pp. 409-412
| Data Coverage |
North: 48.1648 * South: 48.1648 |
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West: -114.3589 * East: -114.3589 |
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Altitude: 1006 m |
Start Year: -11000 cal yr BP * End Year: 2000 cal yr BP
Data: Please Cite Data Contributors!
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Summary: Time series analysis of a diatom-inferred drought record suggests
that Holocene hydroclimate of the northern Rocky Mountains has been
characterized by oscillation between two mean climate states.
The dominant climate state was initiated at the onset of the Holocene
(ca. 11 ka); under this climate state, drought was strongly cyclic,
recurring at frequencies that are similar to twentieth century
multidecadal phase changes of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.
This pattern remained consistent throughout much of the mid-Holocene,
continuing until ca. 4.5 ka. After this time the mean climate state
changed, and drought recurrence became unstable; periods of cyclic
drought alternated with periods of less predictable drought.
The timing of this shift in climate was coincident with widespread
severe drought in the mid-continent of North America. Overall, the
strongest periodicity in severe drought occurred during the mid-
Holocene, when temperatures in the northern Rocky Mountains
were warmer than today.
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