Mid- to late Holocene cooling events in the Korean Peninsula and their possible impact on ancient societies

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Constantine ◽  
Minkoo Kim ◽  
Jungjae Park
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Carbon Isotopic Composition ◽  
Sunspot Activity ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Carbon Isotopic

AbstractWe present a multiproxy record using pollen, magnetic susceptibility, carbon isotopic composition, carbon/nitrogen ratio, and particle size of mid- to late Holocene environmental changes based on a sediment core from the Pomaeho lagoon on the east coast of Korea. The records indicate that climate deteriorations around 6400 cal yr BP and 4000 cal yr BP caused rapid vegetation changes in the study area, which were presumably attributable to low sunspot activity and strong El Niño–like conditions, respectively. These two cooling events were likely modulated by different climate mechanisms, as El Niño–Southern Oscillation activity began to strengthen around 5000 cal yr BP. These events may have had a substantial impact on ancient societies in the study area. Combining our results with archaeological findings indicated that climate deterioration led to drastic declines in local populations around 6400 cal yr BP, 4400 cal yr BP, and 4000 cal yr BP. Because of its high population, coastal East Asia (e.g., eastern China, Japan, and Korea) is particularly vulnerable to potential cooling events in the future. Therefore, there is a strong need for detailed paleoclimate information in this region.

scholarly journals The role of the hydrological cycle on the temporal patterns of macroinvertebrate assemblages in an Andean foothill stream in Colombia

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
María I. Ríos-Pulgarín ◽  
Mario Barletta ◽  
María C. Arango-Jaramillo ◽  
Néstor J. Mancera-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Functional Feeding Groups ◽  
Feeding Groups ◽  
Hydrological Variability ◽  
Physical And Chemical

The seasonal and interannual changes in the structure, composition and functional feeding groups of the macroinvertebrate assemblage of the Guarinó River, a torrential system located in the Colombian Andean foothills, were examined in relation to the physical and chemical environmental changes associated with the hydrological cycle and the El Niño-Niña/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) between 2007 and 2010. Benthic samples were collected at three sites in the lower sections of the river. A total of 127 taxa were collected in the study, with the total taxonomic richness per site ranging from 82 to 96 taxa and benthos density averaging 5.41 ind. m<sup>-2</sup>. The density showed a tendency to decrease in periods of maximum river level and flow, particularly during La Niña phenomena, and to increase in dry periods, especially in the third year (2009-2010) during El Niño phenomena. The presence and abundance of taxa, functional feeding groups and life habits were regulated by environmental parameters associated with hydrological variability, derived of ENSO phenomena, especially flow rate values. The assemblage showed high taxonomic and functional diversity, which is characteristic of ecosystems affected by recurrent hydrological disturbances, exhibiting differentiated responses based on adaptive strategies against the local hydrologic regime that allow fast recovery under conditions like ENSO phenomena. Such responses include composition changes according to adaptations to different hydrological scenarios, the predominance of generalist trophic guilds and taxa with plasticity in their habits and range of environmental tolerance.

El Niño controls Holocene rabbit and hare populations in Baja California

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac A. Hart ◽  
Jack M. Broughton ◽  
Ruth Gruhn
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Baja California ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Animal Populations

The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major source of climatic variation worldwide, with significant impacts on modern human and animal populations. However, few detailed records exist on the long-term effects of ENSO on prehistoric vertebrate populations. Here we examine how lagomorph (rabbit and hare) deposition rate, population age structure and taxonomic composition from Abrigo de los Escorpiones, a well-dated, trans-Holocene vertebrate fauna from northern Baja California, Mexico, vary as a function of the frequency of wet El Niño events and eastern Pacific sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) derived from eastern Pacific geological records. Faunal indices vary significantly in response to El Niño-based precipitation and SST, with substantial moisture-driven variability in the middle and late Holocene. The late Holocene moisture pulse is coincident with previously documented changes in the population dynamics of other vertebrates, including humans. As the frequency and intensity of ENSO is anticipated to vary in the future, these results have important implications for change in future vertebrate populations.

scholarly journals The effects of El Niño–Southern Oscillation on the winter haze pollution of China

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1863-1877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuyun Zhao ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Bing Xie
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
La Niña ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
La Nina ◽  
Haze Pollution ◽  
Haze Days

Abstract. It has been reported in previous studies that El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influenced not only the summer monsoon, but also the winter monsoon over East Asia. This contains some clues that ENSO may affect the winter haze pollution of China, which has become a serious problem in recent decades, through influencing the winter climate of East Asia. In this work, we explored the effects of ENSO on the winter (from December to February) haze pollution of China statistically and numerically. Statistical results revealed that the haze days of southern China tended to be fewer (more) than normal in El Niño (La Niña) winter, whereas the relationships between the winter haze days of northern and eastern China and ENSO were not significant. Results from numerical simulations also showed that ENSO influenced the winter atmospheric anthropogenic aerosol content over southern China more obviously than it did over northern and eastern China. Under the emission level of aerosols for the year 2010, winter atmospheric anthropogenic aerosol content over southern China was generally greater (less) than normal in El Niño (La Niña) winter. This was because the transport of aerosols from South and Southeast Asia to southern China was enhanced (weakened), which masked the better (worse) scavenging conditions for aerosols in El Niño (La Niña) winter. The frequency distribution of the simulated daily surface concentrations of aerosols over southern China indicated that the region tended to have fewer clean and moderate (heavy) haze days, but more heavy (moderate) haze days in El Niño (La Niña) winter.

scholarly journals CARACTERIZACIÓN DE LA TEMPERATURA SUPERFICIAL DEL MAR Y CLIMATOLOGÍA DE LA BAHÍA DE LA PAZ, B.C.S., MÉXICO

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
G. Martínez-Flores ◽  
R. Cervantes Duarte ◽  
E. González-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
El Niño ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
La Paz ◽  
Noaa Avhrr

Se analizaron 4175 imágenes diarias captadas con el sensor NOAA/AVHRR de julio de 1997 a diciembre de 2004, con el propósito de caracterizar la climatología y variación interanual de TSM en la Bahía de La Paz. A partir de la información se generaron 88 meses de anomalías de TSM y se realizó un análisis de componentes principa les (CP). Se obtuvieron tres componentes que explican en su conjunto el 50.32% de la varianza total de los datos originales de anomalías (32.68%, 11.95% y 5.69% respectivamente). El CP1 presenta los valores de correlación más altos al noroeste de la bahía, con un gradiente decreciendo hacia el sureste. Este componente tiene una alta correlación espacial con la batimetría de la bahía, y temporal con respecto a los meses cálidos. Los valores más altos del CP2 se sitúan en el centro de la bahía, decreciendo hacia el noroeste y sureste. Este patrón espacial se ubica en la zona en la que se ha detectado un gran girociclónico, por lo que atribuimos a este componente la influencia de tal efecto de circulación. El CP3 sitúa sumás alta correlación a lo largo de la costa oeste de la bahía, zona fuertemente influenciada por la corriente litoral a lo largo de la costa. Las fluctuaciones en la TSM en la zona y el período de estudio, no presentaron una correlación significativa con respecto al Indice Oscilación Sur y el Indice El Niño Oscilación Sur, probablemente debido a que la Bahía de La Paz tenga rasgos batimétricos y oceanográficos que determinan una respuesta peculiar a los cambios ambientales. Characterization of the sea surface temperature and climatology of the Bay of La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico 4175 daily NOAA/AVHRR sea surface temperature (SST) images from July of 1997 to December of 2004 were analyzed, in order to characterize the climatology and interannual variation of SST in the Bay of La Paz. From this information, 88 months of SST anomalies were estimated and principal components (PC) analysis was performed. Three components were obtained that explain as a whole the 50.32% of the total variance of the original data of anomalies (32.68%, 11.95% and 5.69% res pectively). PC1 displays the higher values of correlation to the northwest of the bay, with a gradient decreasing to wards the southeast. This component has a high spatial correlation with the bathymetry of the bay, and temporal to the warm months. The highest values of PC2 are located in center of the bay, decreasing to wards the northwest and southeast. This spatial pattern is located in the zone where a large cycloniceddy has been detected. For this reason we attributed this component the influence of such circulation effect. PC3 higher correlation lies throughout the westcoast of the bay, a zone strongly influenced by the long shore current. The SST fluctuations in the zone and the period of study did not display a significant correlation with respect to the Southern Oscillation Index or El Niño Southern Oscillation, probably because the Bay of La Paz is an area with bathymetric and oceanographic characteristics that determine a peculiar response to environmental changes.

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