1. Resilience of the Asian atmospheric circulation shown by Paleogene dust provenance
- Author
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Zulong Lai, Hemmo A. Abels, Alexis Licht, Alex Pullen, Guillaume Dupont-Nivet, Paul Kapp, J. Abell, Zhaojie Guo, Dominique Giesler, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Universität Potsdam, Géosciences Rennes (GR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES), Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Peking University [Beijing], Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, University of Arizona, Department of Civil Engineering and Geosciences [Delft], Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), School of Earth Sciences [Wuham], China University of Geosciences [Wuhan] (CUG), University of Potsdam = Universität Potsdam, Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR), Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Department of Geosciences [University of Arizona]
- Subjects
Provenance ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Atmospheric circulation ,Earth science ,Science ,General Physics and Astronomy ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,Monsoon ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,[SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean, Atmosphere ,geography ,Multidisciplinary ,Plateau ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Last Glacial Maximum ,Institut für Umweltwissenschaften und Geographie ,General Chemistry ,15. Life on land ,Oceanography ,13. Climate action ,[SDU.STU.CL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Climatology ,[SDE]Environmental Sciences ,ddc:500 ,Institut für Geowissenschaften ,Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät ,Global cooling ,Paleogene ,Cenozoic ,Geology - Abstract
The onset of modern central Asian atmospheric circulation is traditionally linked to the interplay of surface uplift of the Mongolian and Tibetan-Himalayan orogens, retreat of the Paratethys sea from central Asia and Cenozoic global cooling. Although the role of these players has not yet been unravelled, the vast dust deposits of central China support the presence of arid conditions and modern atmospheric pathways for the last 25 million years (Myr). Here, we present provenance data from older (42–33 Myr) dust deposits, at a time when the Tibetan Plateau was less developed, the Paratethys sea still present in central Asia and atmospheric pCO2 much higher. Our results show that dust sources and near-surface atmospheric circulation have changed little since at least 42 Myr. Our findings indicate that the locus of central Asian high pressures and concurrent aridity is a resilient feature only modulated by mountain building, global cooling and sea retreat., The onset of modern central Asian atmospheric circulation is often linked to the interplay of late Cenozoic paleogeographic changes and global cooling. Here the authors present sedimentary provenance data from early Cenozoic dust deposits, which indicate long-term stability of the central Asian high pressure system.
- Published
- 2016
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