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Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, African climate and human evolution.
- Source :
-
Quaternary Science Reviews . Sep2021, Vol. 268, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The hypothesis of a connection between the onset (or intensification) of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, the stepwise increase in African aridity (and climate variability), and an important mammalian (including hominin) species turnover is a textbook example of the initiation of a scientific idea and its propagation in science. It is, however, also an example of the persistent popularity of a hypothesis despite mounting evidence against it. A critical review of key publications on the topic and statistical re-analysis of key records of global ice volume and African climate leads to three conclusions: (1) The Northern Hemisphere Glaciation was a gradual process occurring between ∼3.5 and 2.5 Ma, not a single event at ∼2.8 Ma or at any other time. (2) A consistent stepwise (+/−0.2 Ma) transition toward greater aridity in Africa at ∼2.8 Ma does not exist; instead, there are regionally different, gradual transitions partly in connection with the intensification of the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, but above all with the establishment of the tropical Walker Circulation after ∼2 Ma. (3) Mammalian (including hominin) species turnovers at this time also appear to have been gradual, rather than stepwise. • We falsified the hypothesis of a connection between Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, African climate and human evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *HUMAN evolution
*GLACIATION
*WALKER circulation
*TIME series analysis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02773791
- Volume :
- 268
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Quaternary Science Reviews
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 152200812
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107095