Keele Research Repository

Turney, C, Jones, R, Lister, D, Jones, P, Williams, A, Hogg, A, Thomas, Z, Compo, G, Yin, X, Fogwill, CJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6471-1106, Palmer, J, Colwell, S, Allan, R and Visbeck, M (2016) Anomalous mid-twentieth century atmospheric circulation change over the South Atlantic compared to the last 6000 years. Environmental Research Letters, 11 (6).

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Abstract

Determining the timing and impact of anthropogenic climate change in data-sparse regions is a considerable challenge. Arguably, nowhere is this more difficult than the Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic South Atlantic where observational records are relatively short but where high rates of warming have been experienced since records began. Here we interrogate recently developed monthly-resolved observational datasets from the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, and extend the records back using climate-sensitive peat growth over the past 6000 years. Investigating the subantarctic climate data with ERA-Interim and Twentieth Century Reanalysis, we find that a stepped increase in precipitation across the 1940s is related to a change in synoptic atmospheric circulation: a westward migration of quasi-permanent positive pressure anomalies in the South Atlantic has brought the subantarctic islands under the increased influence of meridional airflow associated with the Amundsen Sea Low. Analysis of three comprehensively multi-dated (using 14C and 137Cs) peat sequences across the two islands demonstrates unprecedented growth rates since the mid-twentieth century relative to the last 6000 years. Comparison to observational and reconstructed sea surface temperatures suggests this change is linked to a warming tropical Pacific Ocean. Our results imply 'modern' South Atlantic atmospheric circulation has not been under this configuration for millennia.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Institute of Physics (IoP) at http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/6/064009/meta - please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	southern annular mode (SAM); Southern Hemisphere westerlies; subantarctic climate extremes; temperature; climate reanalysis; anthropogenic climate change; El Nino-Souther Oscillation (ENSO)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Natural Sciences > School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Depositing User:	Symplectic
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2017 10:31
Last Modified:	11 Apr 2019 09:45
URI:	http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/3938

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