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Published Online July 31, 2008
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1157638

Reports

Submitted on March 11, 2008
Accepted on July 21, 2008

Regional Synthesis of Mediterranean Atmospheric Circulation During the Last Glacial Maximum

J. Kuhlemann 1*, E. J. Rohling 2, I. Krumrei 1, P. Kubik 3, S. Ivy-Ochs 4, M. Kucera 1

1 Institute for Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
2 School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
3 Institute of Particle Physics, HPK H30, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
4 Institute of Particle Physics, HPK H27, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Kuhlemann , E-mail: kuhlemann{at}uni-tuebingen.de

Atmospheric circulation leaves few direct traces in the geological record, making reconstructions of this crucial element of the climate system inherently difficult. Here, we produce a regional Mediterranean synthesis of palaeo-proxy data from sea-surface to alpine altitudes. This provides — for the first time — a detailed observational context of change in the three-dimensional structure of atmospheric circulation between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (~23-19 ka) and Present. The synthesis reveals evidence for frequent cold polar air incursions, topographically channelled into the northwestern Mediterranean. Anomalously steep vertical temperature gradients in the central Mediterranean imply local convective precipitation. We find the LGM patterns to be analogous, though amplified, to previously reconstructed phases of enhanced meridional winter circulation during the Maunder Minimum (Little Ice Age).


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Weathering of granite and granitic regolith in Corsica: short-term 10Be versus long-term thermochronological constraints.
J. Kuhlemann, I. Krumrei, M. Danisik, and K. v. d. Borg (2009)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 324, 217-235
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)