ENSO-like patterns and its driving mechanism in Western Pacific Warm Pool during the glacial cycles

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.1.5

Abstract

Abstract:

The Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP) region affects the global climate change through El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and monsoons, as it receives the most solar radiation and has the warmest surface temperature in the world. Abundant sedimentary records indicate WPWP also experienced ENSO-like events throughout geological history. However, the relationships between ENSO and glacial-interglacial cycles or East Asian Monsoon (EAM), as well as the driving mechanism behind ENSO-like patterns, still remain unclear. In this study, we reconstructed the paleoclimate records since Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 8 by using oxygen isotope, Mg/Ca ratio from planktonic foraminifera, and clay mineral proxy data obtained from sediment core B10 at WPWP. Combined with previously published paleoenvironment records of tropical region, δ¹⁸O data of Chinese cave stalagmite, and sea surface temperature records of the Southern Ocean, we studied the evolution of ENSO-like patterns during glacial-interglacial cycles and their relationship with EAM, and discussed the driving mechanism behind ENSO-like patterns. We found that during the glacial period the thermocline in WPWP became shallower, with the temperature gradient decreasing between the Eastern Equatorial Pacific and WPWP. Meanwhile, weakened East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) was accompanied by reduced rainfall, similar to modern El Niño. During the interglacial period, the thermocline in WPWP deepened, the temperature gradient along the equatorial Pacific increased, and EASM strengthened with increased precipitation, which was very similar to modern La Niña. Spectral analysis revealed the sea surface temperature in WPWP followed a significant eccentricity cycle (96 ka). During the interglacial period, increasing solar radiation in tropical region increased the latitudinal sea surface temperature gradient, and led to heat accumulation in subsurface water. The accumulated heat in turn regulated heat transfer to WPWP via subsurface circulation and ultimately controlled the long-term changes in the Walker circulation intensity and ENSO-like patterns in equatorial Pacific. During the glacial period, the southeast trade wind and ocean circulation anomalies caused by the cooling of the Southern Ocean might also regulate the ENSO-like patterns.

Key words: Western Pacific Warm Pool, El Niño-Southern Oscillation, East Asian Monsoon, thermocline, solar radiation

CLC Number:

P467

ZHANG Yang, XU Jishang, LI Guangxue, LIU Yong. ENSO-like patterns and its driving mechanism in Western Pacific Warm Pool during the glacial cycles[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2022, 29(4): 168-178.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1 Geographical location and ocean currents of the study area

Table 1 Age control points and oxygen isotope staging of core B10

深度 /cm	¹⁴C年龄 /a	转折点年龄 /a	定年方法	氧同位素分期
0
8	8 462		放射性碳同位素
14	15 054		放射性碳同位素
32	31 614		放射性碳同位素
48		57 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04	MIS4/3
62		71 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04	MIS5/4
74		82 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04	MIS5.1
106		123 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04	MIS5.5
110		130 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04	MIS6/5
156		191 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04	MIS7/6
208		240 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04	MIS8/7
250		287 000	浮游有孔虫-LR04

Fig.2 Age model for core B10 based on AMS 14C dating and LR04 curve

Fig.3 Planktonic foraminiferal and clay mineral proxy records of core B10

Fig.4 Ternary diagram showing the variation in clay mineral composition of core B10 (a) and East Asian Monsoon patterns in WPWP (b)

Fig.5 Comparison of paleoclimatic records

Fig.6 Results of SST spectral analysis for core B10

Fig.7 Comparison of global climate proxies since the last interglacial period. Adapted from [1-2,45,54⇓-56].

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