Science

Cave stalagmites document global patterns in monsoon rainfall over the past 450,000 years

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Briefings

A 450,000-year stalagmite record from the Amazon Basin, combined with Asian records, reveals that the global monsoon system oscillated regularly over the past 450,000 years. During warm periods, monsoons failed in both hemispheres for millennia. The study indicates that while the monsoon strengthened in one hemisphere, it weakened in the other during these intervals.

Key points

• A 450,000-year stalagmite record from the Amazon Basin, combined with existing Asian records, documents global monsoon oscillations over the past 450,000 years.
• During warm periods, monsoons failed in both hemispheres for millennia, indicating a complex interplay between regional and global climate systems.

Context

This research provides a long-term perspective on global monsoon variability, challenging previous assumptions about regional independence. It suggests that despite regional differences, the global monsoon system exhibits coherent patterns of strengthening and weakening over extended periods.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single stalagmite record from the Amazon Basin, which may not represent global patterns accurately. The study relies on existing Asian records, which may have their own biases. The findings are observational and do not include direct measurements of rainfall intensity or temperature changes.

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