Mid-Brunhes climatic event: long-term changes in global atmosphere and ocean circulation

Journal Article · Fri May 02 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.232.4750.619· OSTI ID:5420190

Jansen, J H.F.; Kuijpers, A; Troelstra, S R

A long-term climatic change 4.0 x 10/sup 5/ to 3.0 x 10/sup 5/ years ago is recorded in deep sea sediments of the Angola and Canary basins in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. In the Angola Basin (Southern Hemisphere) the climatic signal shows a transition to more humid (interglacial) conditions in equatorial Africa, and in the Canary Basin (Northern Hemisphere) to more glacial oceanic conditions. This trend is confirmed by comparison with all well-documented marine and continental records from various latitudes available; in the Northern Hemisphere, in the Atlantic north of 20/sup 0/N, climate merged into more glacial conditions and in equatorial regions and in the Southern Hemisphere to more interglacial conditions. The data point to a more northern position of early Brunhes oceanic fronts and to an intensified atmosphere and ocean surface circulation in the Southern Hemisphere during that time, probably accompanied by a more zonal circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. The mid-Brunhes climatic change may have been forced by the orbital eccentricity cycle of 4.13 x 10/sup 5/ years. 42 references, 4 figures.

• Research Organization: Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel
• OSTI ID: 5420190
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 232; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGE ESTIMATION
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
CLIMATES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS