Orbital history and seasonality of regional precipitation

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Human Ecology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02168765· OSTI ID:7183747

Davis, O K; Sellers, W D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)

The Arizona monsoon, a major source of precipitation in the Southwest, shares many features with the monsoons of other continents. Computer modeling and fossil data indicate maximum extent of the African and Asian monsoons 9000 years ago. Fossil data indicate increased summer precipitation 9000 years ago, synchronous with the maxima of the African and Asian monsoons and, paradoxically, with the early-Holocene xerothermic of the Pacific Northwest. Climate model runs for 6000, 9000, 11,500, 13,000, and 18,000 years ago indicate increased summer precipitation 9000 years ago and a reciprocal relationship between precipitation in the Northwest and Southwest, but they relegate insolation to a role secondary to the North American ice sheet in regulating climate, and suggest a non-monsoon source for much of the summer precipitation in the Southwest prior to 9000 years ago.

• OSTI ID: 7183747
• Journal Information: Human Ecology; (United States), Vol. 22:1; ISSN 0300-7839
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
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REGIONAL ANALYSIS
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CLIMATE MODELS
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