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Asian monsoons in a late Eocene greenhouse world

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  • A. Licht

    (Institut de Paléoprimatologie, Paléontologie Humaine: Evolution et Paléoenvironnements, UMR CNRS 7262, Université de Poitiers
    Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, UMR CNRS 7358, Université de Lorraine 54501 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
    University of Arizona)

  • M. van Cappelle

    (Universiteit Utrecht, 3584CD, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Imperial College London)

  • H. A. Abels

    (Universiteit Utrecht, 3584CD, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

  • J.-B. Ladant

    (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, UMR CNRS 8212, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France)

  • J. Trabucho-Alexandre

    (Durham University)

  • C. France-Lanord

    (Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, UMR CNRS 7358, Université de Lorraine 54501 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France)

  • Y. Donnadieu

    (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, UMR CNRS 8212, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France)

  • J. Vandenberghe

    (Vrije Universiteit)

  • T. Rigaudier

    (Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, UMR CNRS 7358, Université de Lorraine 54501 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France)

  • C. Lécuyer

    (Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon, Terre, Planètes, Environnement, UMR CNRS 5276, Université de Lyon, Institut Universitaire de France)

  • D. Terry Jr

    (Temple University)

  • R. Adriaens

    (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

  • A. Boura

    (Centre de Recherche sur la Paléodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements – UPMC, MNHN, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France)

  • Z. Guo

    (Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Peking University)

  • Aung Naing Soe

    (Defence Services Academy, Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar)

  • J. Quade

    (University of Arizona)

  • G. Dupont-Nivet

    (Universiteit Utrecht, 3584CD, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Peking University
    Géosciences Rennes, UMR CNRS 6118, Université de Rennes
    Universität Potsdam, Institute of Earth and Environmental Science)

  • J.-J. Jaeger

    (Institut de Paléoprimatologie, Paléontologie Humaine: Evolution et Paléoenvironnements, UMR CNRS 7262, Université de Poitiers)

Abstract

The strong present-day Asian monsoons are thought to have originated between 25 and 22 million years (Myr) ago, driven by Tibetan–Himalayan uplift. However, the existence of older Asian monsoons and their response to enhanced greenhouse conditions such as those in the Eocene period (55–34 Myr ago) are unknown because of the paucity of well-dated records. Here we show late Eocene climate records revealing marked monsoon-like patterns in rainfall and wind south and north of the Tibetan–Himalayan orogen. This is indicated by low oxygen isotope values with strong seasonality in gastropod shells and mammal teeth from Myanmar, and by aeolian dust deposition in northwest China. Our climate simulations support modern-like Eocene monsoonal rainfall and show that a reinforced hydrological cycle responding to enhanced greenhouse conditions counterbalanced the negative effect of lower Tibetan relief on precipitation. These strong monsoons later weakened with the global shift to icehouse conditions 34 Myr ago.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Licht & M. van Cappelle & H. A. Abels & J.-B. Ladant & J. Trabucho-Alexandre & C. France-Lanord & Y. Donnadieu & J. Vandenberghe & T. Rigaudier & C. Lécuyer & D. Terry Jr & R. Adriaens & A. Boura &, 2014. "Asian monsoons in a late Eocene greenhouse world," Nature, Nature, vol. 513(7519), pages 501-506, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:513:y:2014:i:7519:d:10.1038_nature13704
    DOI: 10.1038/nature13704
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhengquan Yao & Xuefa Shi & Zhengtang Guo & Xinzhou Li & B. Nagender Nath & Christian Betzler & Hui Zhang & Sebastian Lindhorst & Pavan Miriyala, 2023. "Weakening of the South Asian summer monsoon linked to interhemispheric ice-sheet growth since 12 Ma," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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