Article
Geography, Physical
Liang Liu, Hongjie Zhang, Wei Zhang, Le Chai
Summary: This study reconstructs the age and glacial activity of Mount Taibai during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The results indicate a significant decrease in glacial coverage and equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) during the LGM, as well as a reduction in precipitation compared to the present. Temperature decrease is identified as the primary driver of glacial formation during the LGM on Mount Taibai.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Jingdong Zhao, Jonathan M. Harbor, Jinkun Qiu, Marc W. Caffee, Wanqin Guo, Huihan Ji, Ruilian Liu, Haonan Ma
Summary: Distinct moraine complexes in the Requ River valley provide valuable information about the glacial history, palaeoclimate, and landscape evolution in the eastern Tanggula Mountains. Using surface exposure dating with 10Be, the age of various moraines was determined, indicating that they were formed during the Little Ice Age, Heinrich 1 event, and Last Glacial Maximum. These glacial events are synchronous with those across the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding mountains.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
S. Wetterich, H. Meyer, M. Fritz, G. Mollenhauer, J. Rethemeyer, A. Kizyakov, L. Schirrmeister, T. Opel
Summary: Stable isotopes of wedge ice can help reconstruct past winter climate conditions. Records from Bol'shoy Lyakhovsky Island show that the LGM and MIS 3 had colder winter climates, while the moisture sources were similar during MIS 2.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Peilun Liu, Shanjia Zhang, Menghan Qiu, Qiurong Ruan, Jiaming Luo, Yunfa Miao, Zhiyong Ling
Summary: Understanding the response of vegetation history to climate change in arid Central Asia is crucial. By analyzing pollen records from the Ili Valley during the Last Glacial Maximum, we reconstructed the vegetation response to climate change over the past 36 thousand years. Our findings indicate the presence of diverse pollen assemblages in the paleosol, which are likely transported from regional vegetation. We also observed the reappearance of mountain forests and improvement in lowland environment after the Last Glacial Maximum.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Ting Ma, Pavel E. Tarasov, Kangyou Huang, Christian Leipe, Meiling Man, Zhuo Zheng
Summary: Recent global sea-level data suggest that there was a final growth of ice volume towards the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). This finding indicates the existence of extreme glacial conditions prior to the onset of full deglaciation, which significantly impacted terrestrial ecosystems. The environmental change in the subtropical East Asia region may be linked to a decrease in sea surface temperatures, resulting in widespread mega-droughts.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Vadim A. Kravchinsky, Rui Zhang, Ryan Borowiecki, Pavel E. Tarasov, Mirko van der Baan, Taslima Anwar, Avto Goguitchaichvili, Stefanie Mueller
Summary: A lack of high resolution climate proxy records for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) has hindered the understanding of climate-solar linkages. Recent studies on high resolution climate proxy records during the LGM confirm similar climate fluctuations and solar activity variations to the Holocene. The analysis of pollen concentration records from Lake Kotokel in southern Siberia reveals spectrally similar climate fluctuations in the LGM and Holocene.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Liangqing Cheng, Yougui Song, Yubin Wu, Yonggang Liu, Huifang Liu, Hong Chang, Xiulan Zong, Shugang Kang
Summary: This study analyzed 143 loess OSL ages from Central Asia, finding that dust accumulation during the late Last Glacial Maximum was greater than during the early LGM. The temporal variability of dust accumulation in Central Asia is similar to that of the Chinese Loess Plateau, both following precession. However, in Greenland, dust accumulation was stronger during the early LGM, following obliquity.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Mariusz Galka, Andrei-Cosmin Diaconu, Angelica Feurdean, Julie Loisel, Henning Teickner, Tanja Broder, Klaus-Holger Knorr
Summary: Mountain peatland ecosystems are unique islands of biodiversity that serve as important natural carbon stores. A study of the peatland ecosystem in the Harz Mts. in Germany reveals the impacts of environmental changes, fire, pollution, and human activity on these ecosystems. The study also provides insights into the development of these ecosystems over time.
Article
Geography, Physical
Matt Forbes, Tim Cohen, Zenobia Jacobs, Sam Marx, Emily Barber, John Dodson, Andres Zamora, Haidee Cadd, Alexander Francke, Mark Constantine, Scott Mooney, Julia Short, John Tibby, Adrian Parker, Dioni Cendon, Mark Peterson, Jon Tyler, Elizabeth Swallow, Heather Haines, Patricia Gadd, Craig Woodward
Summary: The study investigates the formation of organic rich sediments in south-east Australia during the Holocene, indicating a return to wetter and warmer climates. Analysis of sediment cores reveals organic rich sediments associated with both MIS 5e and MIS 1. Pollen records highlight the impact of local hydrological changes on aquatic and lake-margin species.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Yan Zhao, Chen Liang, Qiaoyu Cui, Feng Qin, Zhuo Zheng, Xiayun Xiao, Chunmei Ma, Vivian A. Felde, Yaoliang Liu, Quan Li, Zhiyong Zhang, Ulrike Herzschuh, Qinghai Xu, Haicheng Wei, Maotang Cai, Xianyong Cao, Zhengtang Guo, H. John B. Birks
Summary: Terrestrial palaeo-temperature data are crucial for understanding past climates, but are currently poorly constrained for long time scales. A new method, Locally-weighted Weighted-average partial least squares (LW-WAPLS), has been developed to reconstruct quantitative temperature changes based on high-resolution pollen records in the Zoige Basin. The reconstructions reveal a general cooling trend with major shifts and glacial-interglacial variability, providing valuable insights into long-term terrestrial temperature changes.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
W. C. Daniels, J. M. Russell, C. Morrill, W. M. Longo, A. E. Giblin, P. Holland-Stergar, J. M. Welker, X. Wen, A. Hu, Y. Huang
Summary: The study of a lake record in the Beringia region suggests that during the Last Glacial Maximum, temperatures were about 3 degrees Celsius colder than the pre-industrial era, with a smaller cooling compared to other parts of the Arctic. As the deglaciation period progressed, warming in Beringia was punctuated by abrupt events that were synchronous with events seen in Greenland ice cores. The region responds more strongly to North Atlantic freshwater forcing under modern-day, open-Bering Strait conditions, with recent warming not surpassing peak Holocene summer warmth.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Qifei Zhang, Yaning Chen, Zhi Li, Gonghuan Fang, Yanyun Xiang, Huiping Ji
Summary: Monitoring alpine lakes in the Tianshan Mountains is crucial for understanding the impact of global warming. This study analyzed the changes in alpine lakes and found that glacial lakes expansion is the main driving force, influenced by climate change and glacier recession.
JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Feng Qin, Yan Zhao, Xianyong Cao
Summary: This study developed a pollen-based biome classification model using a random forest algorithm, which proved to be more accurate and suitable for reconstructing alpine biome changes on the Tibetan Plateau compared to the biomisation method. The reconstructed biome distribution changes corresponded to global climate changes and Asian monsoon variations.
SCIENCE CHINA-EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Ting Wang, Na Wang, Dabang Jiang
Summary: We investigate changes in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) during the last glacial maximum (LGM) using multiple simulations. Most models show that the LGM ITCZ shifts southward, narrows, and weakens on a global scale. Regionally, the central and eastern Pacific show the largest position and intensity changes, while the Indian Ocean-western Pacific experience the most obvious width changes. The September-October-November and June-July-August seasons contribute the most to the annual ITCZ changes globally and in most regions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Cassandra Rowe, Christopher M. Wurster, Costijn Zwart, Michael Brand, Lindsay B. Hutley, Vladimir Levchenko, Michael Bird
Summary: The study demonstrates significant changes in tree cover and vegetation composition at Girraween Lagoon during the last glacial maximum, primarily driven by cool-dry glacial climate and CO2 effects. Reduced fire activity during this period is also noted, consistent with lower biomass availability. The unique palaeoecological record at Girraween Lagoon provides insights for modeling vegetation distribution during the LGM in northern Australia.
QUATERNARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Jemma M. Finch, Trevor R. Hill, Michael E. Meadows, Jared Lodder, Luke Bodmann
Summary: The study compares palaeoecological evidence with archaeological records to understand the impact of changing human activity on fire regimes and vegetation dynamics in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa over the past two millennia. The results show that the arrival of early agropastoralists led to a change in fire regimes and vegetation composition, while colonial fire suppression and logging activities also influenced ecosystem dynamics. The palaeoecological evidence highlights the close relationship between human activity and environmental changes in the region.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Development Studies
Rodrigue Batumike, Franklin Bulonvu, Gerard Imani, Desire Akonkwa, Aimable Gahigi, Julia A. Klein, Robw Marchant, Aida Cuni-Sanchez
Summary: The study looked at climate changes and adaptation strategies among hunter-gatherer communities in African mountains. Twa respondents perceived increased temperatures and reduced rainfall, while Tembo farmers reported similar impacts. However, Twa did not use any adaptation strategies, while Tembo farmers employed some strategies.
CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Abraham N. Dabengwa, Sally Archibald, Jemma Finch, Louis Scott, Lindsey Gillson, William J. Bond
Summary: This study discusses the importance of prehistoric sedimentary charcoal studies in African grassy biomes, and how they provide long-term data for fire ecology and ecosystem functioning. This contribution aims to assist stakeholders in improving and managing grassy ecosystems effectively.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF RANGE & FORAGE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Dharma Reyes-Macaya, Babette Hoogakker, Gema Martinez-Mendez, Pedro J. Llanillo, Patricia Grasse, Mahyar Mohtadi, Alan Mix, Melanie J. Leng, Ulrich Struck, Daniel C. McCorkle, Macarena Troncoso, Eugenia M. Gayo, Carina B. Lange, Laura Farias, Wilson Carhuapoma, Michelle Graco, Marcela Cornejo-D'Ottone, Ricardo De Pol Holz, Camila Fernandez, Diego Narvaez, Cristian A. Vargas, Francisco Garcia-Araya, Dierk Hebbeln
Summary: In this study, stable isotopes and other measurements were used to characterize the water masses in the Southeast Pacific. The results showed that stable isotopes of oxygen and deuterium can differentiate between different water masses, while dissolved inorganic carbon can provide further differentiation. The study also highlighted differences between the coastal and oceanic sections in terms of water mass characteristics.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sonja Felder, Takuya Sagawa, Mervyn Greaves, Melanie J. Leng, Ken Ikehara, Katsunori Kimoto, Siro Hasegawa, Thomas Wagner, Andrew C. G. Henderson
Summary: This study highlights the importance of understanding the palaeoceanography of the Japan Sea (JS) in analyzing the mid-Pleistocene transition (MPT). Through the analysis of sediments from IODP Site U1427, the study reveals that the δO-18 values in the JS vary during different stages of the MPT, indicating changes in the connection between the JS and adjacent ocean.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Savannah Worne, George E. A. Swann, Sev Kender, Jack H. Lacey, Melanie J. Leng
Summary: This study investigates the role of nutrient cycling on the subarctic Pacific biological pump during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT). The results show that during and after the 900 kyr event, the high productivity green belt zone in the Bering Sea upwelling region was characterized by low silicic acid utilization but high supply, coincident with the dominance of diatom resting spores. It is suggested that suppressed nutrient upwelling and enhanced opal remineralization caused an increase in silicic acid supply, but the net efficiency of the Bering Sea biological pump was sustained by preferential preservation of diatom resting spores and increased iron supply from expanded sea ice.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Catherine C. Sang, Daniel O. Olago, Tobias O. Nyumba, Robert Marchant, Jessica P. R. Thorn
Summary: Land cover has been influenced by human activities, with the speed of change increasing in recent years due to socio-economic development. The development of transport infrastructure accelerates land use and land cover changes, impacting natural resources such as water, biodiversity, and food production. This study evaluated land use and land cover changes along the SGR corridor in Kenya using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Results showed increases in built-up areas, bare lands, water bodies, croplands, and forests, while wetlands, grasslands, and shrub lands decreased. The underlying drivers of these changes include population growth, urbanization, economic growth, and agro-ecological factors.
Article
Environmental Studies
Jessica Omukuti, Sam Barrett, Piran C. L. White, Robert Marchant, Alina Averchenkova
Summary: This article assesses the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) commitment to delivering adaptation finance at the local level and identifies the barriers that prevent it from achieving this commitment. The analysis finds that GCF lacks a unified framework for defining the local level, exhibits limited transparency and accountability in funding allocation, and some Accredited Entities lack the capacity for local delivery. The study recommends that GCF develop a unified framework, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure that Accredited Entities prioritize local adaptation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica C. A. Baker, Bruno B. L. Cintra, Manuel Gloor, Arnoud Boom, David Neill, Santiago Clerici, Melanie J. Leng, Gerhard Helle, Roel J. W. Brienen
Summary: Changes in the Amazon hydrological cycle have significant implications for the world's largest tropical forest and its biodiversity. However, the lack of long-term climate data in the region hinders our understanding of recent changes in Amazon hydrology. In this study, researchers analyze tree-ring oxygen isotope chronologies to shed light on hydrological changes in the Amazon over the past two centuries. The results reveal a strong correlation between tree-ring oxygen isotope records and interannual variation in Amazon River discharge and upwind precipitation. The findings suggest that rising sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic may be the main driver behind the long-term increase in tree-ring oxygen isotope values, while recent decades have seen a reversal of this trend due to the strengthening of the Amazon hydrological cycle.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Susanne Fietz, Andrea Baker, Charlotte S. Miller, B. David A. Naafs, Francien Peterse, Jemma Finch, Marc Humphries, Enno Schefuss, Alakendra N. Roychoudhury, Joyanto Routh
Summary: A new temperature record for southeastern Africa spanning the last 43,000 years was derived from the Mfabeni peatland. The record indicates that land temperature in eastern South Africa is highly influenced by global drivers as well as nearby sea surface temperatures.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. E. Hatton, H. C. Ng, L. Meire, E. M. S. Woodward, M. J. Leng, C. D. Coath, A. Stuart-Lee, T. Wang, A. L. Annett, K. R. Hendry
Summary: Glaciers and ice sheets are rapidly warming due to climate change, and research suggests that glacial meltwaters provide important nutrients to downstream ecosystems. However, the fate of these nutrients in fjord environments is still uncertain. A study in southwest Greenland used concentration data and isotopic compositions to investigate silicon cycling in two contrasting fjords. The results suggest that glacially derived amorphous silica may play a role in modifying coastal waters within fjords.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Apichaya Englong, Paramita Punwong, Rob Marchant, Tosak Seelanan, Stephanie Wynne-Jones, Prae Chirawatkul
Summary: A high-resolution sedimentary record from Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar, Tanzania, reveals environmental changes in the mangrove ecosystem over the past 5000 years. By analyzing pollen, charcoal, trace element, stratigraphy, and particle size data, as well as comparing with archaeological evidence, historical human-environment interactions are explored. The study shows that the area had a mixture of mangrove forest and beaches with low tidal inundation before 3300 BCE, followed by mangrove expansion due to sea-level rise. The sedimentation rate in the core top suggests that the mangroves in Unguja Ukuu are not keeping up with the current rate of sea-level rise.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
NwaJesus Anthony Onyekuru, Robert Marchant, Julia M. Touza, Chukwuma Ume, Chinedu Chiemela, Chukwemeka Onyia, Eric C. Eboh, Christopher C. Eze
Summary: Climate change has a severe impact on agriculture, especially in developing countries. In order to adapt to the challenges of climate change in West Africa, farmers employ various strategies such as cultural practices, forest management, land management, water management, risk management, and the use of advanced technologies. The study found that strategies such as tree planting, increased use of fertilizers, use of resistant varieties, mixed farming, and crop diversification generate the highest returns.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Andrew L. A. Johnson, Annemarie M. Valentine, Bernd R. Schoene, Melanie J. Leng, Stijn Goolaerts
Summary: Oxygen isotope sclerochronology is a useful method for reconstructing seasonal seafloor temperature range. By analyzing δO-1(8) data from bivalves in the southern North Sea basin, it was found that the current range is slightly smaller compared to the late Pliocene. Surface temperature was higher than seafloor temperature during summer, resulting in a greater seasonal range.
CLIMATE OF THE PAST
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Kaiza R. Kaganzi, Aida Cuni-Sanchez, Fatuma Mcharazo, Emanuel H. Martin, Robert A. Marchant, Jessica P. R. Thorn
Summary: Mountain environments and communities are heavily impacted by climate change, with Indigenous farmers in East Africa facing challenges related to changing rainfall patterns and increased incidence of extreme weather events. Adaptation strategies include diversification of crops and livelihoods, with the importance of traditional knowledge and community involvement highlighted in effectively planning for climate change impacts. These context-specific findings can provide valuable insights for adaptation planning in other mountain regions in the Global South.
