Multidecadal rainfall variability in South Pacific Convergence Zone as revealed by stalagmite geochemistry

Research Article| November 01, 2013 Multidecadal rainfall variability in South Pacific Convergence Zone as revealed by stalagmite geochemistry J.W. Partin; J.W. Partin * 1Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA *E-mails: jpartin@ig.utexas.edu; river@ntu.edu.tw. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar T.M. Quinn; T.M. Quinn 1Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA2Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C-C Shen; C-C Shen * 3High-Precision Mass Spectrometry and Environment Change Laboratory (HISPEC), National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China *E-mails: jpartin@ig.utexas.edu; river@ntu.edu.tw. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Emile-Geay; J. Emile-Geay 4Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar F.W. Taylor; F.W. Taylor 1Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C.R. Maupin; C.R. Maupin 1Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA2Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. Lin; K. Lin 3High-Precision Mass Spectrometry and Environment Change Laboratory (HISPEC), National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C.S. Jackson; C.S. Jackson 1Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.L. Banner; J.L. Banner 2Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D.J. Sinclair; D.J. Sinclair 5Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C.-A. Huh C.-A. Huh 6Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan, Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2013) 41 (11): 1143–1146. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34718.1 Article history received: 08 May 2013 rev-recd: 15 Jul 2013 accepted: 19 Jul 2013 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J.W. Partin, T.M. Quinn, C-C Shen, J. Emile-Geay, F.W. Taylor, C.R. Maupin, K. Lin, C.S. Jackson, J.L. Banner, D.J. Sinclair, C.-A. Huh; Multidecadal rainfall variability in South Pacific Convergence Zone as revealed by stalagmite geochemistry. Geology 2013;; 41 (11): 1143–1146. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34718.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Pacific decadal variability (PDV) causes widespread, persistent fluctuations that affect climate, water resources, and fisheries throughout the Pacific basin, yet the magnitude, frequency, and causes of PDV remain poorly constrained. Here we present an absolutely dated, subannually resolved, 446 yr stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) cave record of rainfall variability in Vanuatu (southern Pacific Ocean), a location that has a climate heavily influenced by the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ). The δ18O-based proxy rainfall record is dominated by changes in stalagmite δ18O that are large (∼1‰), quasi-periodic (∼50 yr period), and generally abrupt (within 5–10 yr). These isotopic changes imply abrupt rainfall changes of as much as ∼1.8 m per wet season, changes that can be ∼2.5× larger than the 1976 C.E. shift in rainfall amount associated with a PDV phase switch. The Vanuatu record also shares little commonality with previously documented changes in the Intertropical Convergence Zone during the Little Ice Age or solar forcing. We conclude that multidecadal SPCZ variability is likely of an endogenous nature. Large, spontaneous, and low-frequency changes in SPCZ rainfall during the past 500 yr have important implications for the relative magnitude of natural PDV possible in the coming century. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.