Holocene ‘megadroughts’ in south-eastern Australia: deciphering regional patterns from lake sediment archives

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dc.contributor.authorTyler, JJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBarr, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorTibby, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorDhar, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAndrew, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorDean, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGadd, PSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorZawadzki, AWen_AU
dc.contributor.authorChild, DPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJacobsen, GEen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-06-03T02:47:26Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-06-03T02:47:26Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2020-05-04en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-05-31en_AU
dc.description.abstractDocumenting and understanding centennial scale hydroclimatic variability in Australia is significant both to global climate science and to regional efforts to predict and manage water resources. In particular, multidecadal to centennial periods of low rainfall – ‘megadroughts’ – have been observed in semi-arid climates worldwide, however they are poorly constrained in Australia. Here, we bring together multiple, sub-decadally resolved records of hydrological change inferred from lake sediments in western Victoria, Australia. Our analyses incorporate new elemental (ITRAX μXRF) and stable isotope (oxygen, carbon isotopes) geochemical data from West Basin and Lake Surprise, both augmented by high quality radiometric chronologies based on radiocarbon, 210Pb and 239/240Pu analyses. Collectively, the records document a transition towards a more arid and variable climate since the mid-late Holocene, which is comparable to reports of an intensification of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) through this period. Furthermore, during the last 2000 years, the records exhibit marked periods of reduced effective moisture which contrast with records of Australian hydroclimate inferred from distal archives, as well those predicted by climate model hindcasts. Our analyses indicate that megadroughts are a natural phenomenon in southeastern Australia, requiring greater attention in efforts to predict and mitigate future climatic change. © Author(s) 2021 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationTyler, J., Barr, C., Tibby, J., Dhar, A., Andrew, C., Dean, C., Gadd, P., Zawadzki, Child, D. & Jacobsen, G. (2020). Holocene ‘megadroughts’ in south-eastern Australia: deciphering regional patterns from lake sediment archives. Paper presented at the EGU General Assembly Conference: EGU2020 Sharing Geoscience Online, May 4 to May 8, 2020. doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21027en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate8 May 2020en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameEGU General Assembly Conference: EGU2020 Sharing Geoscienceen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceOnlineen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate4 May 2020en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21027en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/10810en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherEuropean Geosciences Union (EGU)en_AU
dc.subjectQuaternary perioden_AU
dc.subjectDroughtsen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectLakesen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectWater resourcesen_AU
dc.subjectRainen_AU
dc.subjectArid landsen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectOxygen isotopesen_AU
dc.titleHolocene ‘megadroughts’ in south-eastern Australia: deciphering regional patterns from lake sediment archivesen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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