A fine-resolution reconstruction of climatic variability in southeastern Australia over the last 1500 years

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dc.contributor.authorBarr, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorTibby, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGell, PAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJacobsen, GEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorZawadzki, Aen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2011-11-24T04:01:59Zen_AU
dc.date.available2011-11-24T04:01:59Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2011-07-21en_AU
dc.date.statistics2011-11-24en_AU
dc.description.abstractHigh-resolution palaeoclimate records extend knowledge of long- and short-term climatic variability beyond the limit of instrumental data. However, to date, no millennial-length, sub-decadal resolution climate records have been produced from mainland Australia. In part, this is due to the absence of suitable archives of proxies amenable to high-resolution analysis. Here, we present a study of two crater lakes in western Victoria, southeastern Australia. A diatom-conductivity transfer function was developed specifically for application to oligosaline and mesosaline lakes, such as the two study sites; Lake Elingamite and Lake Surprise. A sub-decadal resolution sampling regime was undertaken and results demonstrate that over the past 1500 years, both lakes responded to a common regional-scale climate signal. Reconstructed conductivity, a proxy for moisture balance, indicates distinct periods of contrasting climates. Both lakes record evidence of a severe, and prolonged, dry phase centered around AD 700, which was more extreme than any subsequent drought. Between ca. AD 900 and 1500, the climate was highly variable, with substantial fluctuations in effective moisture. Thereafter, a period of positive moisture balance is evident from ca. AD 1500-1850, with a marked reduction in the amplitude of variability. Correlations with studies from further afield suggest that ENSO, and possibly the Indian Ocean Dipole, are the key drivers of the observed shifts in moisture balance. These records constitute the first high-resolution evidence of centennial- and decadal-scale climatic variability over the last 1500 years from mainland Australia. This enables a recent major drought to be viewed in an historical context for the first time and provides insight into past climate regimes across southeastern Australia in general, and western Victoria in particular.Copyright (c) 2011 INQUA 18en_AU
dc.identifier.citationBarr, C., Tibby, J., Gell, P., Jacobsen, G., Zawaszki, A. (2011). A fine-resolution reconstruction of climatic variability in southeastern Australia over the last 1500 years. Abstract presented to the 18th International Union for Quaternary Research Congress, 21th-27th July 2011, Berne Switzerland.en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate27 July 2011en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename18th International Union for Quaternary Research Congressen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceBerne Switzerlanden_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate21 July 2011en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc3915en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.inqua2011.ch/?a=programme&subnavi=abstract&id=1196en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/3890en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisher18th INQUA Congressen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectVictoriaen_AU
dc.subjectClimatic changeen_AU
dc.subjectIndian Oceanen_AU
dc.subjectCorrelationsen_AU
dc.subjectLakesen_AU
dc.titleA fine-resolution reconstruction of climatic variability in southeastern Australia over the last 1500 yearsen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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