29 Apr (CLIM) Cheung, Holocene Hydroclimate

Anson Cheung, U Albany

Understanding Holocene hydroclimate change in South America using proxy records and modeling

Wed, 29 Apr, 1:30pm 

Innovation Hall 131 and via Zoom (for link, email bklinger@gmu.edu)

Host: Tehreem Qureshi

Hydroclimate change in South America significantly affects the global carbon cycle, the rich biodiversity and ecosystems of the Amazon rainforest, and water availability for local socioeconomic activities. However, we still do not fully understand the dynamics and the response of South American hydroclimate to external forcings because instrumental records are too short in duration. This talk will focus on South American hydroclimate change during the Holocene (past ~8,000 years), a period with notable change in insolation. I will first quantify the dynamics that govern hydroclimate change in the region by analyzing an isotope-enabled transient simulation of the Holocene. I will then compare this model simulation with a network of water isotope-based proxy records to understand which aspects of hydroclimate are recorded in these proxies. These results together offer new insights into longer-term hydroclimate change in South America and interpretations of water-isotope proxy records in this region.