Continental aridification and the vanishing of Australia's megalakes

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 2011 Continental aridification and the vanishing of Australia's megalakes Tim J. Cohen; Tim J. Cohen 1Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia2GeoQuEST Research Centre–School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gerald C. Nanson; Gerald C. Nanson 2GeoQuEST Research Centre–School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John D. Jansen; John D. Jansen 3School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brian G. Jones; Brian G. Jones 2GeoQuEST Research Centre–School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zenobia Jacobs; Zenobia Jacobs 2GeoQuEST Research Centre–School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Pauline Treble; Pauline Treble 4Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David M. Price; David M. Price 2GeoQuEST Research Centre–School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jan-Hendrik May; Jan-Hendrik May 2GeoQuEST Research Centre–School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew M. Smith; Andrew M. Smith 4Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Linda K. Ayliffe; Linda K. Ayliffe 5Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John C. Hellstrom John C. Hellstrom 6School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2011) 39 (2): 167–170. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31518.1 Article history received: 15 Jun 2010 rev-recd: 22 Sep 2010 accepted: 23 Sep 2010 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Tim J. Cohen, Gerald C. Nanson, John D. Jansen, Brian G. Jones, Zenobia Jacobs, Pauline Treble, David M. Price, Jan-Hendrik May, Andrew M. Smith, Linda K. Ayliffe, John C. Hellstrom; Continental aridification and the vanishing of Australia's megalakes. Geology 2011;; 39 (2): 167–170. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31518.1 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 The nature of the Australian climate at about the time of rapid megafaunal extinctions and humans arriving in Australia is poorly understood and is an important element in the contentious debate as to whether humans or climate caused the extinctions. Here we present a new paleoshoreline chronology that extends over the past 100 k.y. for Lake Mega-Frome, the coalescence of Lakes Frome, Blanche, Callabonna and Gregory, in the southern latitudes of central Australia. We show that Lake Mega-Frome was connected for the last time to adjacent Lake Eyre at 50–47 ka, forming the largest remaining interconnected system of paleolakes on the Australian continent. The final disconnection and a progressive drop in the level of Lake Mega-Frome represents a major climate shift to aridification that coincided with the arrival of humans and the demise of the megafauna. The supply of moisture to the Australian continent at various times in the Quaternary has commonly been ascribed to an enhanced monsoon. This study, in combination with other paleoclimate data, provides reliable evidence for periods of enhanced tropical and enhanced Southern Ocean sources of water filling these lakes at different times during the last full glacial cycle. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.