Mid-Pliocene Asian monsoon intensification and the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2009 Mid-Pliocene Asian monsoon intensification and the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation Yi Ge Zhang; Yi Ge Zhang * 1State Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, Institute of Surficial Geochemistry, Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China 2Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA *E-mail: yige.zhang@yale.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Junfeng Ji; Junfeng Ji 1State Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, Institute of Surficial Geochemistry, Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar William Balsam; William Balsam 3Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lianwen Liu; Lianwen Liu 1State Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, Institute of Surficial Geochemistry, Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jun Chen Jun Chen 1State Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, Institute of Surficial Geochemistry, Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2009) 37 (7): 599–602. https://doi.org/10.1130/G25670A.1 Article history received: 23 Nov 2008 rev-recd: 13 Feb 2009 accepted: 16 Feb 2009 first online: 02 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 Yi Ge Zhang, Junfeng Ji, William Balsam, Lianwen Liu, Jun Chen; Mid-Pliocene Asian monsoon intensification and the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. Geology 2009;; 37 (7): 599–602. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G25670A.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 late Pliocene onset of major Northern Hemisphere glaciation (NHG) is one of the most important steps in the Cenozoic global cooling. Although most attempts have been focused on high-latitude climate feedbacks, no consensus has been reached in explaining the forcing mechanism of this dramatic climate change. Here we present a key low-latitude climate record, the high-resolution Asian monsoon precipitation variability for the past five million years, reconstructed from South China Sea sediments. Our results, with supporting evidence from other records, indicate significant mid-Pliocene Asian monsoon intensification, preceding the initiation of NHG at ca. 2.7 Ma ago. This 1.4-million-year-long monsoon intensification probably enhanced monsoon-induced Asian continental erosion and chemical weathering and in the process left fingerprints in marine calcium isotopes. Furthermore, increased rock weathering and/or organic carbon burial probably lowered the contemporary atmospheric CO2 and may have triggered the NHG onset. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.