Abstract
The causal correlation or linkage between the East Asian Monsoon (EAM) intensity and rise/fall of Chinese dynasties recently proposed by high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions is examined in detail. Aside from many exceptions to the correlation, both instrumental and historical climate records show strong spatial variations of rainfall on annual-to-decadal scales over eastern China. The relationship between rainfall and EAM intensity also exhibits regional disparity. These observations suggest: (1) Taking paleo-proxy records from a single locality in eastern China to imply changes in drought/wetness as to affect the cultural and political history of China is fraught with uncertainty. (2) On annual-to-decadal scales, the thesis that δ18O in speleothems can be used as a proxy for the EAM strength lacks empirical underpinnings.
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