Test Calibration of the Paleoclimatic Proxy Data with Chinese Historical Records

Abstract

The calibration of paleoclimate proxies is one of the key problems in the study of paleoclimate at present. Historical documentary records of climate are suitable for calibration on dating and the climatic implication of the proxy data in a climatological sense. A test calibration on correcting the Delingha tree ring precipitation series using Chinese historical documentary records shows that among the 44 extreme dry cases in 1401–1950 AD, 42 cases (or 95.5%) are believable. Thus the long series of Delingha rings-denoted precipitation is highly reliable. Another test to validate the monsoon intensity proxy data based on the Zhanjiang Huguangyan sediments using historical records indicates that the years of Lake Maar Ti content series-designated winter monsoon intensities are entirely opposite to historical documents-depicted years of harsh winters in 800–900 AD. As a result, serious doubt is raised about the climatic implication of this paleo-monsoon proxy series. CitationZhang, D., 2011: Test calibration of the paleoclimatic proxy data with Chinese historical records. Adv. Clim. Change Res., 2(1), doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1248.2011.00038.