The last 130 ka precipitation reconstruction from Chinese loess 10Be

Abstract

AbstractCosmogenic 10Be is a promising precipitation index, because its fallout flux in sediments is mainly controlled by wet precipitation after its production in the atmosphere. Here we report on a new study for reconstructing precipitation during the last 130 ka using 10Be measurements from Chinese loess, with multivariable linear regression to remove the geomagnetic field modulation and dust flux dilution effects from the loess 10Be record. The broad similarity between our result and speleothem δ18O indicates that the new precipitation record is robust. It also records an interesting increase in precipitation that occurred during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3), exhibiting a similar rainfall amount with that of MIS 5, suggesting that MIS 3 is a special period with strengthened summer Monsoon intensity. By comparison with a stacked marine isotope record and a summer insolation record, our precipitation data clearly show a close correspondence with Northern Hemisphere summer (June, July, and August) solar insolation changes on orbital timescales. During MIS 3, our record follows the insolation differential between 30°N and 30°S, suggesting that rising rainfall changes during MIS 3 are a response to the interhemispheric summer insolation differential forcing.