TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rohrmann, Alexander
A1  - Sachse, Dirk
A1  - Mulch, Andreas
A1  - Pingel, Heiko
A1  - Tofelde, Stefanie
A1  - Alonso, Ricardo N.
A1  - Strecker, Manfred
T1  - Miocene orographic uplift forces rapid hydrological change in the southern central Andes
T2  - Scientific reports
N2  - Rainfall in the central Andes associated with the South American Monsoon and the South American Low-Level Jet results from orographic effects on atmospheric circulation exerted by the Andean Plateau and the Eastern Cordillera. However, despite its importance for South American climate, no reliable records exist that allow decoding the evolution of thresholds and interactions between Andean topography and atmospheric circulation, especially regarding the onset of humid conditions in the inherently dry southern central Andes. Here, we employ multi-proxy isotope data of lipid biomarkers, pedogenic carbonates and volcanic glass from the Eastern Cordillera of NW Argentina and present the first long-term evapotranspiration record. We find that regional eco-hydrology and vegetation changes are associated with initiation of moisture transport via the South American Low-Level Jet at 7.6 Ma, and subsequent lateral growth of the orogen at 6.5 Ma. Our results highlight that topographically induced changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, not global climate change, were responsible for late Miocene environmental change in this part of the southern hemisphere. This suggests that mountain building over time fundamentally controlled habitat evolution along the central Andes.
Y1  - 2016
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/44834
SN  - 2045-2322
VL  - 6
SP  - 4283
EP  - 4306
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  -