TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ramisch, Arne
A1  - Lockot, Gregori
A1  - Haberzettl, Torsten
A1  - Hartmann, Kai
A1  - Kuhn, Gerhard
A1  - Lehmkuhl, Frank
A1  - Schimpf, Stefan
A1  - Schulte, Philipp
A1  - Stauch, Georg
A1  - Wang, Rong
A1  - Wunnemann, Bernd
A1  - Yan, Dada
A1  - Zhang, Yongzhan
A1  - Diekmann, Bernhard
T1  - A persistent northern boundary of Indian Summer Monsoon precipitation over Central Asia during the Holocene
JF  - Scientific reports
N2  - Extra-tropical circulation systems impede poleward moisture advection by the Indian Summer Monsoon. In this context, the Himalayan range is believed to insulate the south Asian circulation from extra-tropical influences and to delineate the northern extent of the Indian Summer Monsoon in central Asia. Paleoclimatic evidence, however, suggests increased moisture availability in the Early Holocene north of the Himalayan range which is attributed to an intensification of the Indian Summer Monsoon. Nevertheless, mechanisms leading to a surpassing of the Himalayan range and the northern maximum extent of summer monsoonal influence remain unknown. Here we show that the Kunlun barrier on the northern Tibetan Plateau [similar to 36 degrees N] delimits Indian Summer Monsoon precipitation during the Holocene. The presence of the barrier relocates the insulation effect 1,000 km further north, allowing a continental low intensity branch of the Indian Summer Monsoon which is persistent throughout the Holocene. Precipitation intensities at its northern extent seem to be driven by differentiated solar heating of the Northern Hemisphere indicating dependency on energy-gradients rather than absolute radiation intensities. The identified spatial constraints of monsoonal precipitation will facilitate the prediction of future monsoonal precipitation patterns in Central Asia under varying climatic conditions.
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/srep25791
SN  - 2045-2322
VL  - 6
SP  - 596
EP  - 633
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  -