A Rapid Cooling Event Over the Western Pacific Region During the Middle Bronze Age

Abstract

The Holocene is generally considered to be a relatively warm and stable period (Dansgaard et al., 1989; Jouzel et al., 2007) that provided suitable climatic conditions for the development of human society. However, a growing number of studies have found that some rapid climate change events lasting for tens, hundreds, or thousands of years occasionally occurred and led to the collapse of some ancient civilizations (

Coral Paleoclimate Perspectives Support the Role of Low‐Latitude Forcing on the 4.2 ka BP Event

“… The 4.2 ka BP event identified in paleoclimate reconstructions from mainland China and the northern South China Sea (SCS). North China: (a) pollen records from Hulun Lake (Wen et al., 2010), (b) alkenone‐based summer temperature record from Qinghai Lake (Hou et al., 2016), and (c) stalagmite δ 18 O records from Dongshiya cave (N. Zhang et al., 2018); Central China: (d) stalagmite δ 18 O records from Jiuxian cave (Cai et al., 2010), (e) brGDGT records from Hongyuan peat deposit (Zheng et al., 2015), (f) pollen records from Taihu Lake region (Yao et al., 2017), and (g) stalagmite δ 18 O records from Heshang cave (Hu et al., 2008); South China: (h) leaf wax n ‐alkane δ 2 H record (X. Wang et al., 2022) and (i) brGDGT records (M. Wang et al., 2017) from Shuizhuyang peat deposit, and (j) peat humification (light pink) and dry density (deep pink) from Daping Swamp (Zhong et al., 2015); northern SCS: (k) Δδ 18 O anomaly and (l) Sr/Ca‐SSTA records from Porites corals (this study and Wei et al., 2004, 2007; Yu et al., 2005; Y. Guo et al., 2016; Deng et al., 2017; Xiao et al., 2017, 2021). The gray bar marks a likely prolonged period of the 4.2 ka BP event as suggested by coral records.…”

“…Wang et al, 2022) and (i) brGDGT records (M. Wang et al, 2017) from Shuizhuyang peat deposit, and (j) peat humification (light pink) and dry density (deep pink) from Daping Swamp (Zhong et al, 2015); northern SCS: (k) Δδ 18 O anomaly and (l) Sr/Ca-SSTA records from Porites corals (this study and Wei et al, 2004Wei et al, , 2007Yu et al, 2005;Y. Guo et al, 2016;Deng et al, 2017;Xiao et al, 2017Xiao et al, , 2021. The gray bar marks a likely prolonged period of the 4.2 ka BP event as suggested by coral records.…”

Hydroclimate change and its controlling factors during the middle to late Holocene and possible 3.7-ka climatic shift over East Asia

“…Possible mechanisms underlying this late Holocene climate shift can be inferred based on changes in amplitude and periodicity of the hydroclimate reconstructed in this study. As shown in Figure 8E, the significant SST decreases, for example ~1.5°C within 100 years in the western tropical Pacific at 3700 cal yr BP (Stott et al, 2004) and ~3°C within 100 years in the South China Sea (Xiao et al, 2021), and marked increase in the subpolar North Atlantic at 3500 cal yr BP, were closely followed by hydroclimatic shifts in East Asia, leading to reduced precipitation in South China (Dykoski et al, 2005) and the central part of South Korea (this study). However, as demonstrated by the detrended Zr/Ti ratios, the frequency and amplitude of these changes apparently increased at that time.…”

“…3850 years BP to ca. 3750 years BP has been reported from the South China Sea based on Sr/Ca ratios and δ 18 O records with the annual resolution extracted from four fossil corals (Xiao et al, 2021). This change appears to have been related to intensified ENSO activity, which caused changes in the frequency and amplitude of flooding events in the Nakdong River.…”