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Solar-forced shifts of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies during the late Holocene
V. Varma1, M. Prange1,2, F. Lamy2,3, U. Merkel2, and M. Schulz1,2
1Dept. of Geosciences, Univ. of Bremen, Klagenfurter Strasse, 28334 Bremen, Germany
2MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, 28359 Bremen, Germany
3Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
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Abstract. The Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds (SWW) constitute an important zonal
circulation that influences large-scale precipitation patterns and ocean
circulation. Variations in their intensity and latitudinal position have
been suggested to exert a strong influence on the CO2 budget in the
Southern Ocean, thus making them a potential factor affecting the global
climate. In the present study, the possible influence of solar forcing on
SWW variability during the late Holocene is addressed. It is shown that a
high-resolution iron record from the Chilean continental slope (41° S),
which basically reflects changes in the position of the SWW, is
significantly correlated with reconstructed solar activity. In addition,
solar sensitivity experiments with a comprehensive global climate model
(CCSM3) are carried out to study the response of SWW to solar variability.
Taken together, the proxy and model results strongly suggest that
centennial-scale periods of lower (higher) solar activity caused equatorward
(southward) shifts of the SWW during the past 3000 years.
 Notice on Discussion StatusThe requested discussion paper has a corresponding peer-reviewed
final revised paper in the journal Climate of the Past (CP). You are
encouraged to refer to the final revised version. Final Revised Paper (CP) Discussion Paper (PDF, 2555 KB)
Citation: Varma, V., Prange, M., Lamy, F., Merkel, U., and Schulz, M.: Solar-forced shifts of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies during the late Holocene, Clim. Past Discuss., 6, 369-384, doi:10.5194/cpd-6-369-2010, 2010. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
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