Zonally symmetric changes in the strength and position of the Southern Westerlies drove atmospheric CO2 variations over the past 14 k.y.

Research Article| May 01, 2011 Zonally symmetric changes in the strength and position of the Southern Westerlies drove atmospheric CO2 variations over the past 14 k.y. M.-S. Fletcher; M.-S. Fletcher 1Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Chile, Santiago, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Chile Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P.I. Moreno P.I. Moreno 1Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Chile, Santiago, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Chile2Department of Ecological Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Chile Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information M.-S. Fletcher 1Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Chile, Santiago, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Chile P.I. Moreno 1Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Chile, Santiago, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Chile2Department of Ecological Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Chile Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 05 Oct 2010 Revision Received: 01 Dec 2010 Accepted: 05 Dec 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2011 Geological Society of America Geology (2011) 39 (5): 419–422. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31807.1 Article history Received: 05 Oct 2010 Revision Received: 01 Dec 2010 Accepted: 05 Dec 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation M.-S. Fletcher, P.I. Moreno; Zonally symmetric changes in the strength and position of the Southern Westerlies drove atmospheric CO2 variations over the past 14 k.y.. Geology 2011;; 39 (5): 419–422. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31807.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Terrestrial records from 41 to 52°S across the Southern Hemisphere reveal nearly synchronous multimillennial trends in moisture derived from the Southern Westerly Winds (SWW) since 14 ka, pointing to a marked zonal symmetry in SWW changes across a broad swath of the southern middle latitudes. The data suggest a southward shift of the SWW that coincided with a rapid atmospheric CO2 rise starting ca. 12.5 ka, a widespread decline in SWW strength between ca. 10 and 7 ka contemporaneous with an ∼8 ppm reversal in the deglacial atmospheric CO2 rise, followed by stronger SWW and a steady multimillennial increase in CO2 until the preindustrial maximum. We conclude that zonally symmetric changes in the intensity of the SWW at multimillennial time scales have covaried with atmospheric CO2 variations since 14 ka, and suggest that changes in the SWW–Southern Ocean coupled system have influenced the atmospheric CO2 concentration through wind-driven upwelling of CO2‑rich deep waters in the high southern latitudes. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.