Publication Abstracts

Nichols and Huang 2012

Nichols, J.E., and Y. Huang, 2012: Hydroclimate of the northeastern United States is highly sensitive to solar forcing. Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L04707, doi:10.1029/2011GL050720.

Dramatic hydrological fluctuations strongly impact human society, but the driving mechanisms for these changes are unclear. One suggested driver is solar variability, but supporting paleoclimate evidence is lacking. Therefore, long, continuous, high-resolution records from strategic locations are crucial for resolving the scientific debate regarding sensitivity of climate to solar forcing. We present a 6800-year, decadally-resolved biomarker and multidecadally-resolved hydrogen isotope record of hydroclimate from a coastal Maine peatland, The Great Heath (TGH). Regional moisture balance responds strongly and consistently to solar forcing at centennial to millennial timescales, with solar minima concurrent with wet conditions. We propose that the Arctic/North Atlantic Oscillation (AO/NAO) can amplify small solar fluctuations, producing the reconstructed hydrological variations. The Sun may be entering a weak phase, analogous to the Maunder minimum, which could lead to more frequent flooding in the northeastern US at this multidecadal timescale.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ni08000d,
  author={Nichols, J. E. and Huang, Y.},
  title={Hydroclimate of the northeastern United States is highly sensitive to solar forcing},
  year={2012},
  journal={Geophysical Research Letters},
  volume={39},
  pages={L04707},
  doi={10.1029/2011GL050720},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ni08000d
AU  - Nichols, J. E.
AU  - Huang, Y.
PY  - 2012
TI  - Hydroclimate of the northeastern United States is highly sensitive to solar forcing
JA  - Geophys. Res. Lett.
JO  - Geophysical Research Letters
VL  - 39
SP  - L04707
DO  - 10.1029/2011GL050720
ER  -

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