Oceanic evidence of climate change in southern Australia over the last three centuries

Chemical analysis of deepwater octocorals collected at 1000 m depth off southern Australia indicates long-term cooling, beginning in the mid-18th century. This cooling appears to reflect shoaling of isotherms along the continental shelf, that can be related statistically, observationally and by mode...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Thresher, Ronald, Rintoul, Stephen R., Koslow, J. Anthony, Weidman, Chris, Adkins, Jess, Proctor, Craig
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union 2004
Subjects:
Antarctic
Pacific
Antarc*
Online Access:https://authors.library.caltech.edu/33614/
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/33614/1/2003GL018869.pdf
https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20120828-122216658
Description
Summary:Chemical analysis of deepwater octocorals collected at 1000 m depth off southern Australia indicates long-term cooling, beginning in the mid-18th century. This cooling appears to reflect shoaling of isotherms along the continental shelf, that can be related statistically, observationally and by modeling to increasing coastal sea-surface temperatures, that in turn reflect a poleward extension of the SW Pacific boundary current (the East Australian Current). The oceanographic changes implied by the coral record suggest climate change in temperate Australia starting about the time of European settlement. Correlations between temperate Australian and Antarctic indices suggest these long-term changes might also be relevant to Antarctic climate.

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