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

• 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: unknown
• Published: American Geophysical Union 2004
• Subjects: Coral age validation; Australia; Coral chemistry; Southern Ocean; Sub-tropical ridge; Climate proxy; Antarctic; Hayes; MacRae; Pacific; Tropical Ridge; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL018869

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. © 2004 American Geophysical Union. Received 18 October 2003; accepted 11 March 2004; published 13 April 2004. We thank L. Ayliffe, M. Bravington, K. Evans, K. Hayes, C. MacRae, P. Oke and A. B. Pittock for their assistance and valuable discussions. This study was supported by the Australian Fisheries and Research Development Corporation, the Australian Greenhouse Office, and the Land and Water Research Development Corporation. Published - 2003GL018869.pdf