Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperature

Abstract The western equatorial Pacific (WEP) plays an important role on global climate. Many studies have reported the classical orbital cycles in the WEP temperature variations, but the half-precession (~10-kyr) cycle, despite its uniqueness in the equatorial insolation, is paid less attention. He...

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Main Authors: Zhipeng Wu, Qiuzhen Yin, André Berger, Zhengtang Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57076-2
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author Zhipeng Wu
Qiuzhen Yin
André Berger
Zhengtang Guo
author_facet Zhipeng Wu
Qiuzhen Yin
André Berger
Zhengtang Guo
author_sort Zhipeng Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The western equatorial Pacific (WEP) plays an important role on global climate. Many studies have reported the classical orbital cycles in the WEP temperature variations, but the half-precession (~10-kyr) cycle, despite its uniqueness in the equatorial insolation, is paid less attention. Here, a systematic study on the half-precession cycle in the WEP temperature is performed based on the analysis of transient climate simulations covering the past 800,000 years, combined with high-resolution temperature reconstructions. The results show that the half-precession cycle is a significant signal in the WEP temperature. The model simulations show that in response to astronomical forcing, the half-precession cycle in the WEP surface and upper subsurface temperatures is driven by maximum equatorial insolation, while it is driven by bi-hemisphere maximum insolation in the lower subsurface temperature. The different forcing mechanisms at different depths are related to distinct local ocean circulation patterns. The astronomically-induced half-precession cycles are modulated by eccentricity, CO2 and ice sheets. Given the importance of WEP on global climate, the half-precession cycle in the WEP temperature may contribute to the half-precession signal recorded in other regions.
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spelling doaj-art-7dbdcfcf770d4fc6833d209705ba069c2025-08-20T03:13:14ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-57076-2Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperatureZhipeng Wu0Qiuzhen Yin1André Berger2Zhengtang Guo3Earth and Climate Research Center, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de LouvainEarth and Climate Research Center, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de LouvainEarth and Climate Research Center, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de LouvainState Key Laboratory of Lithospheric and Environmental Coevolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract The western equatorial Pacific (WEP) plays an important role on global climate. Many studies have reported the classical orbital cycles in the WEP temperature variations, but the half-precession (~10-kyr) cycle, despite its uniqueness in the equatorial insolation, is paid less attention. Here, a systematic study on the half-precession cycle in the WEP temperature is performed based on the analysis of transient climate simulations covering the past 800,000 years, combined with high-resolution temperature reconstructions. The results show that the half-precession cycle is a significant signal in the WEP temperature. The model simulations show that in response to astronomical forcing, the half-precession cycle in the WEP surface and upper subsurface temperatures is driven by maximum equatorial insolation, while it is driven by bi-hemisphere maximum insolation in the lower subsurface temperature. The different forcing mechanisms at different depths are related to distinct local ocean circulation patterns. The astronomically-induced half-precession cycles are modulated by eccentricity, CO2 and ice sheets. Given the importance of WEP on global climate, the half-precession cycle in the WEP temperature may contribute to the half-precession signal recorded in other regions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57076-2
spellingShingle Zhipeng Wu
Qiuzhen Yin
André Berger
Zhengtang Guo
Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperature
Nature Communications
title Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperature
title_full Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperature
title_fullStr Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperature
title_full_unstemmed Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperature
title_short Forcing mechanisms of the half-precession cycle in the western equatorial Pacific temperature
title_sort forcing mechanisms of the half precession cycle in the western equatorial pacific temperature
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57076-2
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AT zhengtangguo forcingmechanismsofthehalfprecessioncycleinthewesternequatorialpacifictemperature