Borneo Stalagmite Evidence of Significantly Reduced El Niño‐Southern Oscillation Variability at 4.1 kyBP

Abstract The timing and geographic extent of a potential “4.2 ky event” remain highly contested. Here we present records of ENSO variability at 3.8 kyBP and 4.1 kyBP derived from a Borneo stalagmite, which suggest a significant change in ENSO properties between these time intervals. The Borneo recor...

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Main Authors: C. M. Theaker, S. A. Carolin, C. C. Day, K. M. Cobb, S. Chen, P. R. Grothe, H. O. Couper
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-03-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107111
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Summary:Abstract The timing and geographic extent of a potential “4.2 ky event” remain highly contested. Here we present records of ENSO variability at 3.8 kyBP and 4.1 kyBP derived from a Borneo stalagmite, which suggest a significant change in ENSO properties between these time intervals. The Borneo records show evidence of significantly reduced ENSO activity at 4.1 kyBP, relative to other measured windows within the Holocene. This reduced ENSO activity coincides with a period of drier conditions and enhanced dust events in the Middle East that took place ∼4.0–4.3 kyBP. The Borneo records show evidence of enhanced ENSO activity at 3.8 kyBP. Various hydroclimate changes attributed to the “4.2 ky event” in many regions may thus be reflecting a shift from reduced to enhanced El Niño activity that occurred between 3.8 kyBP to 4.0 kyBP.
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007