El Nino-like Climate Teleconnections in New England during the Late Pleistocene

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Science

Volume

288

Publication Date

2000

First Page

1039

Last Page

1042

Abstract

A glacial varve chronology from New England spanning the 4000-year period from 17,500 to 13,500 calendar years before the present was analyzed for evidence of climate variability during the late Pleistocene. The chronology shows a distinct interannual (3 to 5 years) band of enhanced variability suggestive of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnections into North America during the late Pleistocene, when the Laurentide ice sheet was near its maximum extent and climatic boundary conditions were different than those of today. This interannual variability largely disappears by the young end of the 4000-year chronology, with only the highest frequency components (roughly 3-year period) persisting. This record provides evidence of ENSO-like climate variability during near-peak glacial conditions.

Comments

Publication of Masters results. Article received considerable attention and a News and Views piece was published in the same issue of Science to discuss long-term evidence for ENSO.

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