Climate variability and human impact in South America during the last 2000 years: synthesis and perspectives from pollen records

• DOI: 10.5194/cp-12-483-2016
• Publication Date: 2016-02-29T07:51:02Z
• Authors: S. G. A. Flantua; H. Hooghiemstra; M. Vuille; H. Behling; J. F. Carson; W. D. Gosling; I. Hoyos; M. P. Ledru; E. Montoya; F. Mayle; A. Maldonado; V. Rull; M. S. Tonello; B. S. Whitney; C. González-Arango
• Keywords: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Atmospheric Science; Physical geography; environment/Bioclimatology; 550; F800; Historical Climate; Environmental protection; 01 natural sciences; Environmental pollution; Environmental science; Radiocarbon Dating and Agricultural Origins; TD169-171.8; Pathology; Climate change; Spatial ecology; GE1-350; Climate variability; Biology; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; 580; Climatology; Geography; Ecology; Causes and Impacts of Climate Change Over Millennia; Paleontology; Geology; FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences; South America; 15. Life on land; Palynology; Environmental sciences; Earth and Planetary Sciences; Climate Change and Paleoclimatology; TD172-193.5; [SDU.STU.CL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Climatology; 13. Climate action; [SDV.EE.BIO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; FOS: Biological sciences; Physical Sciences; Pollen; Medicine; http://metadata.un.org/sdg/13; [SDV.EE.BIO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment/Bioclimatology; Vegetation (pathology)

Abstract. An improved understanding of present-day climate variability and change relies on high-quality data sets from the past 2 millennia. Global efforts to model regional modes are in process being validated against, integrated with, records vegetation change. For South America, however, full potential for evaluating improving models has hitherto not been sufficiently acknowledged due an absence information spatial temporal coverage study sites. This paper therefore serves as a guide pollen that capture environmental during last We identify 60 (pollen) across America which satisfy geochronological requirements set out modelling, we discuss their sensitivity signature throughout continent. Diverse patterns response observed, with more similar lowlands varying intensity direction responses highlands. Pollen display local-scale modes; thus, it is necessary understand how vegetation–climate interactions might diverge under variable settings. provide qualitative translation metrics variables. Additionally, excellent indicator human impact through time. evidence land use overview considered useful archaeological hypothesis testing important distinguishing natural anthropogenically driven stress need palynological community be familiar correctly attribute causes observed dynamics. manuscript forms part wider LOng-Term multi-proxy REconstructions Dynamics – 2k initiative provides ideal framework integration various palaeoclimatic subdisciplines palaeo-science, thereby jump-starting fostering multidisciplinary research into centennial millennial timescales.