Monsoon Dynamics
The Australasian monsoon systems constitute a central element of the global hydrological cycle. Facing its influence on the living conditions of billions of people, gaining a comprehensive understanding of monsoon dynamics, particularly under warm climate conditions, is an enduring issue with respect to global future warming. Paleoclimatic data show that monsoon rainfall is influenced by varying sea surface temperatures (SST). However, this connection has not been studied in a systematic approach yet. Besides, temperature simulation is one of the main sources of error for projecting future rainfall. Deciphering the coupling between SST and monsoonal rainfall is thus crucial to better understand monsoon dynamics and project the future development of monsoon systems.
In this project, we will use proxy-based reconstructions and model simulations to assess the coupling between SST and monsoon rainfall from the geological past. Particularly, we will compile available and newly generated SST and rainfall records from the Australasian monsoon realms to analyze existing trends and variability across the Holocene and previous interglacial periods as “warmer-than-present world” analogues. The proxy data basis will be combined with numerical model simulations that address the SST influence on monsoon rainfall.