The Asian Monsoon: Causes, History and Effects

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
Acknowledgements......Page 12
1.1 Introduction......Page 13
1.2.1 Observed zonal mean picture......Page 14
1.2.2 Dynamical and thermodynamical constraints on the circulation......Page 17
1.2.3 Longitudinal variations in tropical meteorology......Page 21
1.2.4 Location of the convergence zones......Page 24
1.3 The Indian Ocean monsoon system......Page 26
1.3.2 Interannual variability......Page 32
1.4.1 General considerations......Page 34
1.4.2 Role of orography......Page 38
2.1 Introduction......Page 41
2.2 The influence of Tibet......Page 44
2.2.1 Tectonic evidence for Tibetan uplift......Page 48
2.2.2 Altitude proxies......Page 52
2.2.3 Erosion and the uplift of Tibet......Page 54
2.3 Oceanic controls on monsoon intensity......Page 57
2.4 Summary......Page 60
3.2.1 Monsoon winds in the Arabian Sea......Page 61
3.2.2 Monsoon winds in the Eastern Indian Ocean......Page 65
3.2.3 Monsoon winds in the South China Sea......Page 68
3.2.4 Regional and global influences......Page 69
3.3.1 Weathering histories in the Western Himalayas......Page 72
3.3.2 Weathering histories in the Eastern Himalayas......Page 75
3.3.3 Weathering histories in Southern China......Page 77
3.4.1 Eolian records in the Pacific Ocean......Page 80
3.4.2 Eolian records in the Chinese Loess Plateau......Page 86
3.4.3 Onset of Loess sedimentation......Page 93
3.5 Evolving flora of East Asia......Page 94
3.5.1 Flora evidence for an Early Miocene monsoon......Page 98
3.5.2 Evidence from marine carbon......Page 100
3.6 History of Western Pacific Warm Pool and the Monsoon......Page 101
3.7 Summary......Page 104
4.1 Introduction......Page 111
4.2 Orbital controls on monsoon strength......Page 112
4.3.1 Marine records in the Sea of Japan......Page 119
4.3.2 Lake records in Japan......Page 123
4.3.3 Eolian records from the Loess Plateau of China......Page 125
4.3.4 Eolian records from the North Pacific Ocean......Page 129
4.4.1 Hulu Cave in Eastern China......Page 130
4.4.2 Dongge Cave in SW China......Page 134
4.4.3 Timta Cave in the Western Himalayas......Page 135
4.4.4 Cave records around the Arabian Sea......Page 137
4.5 Monsoon variability recorded in ice caps......Page 140
4.6 Monsoon variability recorded in lacustrine sediments......Page 141
4.7 Salinity records in marine sediments......Page 146
4.8 Pollen records in marine sediments......Page 151
4.9.1 Nitrogen isotopes......Page 155
4.9.2 Organic carbon and phosphorus......Page 158
4.9.3 Opal and foraminifers......Page 159
4.10.1 Climate modeling......Page 161
4.10.2 Peat bog records......Page 163
4.10.4 Links to ice volume and CH4 levels......Page 165
4.10.5 Solar forcing......Page 166
4.11 Mid–Late Holocene monsoon......Page 168
4.12 Summary......Page 172
5.1 Monsoon and oceanic strontium......Page 175
5.2 Reconstructing erosion records......Page 176
5.3 Reconstructing exhumation......Page 179
5.4 Estimating marine sediment budgets......Page 180
5.5 Erosion in Indochina......Page 183
5.6 Erosion in other regions......Page 190
5.7 Monsoon rains in Oman......Page 191
5.8.1 Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta......Page 192
5.8.2 Indus Delta......Page 196
5.8.3 South China Sea......Page 198
5.9 Tectonic impact of monsoon strengthening......Page 200
5.9.1 Erosion on millennial timescales......Page 207
5.10 Climatic control over Himalaya exhumation......Page 209
5.11 Summary......Page 211
6.1 Introduction......Page 213
6.2 Holocene climate change and the Fertile Crescent......Page 219
6.3 Holocene climate change and the Indus Valley......Page 221
6.3.1 The Harappan Civilization......Page 223
6.3.2 The Saraswati River......Page 226
6.4 Holocene climate change and early Chinese cultures......Page 227
6.5.1 Ice-core records......Page 232
6.5.3 Historical correlations......Page 234
6.6.1 Holy monsoon rivers......Page 239
6.6.2 Monsoon religious festivals......Page 241
6.6.3 Monsoons and polytheism......Page 242
6.7 Impacts of future monsoon evolution......Page 243
6.8 Summary......Page 247
References......Page 248
Further reading......Page 279
Index......Page 282