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A global environmental crisis 42,000 years ago
Alan Cooper1,2, Chris S M Turney3, Jonathan Palmer4
1South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. alan.cooper@blueskygenetics.com c.turney@unsw.edu.au.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 19, 2021
Summary
Earth's magnetic field reversals, like the Laschamps Excursion, significantly impacted global climate, causing environmental and extinction events. This study provides new radiocarbon data and climate modeling to support these findings.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Geophysics
- Archaeology
Background:
- Geological records show Earth's magnetic poles have reversed multiple times.
- The global impacts of these geomagnetic reversals are not well understood.
- Radiocarbon calibration uncertainties have hindered studies on the Laschamps Excursion (41-42 ka).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a detailed record of atmospheric radiocarbon levels during the Laschamps Excursion.
- To investigate the global impacts of this major geomagnetic reversal.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ancient New Zealand kauri trees (Agathis australis) for precise radiocarbon dating.
- Characterized the geomagnetic reversal and associated atmospheric radiocarbon fluctuations.
- Employed global chemistry-climate modeling and paleoenvironmental record analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified significant geomagnetic field minima around 42 ka.
- Demonstrated that these minima, coupled with Grand Solar Minima, altered atmospheric ozone and circulation.
- Observed synchronous global climate shifts, leading to environmental changes and extinctions.
Conclusions:
- Geomagnetic field minima during the Laschamps Excursion triggered substantial global climate changes.
- These climate shifts correlate with major environmental transformations, extinctions, and archaeological record changes.
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