Temperature and rainfall estimates for the past 40,000 years in equatorial Africa

摘要: THERE has been considerable debate about the magnitude of decrease in temperature1,2 and change precipitation3 African tropics during last glacial period. With advent fossil pollen studies equatorial regions, it is now generally agreed that temperature did at this time tropical regions4, but fluctuations discrepancies between continental5 marine6 records have yet to be resolved7. Here we present new quantitative estimates precipitation using a multivariate analysis8 time-series data from peat deposits Burundi for past 40,000 years9. For period, our estimate 4 ± 2 °C less than those (ranging 5 8 °C) derived snow-line tree-line records5,7. Model simulations7 indicate (from high-elevation sites ˜4,000 m above sea level) are incompatible with marine record. Our lower site intermediate elevation may help resolve differences these records. We also mean annual rainfall decreased by 30% agreement history inferred lake level fluctuations10.