Persistent positive north atlantic oscillation mode dominated the medieval climate anomaly

Valérie Trouet; Jan Esper; Nicholas E. Graham; Andy Baker; James D. Scourse; David C. Frank

doi:10.1126/science.1166349

Persistent positive north atlantic oscillation mode dominated the medieval climate anomaly

Valérie Trouet, Jan Esper, Nicholas E. Graham, Andy Baker, James D. Scourse, David C. Frank

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Abstract

The Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) was the most recent pre-industrial era warm interval of European climate, yet its driving mechanisms remain uncertain. We present here a 947-year-long multidecadal North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) reconstruction and find a persistent positive NAO during the MCA. Supplementary reconstructions based on climate model results and proxy data indicate a clear shift to weaker NAO conditions into the Little Ice Age (LIA). Globally distributed proxy data suggest that this NAO shift is one aspect of a global MCA-LIA climate transition that probably was coupled to prevailing La Niña-like conditions amplified by an intensified Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the MCA.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	78-80
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	324
Issue number	5923
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1166349
State	Published - Apr 3 2009
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Persistent positive north atlantic oscillation mode dominated the medieval climate anomaly",

abstract = "The Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) was the most recent pre-industrial era warm interval of European climate, yet its driving mechanisms remain uncertain. We present here a 947-year-long multidecadal North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) reconstruction and find a persistent positive NAO during the MCA. Supplementary reconstructions based on climate model results and proxy data indicate a clear shift to weaker NAO conditions into the Little Ice Age (LIA). Globally distributed proxy data suggest that this NAO shift is one aspect of a global MCA-LIA climate transition that probably was coupled to prevailing La Ni{\~n}a-like conditions amplified by an intensified Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the MCA.",

author = "Val{\'e}rie Trouet and Jan Esper and Graham, {Nicholas E.} and Andy Baker and Scourse, {James D.} and Frank, {David C.}",

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T1 - Persistent positive north atlantic oscillation mode dominated the medieval climate anomaly

AU - Trouet, Valérie

AU - Esper, Jan

AU - Graham, Nicholas E.

AU - Baker, Andy

AU - Scourse, James D.

AU - Frank, David C.

PY - 2009/4/3

Y1 - 2009/4/3

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AB - The Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) was the most recent pre-industrial era warm interval of European climate, yet its driving mechanisms remain uncertain. We present here a 947-year-long multidecadal North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) reconstruction and find a persistent positive NAO during the MCA. Supplementary reconstructions based on climate model results and proxy data indicate a clear shift to weaker NAO conditions into the Little Ice Age (LIA). Globally distributed proxy data suggest that this NAO shift is one aspect of a global MCA-LIA climate transition that probably was coupled to prevailing La Niña-like conditions amplified by an intensified Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the MCA.

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Persistent positive north atlantic oscillation mode dominated the medieval climate anomaly

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