High Regional Climate Sensitivity in central China from Stationary Waves in the Last Glacial Maximum

Isotope thermometry of carbonates from the central Chinese Loess Plateau reveal central China to be a region that experienced much larger temperature change since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) than is typically simulated by climate models. A summertime temperature change of 6-7ºC and a shift to lighter isotopic composition of meteoric waters in the LGM is implied by the data. The suite of Paleoclimate Model Intercomparison Project (PMIP2) simulations contains only a few models that can reproduce the enhanced climate sensitivity of central China under LGM forcing. By comparing the PMIP2 simulation suite, we demonstrate a significant correlation between the stationary wave response to continental ice sheets and LGM cooling in central China, suggesting a strong global teleconnection pattern.