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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Western North America LGM Ensemble Hydroclimatic Reconstructions

browse graphicPaleoclimatology - Climate Reconstruction
This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Climate Reconstruction. The data include parameters of climate reconstructions with a geographic location of North America. The time period coverage is from 23000 to 19000 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.
  • Cite as: Oster, J.L.; Ibarra, D.E.; Winnick, M.J.; Maher, K. (2015-02-23): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Western North America LGM Ensemble Hydroclimatic Reconstructions. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/bfbd-0y38. Accessed [date].
  • Please refer to Credit tab for full citation information.
noaa-recon-18015
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Data Center Contact
NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology
828-271-4800
paleo@noaa.gov
Coverage Description Date Range: 23000 cal yr BP to 19000 cal yr BP;
Time Period -21050 to -17050
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -124.07
East: -105.14
South: 31.3
North: 47.61
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Steering of westerly storms over western North America at the Last Glacial Maximum
    • Associated Reference published 2015
      Jessica L. Oster, Daniel E. Ibarra, Matthew J. Winnick and Katharine Maher, 2015: Steering of westerly storms over western North America at the Last Glacial Maximum. Nature Geoscience, , , 10.1038/ngeo2365
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2015-02-23
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency Data update frequency not available
Supplemental Information
STUDY NOTES: Synthesis of hydoclimatic proxy records for western North America at the Last Glacial Maximum, indicating wet or dry hydroclimatic conditions relative to today from proxy reconstructions. Proxies table contains the locations and hydroclimate state at the LGM from a collection of proxy records.
ABSTRACT SUPPLIED BY ORIGINATOR: The hydroclimate history of North America includes the formation and desiccation of large inland lakes and the growth and ablation of glaciers throughout the Quaternary period. At the Last Glacial Maximum, expanded pluvial lakes in the south and aridity in the northwest suggest that the winter westerly storm track was displaced southwards and migrated northwards as the Laurentide Ice Sheet waned. However, lake highstands do not occur synchronously along zonal bands, in conflict with this hypothesis. Here we compile a network of precipitation proxy reconstructions from lakes, speleothems, groundwater deposits, pack rat middens and glaciers from the western and southwestern US, which we compare with an ensemble of climate simulations to identify the controls of regional hydroclimatic change. The proxy records suggest a precipitation dipole during the Last Glacial Maximum, with wetter than modern conditions in the southwest and drier conditions near the ice sheet, and a northwest-southeast trending transition zone across the northern Great Basin. The models that simulate a weaker and south-shifted Aleutian low-pressure system, a strong North Pacific high-pressure system, and a high above the ice sheet best reproduce this regional variation. We therefore conclude that rather than a uniformly south-shifted storm track, a stronger jet that is squeezed and steered across the continent by high-pressure systems best explains the observed regional hydroclimate patterns of the Last Glacial Maximum.
Purpose Records of past temperature, precipitation, and other climate variables derived from paleoclimate proxies. Parameter keywords describe what was measured in this data set. Additional summary information can be found in the abstracts of papers listed in the data set citations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Oster, J.L.; Ibarra, D.E.; Winnick, M.J.; Maher, K. (2015-02-23): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Western North America LGM Ensemble Hydroclimatic Reconstructions. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/bfbd-0y38. Accessed [date].
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Cited Authors
  • Oster, J.L.
  • Ibarra, D.E.
  • Winnick, M.J.
  • Maher, K.
Originators
  • Oster, J.L.
  • Ibarra, D.E.
  • Winnick, M.J.
  • Maher, K.
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Paleoclimate Reconstructions
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • earth science > paleoclimate > climate reconstructions
  • earth science > paleoclimate > paleoclimatic modeling
  • earth science > paleoclimate > paleoclimatic modeling
  • earth science > paleoclimate > paleoclimatic modeling
  • earth science > paleoclimate > paleoclimatic modeling
  • earth science > paleoclimate > paleoclimatic modeling
  • earth science > paleoclimate > paleoclimatic modeling
  • earth science > paleoclimate > reconstructions > precipitation
  • Precipitation Reconstruction
Paleoenvironmental Standard Terms (PaST) Thesaurus
  • What: moisture index; Material: multiple proxies
  • What: precipitation; Material: null
  • What: temperature; Material: null
  • What: precipitation minus evapotranspiration; Material: null
  • What: temperature; Material: null
  • What: precipitation; Material: null
  • What: precipitation minus evapotranspiration; Material: null
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords
  • Continent > North America > Western Continental United States > LATITUDE > LONGITUDE
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Oster, J.L.; Ibarra, D.E.; Winnick, M.J.; Maher, K. (2015-02-23): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Western North America LGM Ensemble Hydroclimatic Reconstructions. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/bfbd-0y38. Accessed [date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • None
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  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Last Modified: 2024-03-21
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