Falkland Islands 2600 Year Pollen and Charcoal Data Turney, C.S.M.; Jones, R.T.; Fogwill, C.; Hatton, J.; Williams, A.N.; Hogg, A.; Thomas, Z.A.; Mooney, S.; Reimer, R.W. Turney, C.S.M. Jones, R.T. Fogwill, C. Hatton, J. Williams, A.N. Hogg, A. Thomas, Z.A. Mooney, S. Reimer, R.W. Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) Southern Annular Mode (SAM) earth science/paleoclimate/pollen (Canopus Hill>LATITUDE -51.691>LONGITUDE -57.785) Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow has a significant influence on the ocean-atmosphere system of the mid- to high latitudes with potentially global climate implications. Unfortunately, historic observations only extend back to the late 19th century, limiting our understanding of multi-decadal to centennial change. Here we present a highly resolved (30-year) record of past westerly wind strength from a Falkland Islands peat sequence spanning the last 2600 years. Situated within the core latitude of Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow (the so-called furious fifties), we identify highly variable changes in exotic pollen and charcoal derived from South America which can be used to inform on past westerly air strength. We find a period of high charcoal content between 2000 and 1000 cal.years BP, associated with increased burning in Patagonia, most probably as a result of higher temperatures and stronger westerly airflow. Spectral analysis of the charcoal record identifies a pervasive ca. 250-year periodicity that is coherent with radiocarbon production rates, suggesting that solar variability has a modulating influence on Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow. Our results have important implications for understanding global climate change through the late Holocene. STUDY NOTES: Pollen and charcoal record from peat sequence spanning the last 2600 years, with exotic input from Patagonia. NCDC-Paleoclimatology https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/paleoclimatology-data - Bauer Bruce Investigator : Turney, C.S.M. Investigator : Jones, R.T. Investigator : Fogwill, C. Investigator : Hatton, J. Investigator : Williams, A.N. Investigator : Hogg, A. Investigator : Thomas, Z.A. Investigator : Mooney, S. Investigator : Reimer, R.W. 2016-02-02 ONLINE Files online, ASCII https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/19764 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/pollen/southamerica/falkland2016pollen.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/pollen/southamerica/falkland2016pollen.txt English https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/19764 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/pollen/southamerica/falkland2016pollen.txt Turney, C.S.M., Jones, R.T., Fogwill, C., Hatton, J., Williams, A.N., Hogg, A., Thomas, Z.A., Palmer, J., Mooney, S., Reimer, R.W.2016A 250-year periodicity in Southern Hemisphere westerly winds over the last 2600 yearsClimate of the Past1221-1210.5194/cp-12-1-2016http://www.clim-past.net/12/189/2016/ START YEAR: 2623 cal yr BP * END YEAR: -60 cal yr BP -57.785 -51.691 -57.785 -51.691