Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-12-6505-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-12-6505-2015
03 Jul 2015
 | 03 Jul 2015
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal HESS but the revision was not accepted.

Temperature and rainfall estimates for past 18 000 years in Owens Valley, California with a coupled catchment–lake model

Z. Yu, W. Dong, and P. Jiang

Abstract. Closed-basin lakes are intricately linked to the hydrological systems and are very sensitive recorders of local hydro-climatic fluctuations. Lake records in closed-basins are usually used to investigate the paleoclimate condition which is critical for understanding the past and predicting the future. In this study, a physically based catchment–lake model was developed to extract quantitative paleoclimate information including temperature and rainfall over the past 18 000 years (ka) from lake records in a hydrologically closed basin in the Owens River Valley, California, US. The initial model inputs were prepared based on current regional climate data, boundary conditions from the General Circulation Model, and fossil proxy data. The inputs subsequently were systematically varied in order to produce the observed lake levels. In this way, a large number of possible paleoclimatic combinations can quickly narrow the possible range of paleoclimatic combinations that could have produced the paleolake level and extension. Finally, a quantitative time-series of paleoclimate information for those key times was obtained.

Z. Yu, W. Dong, and P. Jiang
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Z. Yu, W. Dong, and P. Jiang
Z. Yu, W. Dong, and P. Jiang

Viewed

Total article views: 1,378 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
889 401 88 1,378 88 85
  • HTML: 889
  • PDF: 401
  • XML: 88
  • Total: 1,378
  • BibTeX: 88
  • EndNote: 85
Views and downloads (calculated since 03 Jul 2015)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 03 Jul 2015)

Cited

Saved

Latest update: 27 Mar 2024
Download
Short summary
This study simulates paleolake extent in Owens Valley, California in the last 18ka. A coupled catchment-lake model is developed which is capable of accurately simulating lake extent as a function of modern climate and paleoclimate. Through these simulations, the paleoclimate information including annual precipitation and temperature can be quantitatively estimated against field evidence in a catchment-lake hydrologic system.