Effects of the South Atlantic warming over South American precipitation

• Grant number: 22/02957-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences
• Principal Investigator: Vinícius Ribau Mendes
• Grantee: Vinícius Ribau Mendes
• Host Institution: Instituto do Mar (IMar). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Luiza Spadano Albuquerque ; André Oliveira Sawakuchi ; Cristiano Mazur Chiessi ; Francisco Júlio do Nascimento ; Marilia Harumi Shimizu ; Rene Rojas Rocca
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/06449-7 - Optically Stimulated Luminescence in Corals and Speleothems: From the Construction of Specific Reading Equipment to the Operating Principles of the Indicator, BP.DR; 25/04437-1 - Calibration of luminescence sensitivity of quartz as proxy for precipitation, BP.MS; 24/19287-2 - High-resolution reconstruction of South American precipitation variations over the last two millennia, BP.IC; + associated scholarships 24/07420-0 - Relationship between variations in temperature and salinity of the South Atlantic surface and South American precipitation over the last two millennia, BP.DR; 24/00644-0 - Dissemination of knowledge through scientific journalism: How do climate changes in the South Atlantic affect South American precipitation?, BP.JC; 24/00942-0 - Building of the first optically stimulated luminescence scanner for marine sediment cores, BP.MS - associated scholarships

Abstract

Precipitation is arguably one of the main controlling factors of life on Earth. From food production to water availability, changes in precipitation patterns can lead to social disruption and massive economic loss. Recent findings point to a possible human-driven slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Such reduction could lead to the South Atlantic warming, and consequently, to changes in continental precipitation. Here we will determine the Effects of the South Atlantic warming over South American Precipitation, a strongly debated and timely subject: while some pieces of evidence point to a widespread increase in tropical South American precipitation to the south of the equator during a reduced circulation, others suggest that the increase is restricted to specific parts of the continent. Thus, a comprehensive reconstruction of changes in precipitation during such conditions is urgently needed to understand ongoing and future changes in precipitation. We will reconstruct South American precipitation during the last two millennia in unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. Therefore, we will apply state-of-the-art precipitation proxies (i.e., hydrogen isotopes in leaf waxes and quartz luminescence sensitivity) to a suite of marine sediment cores collected off eastern equatorial, tropical and subtropical South America. The high resolution in luminescence analyses will be achieved by developing a luminescence scanner. We will then verify which fully coupled model from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change best reproduce the reconstructed changes in precipitation, this validation is crucial for enhancing model reliability. Our results will ultimately inform society about future changes in precipitation promoting an efficient adaptation strategy. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CAMPOS, MARILIA C.; CHIESSI, CRISTIANO M.; NASCIMENTO, RODRIGO A.; KRAFT, LAURA; RADIONOVSKAYA, SVETLANA; SKINNER, LUKE; DIAS, BRUNA B.; PINHO, TAINA M. L.; KOCHHANN, MARCUS V. L.; CRIVELLARI, STEFANO; et al. Millennial- to centennial-scale Atlantic ITCZ swings during the penultimate deglaciation. QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS, v. 348, p. 12-pg., 2024-11-30. (19/25179-0, 22/06452-0, 23/05764-0, 18/23899-2, 18/15123-4, 20/11452-3, 22/02957-0, 19/24349-9, 22/01056-9, 21/02877-3, 22/09822-2, 22/09479-6)

HAGGI, C.; BERTASSOLI JR, D. J.; AKABANE, T. K.; SO, R. T.; SAWAKUCHI, A. O.; CHIESSI, C. M.; MENDES, V. R.; JARAMILLO, C. A.; FEAKINS, S. J.. Using Multi-Homolog Plant-Wax Carbon Isotope Compositions to Reconstruct Tropical Vegetation Types. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES, v. 129, n. 4, p. 23-pg., 2024-04-01. (19/24977-0, 16/02656-9, 22/06440-1, 21/13129-8, 18/23899-2, 22/02957-0, 19/24349-9, 19/19948-0, 18/15123-4)