Date of Award

1-1-2012

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences

Content Description

1 online resource (xi, 211 pages) : illustrations (some color), color map.

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Braddock K Linsley

Committee Members

Braddock K Linsley, Mathias Vuille, Thierry Correge

Keywords

Carbon Isotope, Coral, Fiji, Oxygen Isotope, South Pacific Convergence Zone, Tonga, Oceanography, Corals, Ocean temperature, Analytical geochemistry, Radiocarbon dating

Subject Categories

Climate | Geochemistry

Abstract

A major feature affecting the hydrology of the southern hemisphere is the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ); a band of high rainfall extending southeastward from the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP). It is a key source of atmospheric water vapor and latent heating. While it is clear that the SPCZ plays a fundamental role in Earth's climate, little is known about the patterns and mechanisms responsible for interannual to century-scale changes in its position and how it may respond to global climate change.

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