Westerly jet waviness modulates mid-latitude hydroclimate variability
The mid-latitude ecological environment is highly vulnerable, and increasing hydroclimate variability poses a significant threat to it. However, the mechanisms driving this variability remain unclear due to short observational records and climate model biases. Here, we present a sub-millennial resolution precipitation record spanning the past ~5.7 million years (Myr), derived from a 300.8-meter fluvio-lacustrine sediment core in mid-latitude East Asia (northern China). Our results reveal a persistent influence of the westerly jet on mid-latitude precipitation since the Pliocene, as well as a marked reduction in mid-latitude precipitation variability alongside amplified low-latitude variability after ~3 million years ago (Ma). Based on idealized sensitivity simulations, we attribute the amplified mid-latitude precipitation variability before ~3 Ma to enhanced westerly jet waviness driven by Arctic warming. Given projected increases in jet waviness under future global warming, we predict more frequent hydroclimate extremes in mid-latitude regions.
Authors
- Jun Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0168-1410)
- Yubin Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0722-4811)
- Hao Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2767-5521)
- Zhigang Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8965-223X)
- Liang Yi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3377-8591)
- Jingran Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8493-4422)
- Liangqing Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3722-4758)
Institutions
- Tongji University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (CN)
- Zhengzhou University (CN)
- Nanyang Normal University (CN)
- Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology (CN)
- Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65904-8
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.30
Funders
- Nanjing Normal University
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Tongji University
- Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- National Key Research and Development Program of China
- Youth Innovation Promotion Association