A global assessment of climatic forcing of lake levels in closed basins by westerly winds and monsoons since the Last Glacial Maximum

ABSTRACT The internal and external climatic forcings of the Earth frequently influence lake levels by regulating atmospheric circulation systems. Notably, the interaction between westerly winds and monsoons in mid‐to‐low latitudes triggers complicated lake level modes on millennial scales. A thorough investigation into the mechanisms of climatic forcings affecting lake levels, particularly the interplay between westerly winds and monsoons, could provide valuable insights for predicting future hydroclimate. We present a systematic global study of the response of lake levels to climate forcings in closed basins since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), based on continuous lake level simulations under five different forcing conditions and numerous paleoclimate records. Results show that the change in solar insolation driven by the Earth's orbit was the main climatic forcing affecting lake level patterns in low‐latitude monsoon‐dominated closed basins since the LGM. In contrast, greenhouse gases and continental ice sheets were the primary forcings controlling lake level patterns in mid‐latitude westerly wind‐dominated closed basins since the LGM. Additionally, meltwater injection into the North Atlantic caused the dramatic lake level fluctuations during the last deglaciation by influencing the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation.