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Pleistocene terrestrial warming trend in East Asia linked to Antarctic ice sheets growth

Author

Listed:
  • Huanye Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Weiguo Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhonghui Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    The University of Hong Kong)

  • Xiaoke Qiang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xinwen Xu

    (Northwest University)

  • Jing Lei

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Xi’an Institute for Innovative Earth Environment Research)

  • Zhengguo Shi

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Yunning Cao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jing Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fengyan Lu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hongxuan Lu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaolin Ma

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Youbin Sun

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhangdong Jin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Hong Ao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zeke Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hu Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chang’an University)

  • Yong Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    National Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone on the Loess Plateau)

  • Hong Yan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Weijian Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Guanzhong Plain Ecological Environment Change and Comprehensive Treatment National Observation and Research Station
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Zhisheng An

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Xi’an Jiaotong University
    National Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone on the Loess Plateau)

Abstract

How terrestrial mean annual temperature (MAT) evolved throughout the past 2 million years (Myr) remains elusive, limiting our understanding of the patterns, mechanisms, and impacts of past temperature changes. Here we report a ~2-Myr terrestrial MAT record based on fossil microbial lipids preserved in the Heqing paleolake, East Asia. The increased amplitude and periodicity shift of glacial-interglacial changes in our record align with those in sea surface temperature (SST) records. However, its long-term warming trend (1.0 °C/Myr, 95% CI = 0.4–1.7 °C/Myr) during 1.8–0.6 Myr ago diverges from the contemporaneous SST cooling. We propose that the Pleistocene warming in East Asia primarily resulted from regionally enhanced heat input and greenhouse effect of rising water vapor driven by Antarctic ice sheets (AIS) growth, highlighting the important climatic effect of AIS evolution. Such long-term warming across the Mid-Pleistocene Transition might have been beneficial for archaic humans’ flourishing in Eurasia.

Suggested Citation

  • Huanye Wang & Weiguo Liu & Zhonghui Liu & Xiaoke Qiang & Xinwen Xu & Jing Lei & Zhengguo Shi & Yunning Cao & Jing Hu & Fengyan Lu & Hongxuan Lu & Xiaolin Ma & Youbin Sun & Zhangdong Jin & Hong Ao & Ze, 2025. "Pleistocene terrestrial warming trend in East Asia linked to Antarctic ice sheets growth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63331-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63331-3
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