Trauth, MH;
Asrat, A;
Berner, N;
Bibi, F;
Foerster, V;
Grove, M;
Kaboth-Bahr, S;
... Schäbitz, F; + view all
(2021)
Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, African climate and human evolution.
Quaternary Science Reviews
, 268
, Article 107095. 10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107095.
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Abstract
The hypothesis of a connection between the onset (or intensification) of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, the stepwise increase in African aridity (and climate variability), and an important mammalian (including hominin) species turnover is a textbook example of the initiation of a scientific idea and its propagation in science. It is, however, also an example of the persistent popularity of a hypothesis despite mounting evidence against it. A critical review of key publications on the topic and statistical re-analysis of key records of global ice volume and African climate leads to three conclusions: (1) The Northern Hemisphere Glaciation was a gradual process occurring between ∼3.5 and 2.5 Ma, not a single event at ∼2.8 Ma or at any other time. (2) A consistent stepwise (+/−0.2 Ma) transition toward greater aridity in Africa at ∼2.8 Ma does not exist; instead, there are regionally different, gradual transitions partly in connection with the intensification of the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, but above all with the establishment of the tropical Walker Circulation after ∼2 Ma. (3) Mammalian (including hominin) species turnovers at this time also appear to have been gradual, rather than stepwise.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, African climate and human evolution |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107095 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107095 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Geography, Physical, Geosciences, Multidisciplinary, Physical Geography, Geology, Onset of the northern hemisphere glaciation, Paleoclimate dynamics, Eastern africa, Human evolution, Time-series analysis, TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS, OXYGEN-ISOTOPE, EAST-AFRICA, EARLY HOMO, PLIOCENE, OCEAN, ENVIRONMENT, TRENDS, RECORD, LEVEL |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10154622 |
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