Multi‐Centennial‐Scale Variations of South American Summer Monsoon Intensity in the Southern Central Andes (24–27°S) During the Late Holocene

Oxygen isotope records of cushion‐plant peat cellulose from the southern central Andes capture evidence for significant environmental changes. We observe that the δ18Ocell peatland record from Cerro Tuzgle (24°S) is in high conformity with the respective Lagunillas peatland record (27°S). During the late Holocene, two significant fluctuations occurred and are interpreted as regional moisture signals with increased precipitation amounts indicated during multi‐centennial phases from 1,530 to 1,270 cal. yr BP and from 470 to 70 cal. yr BP. These fluctuations can be best explained by changes in the strength of the South American summer monsoon (SASM). This interpretation is further supported by consistency with northern Andean paleoclimate records (10–13°S) and very high correlation (R2 = 0.76) with the Southern Oscillation Index. The congruent precipitation signals suggest the persistent climatic control of the SASM‐strength in this latitudinal band during the last 1,800 years.Fil: Kock, Sebastian T.. Helmholtz Gemeinschaft. Forschungszentrum Jülich; Alemania. Ruprecht Karls Universitat Heidelberg; AlemaniaFil: Schittek, Karsten. Universitat zu Köln; Alemania. University of Cologne; AlemaniaFil: Mächtle, Bertil. Ruprecht Karls Universitat Heidelberg; AlemaniaFil: Maldonado, Antonio. Universidad de La Serena; Chile. Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica. Centro de Investigación Regional. Centro de Estudios en Zonas Áridas; Chile. Universidad Católica del Norte; ChileFil: Vos, Heinz. Helmholtz Gemeinschaft. Forschungszentrum Jülich; AlemaniaFil: Lupo, Liliana Concepcion. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy; ArgentinaFil: Kulemeyer, Julio José. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Instituto de Datacion y Arqueometria. - Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Datacion y Arqueometria. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Saltajujuy. Instituto de Datacion y Arqueometria.; ArgentinaFil: Wissel, Holger. Helmholtz Gemeinschaft. Forschungszentrum Jülich; AlemaniaFil: Schäbitz, Frank. University of Cologne; AlemaniaFil: Lücke, Andreas. Helmholtz Gemeinschaft. Forschungszentrum Jülich; Alemani