Climate, Vegetation and Fire in the Australian Paleomonsoon: An investigation using paleodata synthesis, contemporary observations and model experiments

Interactions between climate, the ocean and land, and the Australian monsoon are complex, as they result from feedbacks operating on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. We will use a synthesis of paleoenvironmental and contemporary data and climate system modeling to understand these interactions over the late Quaternary period. The synthesis will aid in the generation of hypotheses to explain key transition periods in the region s past history, and will be used to achieve an improved understanding of climate variability and forcing mechanisms in the region, leading to an enhancement of climate modeling tools used to predict global change.