Closure of tropical seaways favors the climate and vegetation in tropical Africa and South America approaching their present conditions

• Published in: Global and planetary change 2024-02, Vol.233, p.104351, Article 104351
• Main Authors: Tan, Ning, Li, Huan, Zhang, Zhongshi, Wu, Haibin, Ramstein, Gilles, Sun, Yong, He, Zhilin, Su, Baohuang, Zhang, Zijian, Guo, Zhengtang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brazil; Central American Seaway; Continental interfaces, environment; Eastern Africa; evolution; General Circulation Models; glaciation; Indonesian seaway; Ocean, Atmosphere; savannas; Sciences of the Universe; shrublands; Tropical Africa and South America; tropics; Vegetation change
• ISSN: 0921-8181; 1872-6364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2023.104351

The tectonically induced closure/constriction of the Central American Seaway (CAS) and Indonesian Seaway (Indo) during the early to mid-Pliocene has been associated with many climatic events, such as the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation, the intensification of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and Australian aridification. However, studies on how the closure/constriction of tropical seaways affects the tropical climate system are still sparse and not systematic. Previous studies have linked the constriction of Indo to the aridification over East Africa and discussed the role of CAS closure in affecting the moisture supply over South America, but the underlying mechanism and combined effect of both tropical seaways are not well studied. In this study, we evaluate the impacts of tropical seaways' closure/constriction and distinguish the relative roles of CAS and Indo on climate in tropical Africa and South America using the NorESM-L Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model (AOGCM) and a dynamic vegetation model (LPJ-GUESS). Our results show that the closure of the CAS leads mainly to aridification in northeastern Brazil, resulting in an expansion of tropical xerophytic shrubland and savanna in this region. The narrowing of the Indo mainly leads to enhanced aridification in eastern tropical Africa, and reduces the extent of tropical forests in eastern and northern tropical Africa, which is generally consistent with the data. The closure/narrowing of the two tropical seaways results in a superposition of the individual seaway's effect, particularly over northeastern Brazil region, which exhibits enhanced aridification compared to the closure of the individual CAS. The seaways' changes are shown to be pivotal for the evolution of climate and vegetation over East Africa and northeastern South America to contemporary conditions. •Changes to tropical seaways greatly affect the tropical climate and environment.•Central American seaway closure leads to savanna expansion in northeastern Brazil.•Indonesian seaway constriction enhances aridification over tropical East Africa.