Tropical Atlantic And Pacific Influence On Mid-Holocene Hydroclimate In Western Central America

Abstract

The paucity of high-resolution paleoclimate archives and the limited span of instrumental records hinder our understanding of rainfall variability and its drivers in Central America. We present an annually resolved, multi-proxy hydroclimate reconstruction from Lake Izabal, eastern Guatemala, based on a mid-Holocene varve record spanning from ∼6700 to ∼4000 cal yr BP. Spectral and wavelet analyses on the average varve grayscale density time series, supported by geochemical data, reveal a dynamic hydroclimate characterized by interannual-to-centennial periodicities possibly associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and multiple solar cycles. The identification of three distinct temporal phases in our record suggests a transition from a relatively stable hydroclimate in the early mid-Holocene (6700–6000 cal yr BP) to a more dynamic hydroclimate, possibly influenced by ocean-atmosphere variability in both the Atlantic and Pacific basins. Temporal correspondence between ENSO- and NAO-like signals after ∼6000 cal yr BP, following an earlier period of weak signal expression, further suggests comparable changes in Pacific and Atlantic ocean-atmosphere dynamics during the mid-Holocene. While recent climate models emphasize Atlantic processes as drivers of mid-Holocene ENSO suppression, our data show similarly weak expression of ENSO- and NAO-like signals, suggesting broadly similar patterns of climate variability in both basins. Our results highlight the potential influence of Atlantic and Pacific climate variability on mid-Holocene hydroclimate in western Central America, providing context for understanding future climate dynamics.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Publication Status

Full Text Access

Comments

National Science Foundation, Grant -2029102

Keywords and Phrases

Grayscale density; Guatemala; Lake sediments; Paleoclimate reconstruction; Time series analysis; Varve record

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0277-3791

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2026 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

15 Nov 2026

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