Interhemispheric anti-phasing of orbitally driven monsoon intensity: Implications for ice-volume forcing in the high latitudes

The influence of precession on the redistribution of insolation on the top of the atmosphere predicts that climate change in the low latitudes is out of phase between the hemispheres. We test this prediction by the most direct approach, the analysis of terrestrial climate records, as they provide direct information on regional changes in the atmosphere. A review of evidence from absolutely-dated climate records shows that precession drives an interhemispheric anti-phasing of monsoon intensity. Maxima of boreal monsoon intensity are opposed by minima of austral monsoon intensity and vice versa.