Changing Earth‐Sun Distance Drifts Global Circulation Patterns

作者：Hu Yang, Yufei Liu, Tainã M. L. Pinho, Xiaoxu Shi, Yi Zhong, Qingsong Liu, Gerrit Lohmann, Jiping Liu, Jingyu Zhang, Xufeng Zheng, Dake Chen · 发表于：Geophysical Research Letters · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1029/2024gl113066 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Climate variability and models、Geology and Paleoclimatology Research、Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics

Abstract Modern observations reveal that large‐scale ocean‐atmosphere circulation (OAC) is drifting toward higher latitudes under global warming. Paleoclimate proxies indicate that similar OAC drifts occurred on orbital timescale as well. However, the characteristics and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, by conducting simulations with different Earth's orbits, we investigate how changes in Earth‐Sun distance affect the OAC. We find that a closer Earth‐Sun distance (perihelion) causes a poleward drift of OAC. This drift in circulation is dynamically consistent with displacement of meridional temperature gradient. Precession alters the perihelion season on orbital timescales, leading to a seasonal poleward drift in OAC. This drift is amplified during the hemispheric summer, reaching magnitudes of 10° under high eccentricity. The identified OAC drifts reshape the seasonality of precipitation and temperature over land, as well as ocean upwelling and downwelling, ultimately affecting the distribution of Earth's terrestrial and marine ecosystems.