Late Cenozoic Paleoclimates of the Gaap Escarpment, Kalahari margin, South Africa

1978 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.W. Butzer ◽  
R. Stuckenrath ◽  
A.J. Bruzewicz ◽  
D.M. Helgren
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Climatic Variation ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Late Cenozoic ◽  
Australopithecus Africanus ◽  
Middle Holocene

The Gaap Escarpment is a dolomite cuesta demarcating the southeast margin of the Kalahari. Since Miocene-Pliocene times, thick masses of lime tufa have repeatedly accumulated at several points along this escarpment, and four regional sequences are described. These allow discrimination of six major depositional complexes, commonly characterized by basal cryoclastic breccias or coarse conglomerates that reflect frost shattering and torrential runoff, followed by sheets and lobes of tufa generated in an environment substantially wetter than today. A chronostratigraphy for the last 30,000 yr is provided by 14C dating, with direct or indirect correlations to the Vaal River sequence. The regional stratigraphy as well as faunal dating indicate an early Pleistocene age for Australopithecus africanus at Taung. Repeated episodes of protracted cold or wetter climate or both begin in terminal Miocene times, and the last Pleistocene cold-moist interval began after 35,000 yr B.P. and ended 14,000 yr B.P. Early and late Holocene times were mainly wetter, whereas the middle Holocene was drier than today. The paleoclimatic sequence differs from that of the southern and southwestern Cape or that of East Africa, but close parallels are evident throughout the lower Vaal Basin and the southern Kalahari. The tufa cycles provide a unique, 5,000,000-yr record of climatic variation in the Kalahari summer-rainfall belt that can be related to complex anomalies of the general atmospheric circulation.

Late Holocene precipitation variability in the summer rainfall region of South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 105-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Curt Stager ◽  
David B. Ryves ◽  
Christiaan King ◽  
Jerome Madson ◽  
Matthew Hazzard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Precipitation Variability ◽  
Rainfall Region

scholarly journals Hominin lower limb bones from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa (1998–2003 excavations)

2021 ◽  
Vol 117 (1/2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis Rayne Pickering ◽  
Jason L. Heaton ◽  
Ron J. Clarke ◽  
Dominic Stratford ◽  
A.J. Heile
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Late Pliocene ◽  
Australopithecus Africanus ◽  
Limb Bones

We describe late Pliocene and early Pleistocene hominin fossils from Sterkfontein Caves (South Africa), including two femoral specimens, as well as a partial tibia and a partial fibula. The fossils are likely assignable to Australopithecus africanus and/or Australopithecus prometheus and the morphology of each corroborates previous interpretations of Sterkfontein hominins as at least facultative bipeds.

Ground‐penetrating radar analysis of the Drimolen early Pleistocene fossil‐bearing palaeocave, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Armstrong ◽  
Stephanie Edwards‐Baker ◽  
Paul Penzo‐Kajewski ◽  
Andy I. R. Herries
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Ground Penetrating

scholarly journals Circulation pattern controls of wet days and dry days in Free State, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chibuike Chiedozie Ibebuchi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Free State ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Southwest Indian Ocean ◽  
South Indian

AbstractAtmospheric circulation is a vital process in the transport of heat, moisture, and pollutants around the globe. The variability of rainfall depends to some extent on the atmospheric circulation. This paper investigates synoptic situations in southern Africa that can be associated with wet days and dry days in Free State, South Africa, in addition to the underlying dynamics. Principal component analysis was applied to the T-mode matrix (variable is time series and observation is grid points at which the field was observed) of daily mean sea level pressure field from 1979 to 2018 in classifying the circulation patterns in southern Africa. 18 circulation types (CTs) were classified in the study region. From the linkage of the CTs to the observed rainfall data, from 11 stations in Free State, it was found that dominant austral winter and late austral autumn CTs have a higher probability of being associated with dry days in Free State. Dominant austral summer and late austral spring CTs were found to have a higher probability of being associated with wet days in Free State. Cyclonic/anti-cyclonic activity over the southwest Indian Ocean, explained to a good extent, the inter-seasonal variability of rainfall in Free State. The synoptic state associated with a stronger anti-cyclonic circulation at the western branch of the South Indian Ocean high-pressure, during austral summer, leading to enhanced low-level moisture transport by southeast winds was found to have the highest probability of being associated with above-average rainfall in most regions in Free State. On the other hand, the synoptic state associated with enhanced transport of cold dry air, by the extratropical westerlies, was found to have the highest probability of being associated with (winter) dryness in Free State.

scholarly journals The Role of Mesoscale Convective Complexes in Southern Africa Summer Rainfall

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1654-1668 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Blamey ◽  
C. J. C. Reason
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Southwest Indian Ocean ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Abstract A combination of numerous factors, including geographic position, regional orography, and local sea surface temperatures, means that subtropical southern Africa experiences considerable spatial and temporal variability in rainfall and is prone to both frequent flooding and drought events. One system that may contribute to rainfall variability in the region is the mesoscale convective complex (MCC). In this study, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data is used to document the precipitation produced by MCCs over southern Africa for the 1998–2006 period. Most of the rainfall associated with MCCs is found to occur over central Mozambique, extending southward to eastern South Africa. High precipitation totals associated with these systems also occur over the neighboring southwest Indian Ocean, particularly off the northeast coast of South Africa. MCCs are found to contribute up to 20% of the total summer rainfall (November–March) in parts of the eastern region of southern Africa. If the month of March is excluded from the analysis, then the contribution increases up to 24%. In general, the MCC summer rainfall contribution for most of the eastern region is approximately between 8% and 16%. Over the western interior and Botswana and Namibia, the MCC contribution is much less (<6%). It is also evident that there is considerable interannual variability associated with the contribution that these systems make to the total warm season rainfall.

scholarly journals On the Relationship between Winter Sea Ice and Summer Atmospheric Circulation over Eurasia

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 5523-5536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingyi Wu ◽  
Renhe Zhang ◽  
Rosanne D'Arrigo ◽  
Jingzhi Su
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Northern Eurasia ◽  
Sea Ice Concentration ◽  
The North ◽  
Circulation Anomalies ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies

Abstract Using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis and Japanese 25-yr Reanalysis (JRA-25) data, this paper investigates the association between winter sea ice concentration (SIC) in Baffin Bay southward to the eastern coast of Newfoundland, and the ensuing summer atmospheric circulation over the mid- to high latitudes of Eurasia. It is found that winter SIC anomalies are significantly correlated with the ensuing summer 500-hPa height anomalies that dynamically correspond to the Eurasian pattern of 850-hPa wind variability and significantly influence summer rainfall variability over northern Eurasia. Spring atmospheric circulation anomalies south of Newfoundland, associated with persistent winter–spring SIC and a horseshoe-like pattern of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the North Atlantic, act as a bridge linking winter SIC and the ensuing summer atmospheric circulation anomalies over northern Eurasia. Indeed, this study only reveals the association based on observations and simple simulation experiments with SIC forcing. The more precise mechanism for this linkage needs to be addressed in future work using numerical simulations with SIC and SST as the external forcings. The results herein have the following implication: Winter SIC west of Greenland is a possible precursor for summer atmospheric circulation and rainfall anomalies over northern Eurasia.

Late Holocene development of a major fluvial discontinuity in floodplain wetlands of the Blood River, eastern South Africa

Geomorphology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 205 ◽  
pp. 128-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Tooth ◽  
Terence McCarthy ◽  
Helena Rodnight ◽  
Amanda Keen-Zebert ◽  
Matthew Rowberry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Floodplain Wetlands

The Potassium-Argon Dating of Late Cenozoic Rocks in East Africa and Italy [and Comments and Reply]

1965 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 342-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Evernden ◽  
G. H. Curtis ◽  
William Bishop ◽  
C. Loring Brace ◽  
J. Desmond Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Late Cenozoic ◽  
Argon Dating

Molecular investigation of the Pfmdr1 gene of Plasmodium falciparum isolates in Henan Province imported from Africa

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengyun Yang ◽  
Ruimin Zhou ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Suhua Li ◽  
Dan Qian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
West Africa ◽  
East Africa ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Henan Province ◽  
Pfmdr1 Gene ◽  
Antimalarial Resistance ◽  
African Migrant

AbstractEfficacious antimalarial drugs are important for malaria control and elimination, and continuous monitoring of their efficacy is essential. The prevalence and distribution of Pfmdr1 were evaluated in African migrant workers in Henan Province. Among 632 isolates, 13 haplotypes were identified, NYSND (39.87%, 252/632), YYSND (2.85%, 18/632), NFSND (31.01%, 196/632), NYSNY (0.47%, 3/632), YFSND (13.77%, 87/632), NFSNY (0.32%, 2/632), YYSNY (2.06%, 13/632), YFSNY (0.16%, 1/632), N/Y YSND (1.90%, 12/632), N Y/F SND (6.17%, 39/632), N/Y Y/F SND (0.47%, 3/632), YYSN D/Y (0.16%, 1/632) and N/Y FSND (0.79%, 5/632). The highest frequency of NYSND was observed in individuals from North Africa (63.64%, 7/11), followed by South Africa (61.33%, 111/181), Central Africa (33.33%, 56/168), West Africa (28.94%, 68/235) and East Africa (27.03%, 10/37) (χ2 = 54.605, P < 0.05). The highest frequency of NFSND was observed in East Africa (48.65%, 18/37), followed by West Africa (39.14%, 92/235), Central Africa (26.79%, 45/168), South Africa (22.65%, 41/181) and North Africa (9.09%, 1/11) (χ2 = 22.368 P < 0.05). The mutant prevalence of codons 86 and 184 decreased. These data may provide complementary information on antimalarial resistance that may be utilized in the development of a treatment regimen for Henan Province.

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