In search of regional palaeoclimates: Australia, 18,000 yr BP

This paper continues the investigation of regional palaeoclimates in Australia at 18,000 yr B.P. using the method set out in Hubbard (1995). Initial research showed that while the palaeodata were, on the whole, in keeping with climates retrodicted for the northern part of the continent, there was substantial disagreement between the data and retrodictions in the south of Australia. While several possible reasons for this disagreement are considered in this paper, it is the authorʹs conclusion that the 18,000 yr B.P. run of the Community Climate Model placed the southern boundary of the mid-latitude belt of high pressure south of its actual position. New seasonal circulations based on a northward position of this belt are outlined in this paper and, using the method given in Hubbard (ibid.), new climate retrodictions are given for each of 12 Australian regions. new retrodictions are almost entirely in keeping with the published data review, suggesting that the Community Climate Model (0 run) pressure results were incorrect. The revised seasonal circulation patterns can be used, therefore, to reconstruct likely palaeoclimates of regions that currently have few or no palaeoclimatic data.