Northern hemisphere mid-latitudes as a key region for reconciling the Holocene temperature conundrum

Abstract

The classical Holocene temperature reconstruction indicates a cooling trend following the mid-Holocene thermal maximum. However, significant discrepancies exist between the temperature changes predicted by climate models and those derived from proxy data. Proxy sites are predominantly concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes, where temperature variations align closely with global climate trends. Notably, in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes, the differences between climate model simulations and proxy data are most pronounced. As such, the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes represent a crucial region for reconciling Holocene climate dynamics and addressing the Holocene temperature conundrum. Through an analysis of the latitudinal variation in solar radiation and its impact on temperature, this study underscores the pivotal role of this region in temperature reconstructions, particularly in resolving the ongoing discrepancies in Holocene temperature trends.