<scp>A</scp>sian monsoon climate during the <scp>L</scp>ast <scp>G</scp>lacial <scp>M</scp>aximum: palaeo‐data–model comparisons

<jats:p>The <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">L</jats:styled-content>ast <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">G</jats:styled-content>lacial <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">M</jats:styled-content>aximum (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LGM</jats:styled-content>) (23–19 ka <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BP</jats:styled-content>) in the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">A</jats:styled-content>sian monsoon region is generally described as cool and dry, due to a strong winter monsoon. More recently, however, palaeo‐data and climate model simulations have argued for a more variable <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LGM A</jats:styled-content>sian monsoon climate with distinct regional differences. We compiled, evaluated, and partly re‐assessed proxy records for the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">A</jats:styled-content>sian monsoon region in terms of wet/dry climatic conditions based on precipitation and effective moisture, and of sea surface temperatures. The comparison of the palaeo‐data set to <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LGM</jats:styled-content> simulations by the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">C</jats:styled-content>limate <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">C</jats:styled-content>ommunity <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">S</jats:styled-content>ystem <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">M</jats:styled-content>odel version 3 (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCSM3</jats:styled-content>) shows fairly good agreement: a dry <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LGM</jats:styled-content> climate in the western and northern part due to a strengthened winter monsoon and/or strengthened westerly winds and wetter conditions in equatorial areas, due to a stronger summer monsoon. Data–model discrepancies are seen in some areas and are ascribed to the fairly coarse resolution of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCSM3</jats:styled-content> and/or to uncertainties in the reconstructions. Differences are also observed between the reconstructed and simulated northern boundaries of the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">I</jats:styled-content>ntertropical <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">C</jats:styled-content>onvergence <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">Z</jats:styled-content>one (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ITCZ</jats:styled-content>). The reconstructions estimate a more southern position over southern <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">I</jats:styled-content>ndia and the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">B</jats:styled-content>ay of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">B</jats:styled-content>engal, whereas <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCSM3</jats:styled-content> simulates a more northern position. In Indochina, the opposite is the case. The palaeo‐data indicate that climatic conditions changed around 20–19 ka <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BP,</jats:styled-content> with some regions receiving higher precipitation and some experiencing drier conditions, which would imply a distinct shift in summer monsoon intensity. This shift was probably triggered by the late <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LGM</jats:styled-content> sea‐level rise, which led to changes in atmosphere–ocean interactions in the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">I</jats:styled-content>ndian <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">O</jats:styled-content>cean. The overall good correspondence between reconstructions and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCSM3</jats:styled-content> suggests that <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCSM3</jats:styled-content> simulates <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LGM</jats:styled-content> climate conditions over subtropical and tropical areas fairly well. The few high‐resolution qualitative and quantitative palaeo‐records available for the large <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">A</jats:styled-content>sian monsoon region make reconstructions however still uncertain.</jats:p>