Milankovitch forcing of fluctuations in the level of tropical lakes from 18 to 0 kyr BP

An atmospheric general-circulation model has been used to simulate the climates of January and July at 3,000-yr intervals. From 15 kyr BP onwards, the model simulates a strengthened monsoon circulation and increased precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere tropics, culminating at 9-6 kyr BP. The computed hydrological budgets were used to estimate the area of closed lakes between 8.9 and 26.6° N, giving, with minor exceptions, results in good agreement with geological evidence.