Temperature and salinity changes over the last 1300 years in the East Sea

Decadally resolved continuous sea surface temperature and salinity records over the last 1300 years were derived from analysis of alkenone and planktonic foraminiferal oxygen isotopic ratio of the East Sea marine sediments. The warm temperature and low salinity occurred during the Medieval Warm Period, while the cool temperature and high salinity were observed during the Little Ice Age. Comparisons of the records with the Eurasian Arctic records indicate a possible connection between the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and mid-latitude climate change over the period. During the positive phase of the AO, the East Asia is characterized by surface warming with strengthened summer monsoon and weakened winter monsoon.