Natural and anthropogenic impacts on the Asian monsoon precipitation during the 20th century

The increase in the global average temperature during the last century is considered an integrated result of anthropogenic and natural forcing, but different views remain about the anthropogenic impacts on the Asian monsoon precipitation. Based on the ∼2000-year records of stalagmite δ18O from the Dongge Cave (Guizhou Province) and Wanxiang Cave (Gansu Province), we address the possible anthropogenic impacts on the southwest and southeast Asian monsoon from 1900–2000 AD, using the method of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA). The results show that the monsoon precipitation trends in the last 100 years at both sites can be obtained through SSA prediction using the data prior to 1900 AD. These suggest that human activity has not significantly affected the trends of monsoon precipitation despite of its impact on the global temperature.