The response of the hydrological cycle to temperature changes in recent and distant climatic history

Abstract The relationship between the hydrological cycle and temperature is rather complex of great importance to human socioeconomic activities. prevailing theory suggests that as increases intensified. Practically, this means more heavier precipitation. However, exact magnitude response its spatio-temporal characteristics still under investigation. Looking back in Earth’s hydroclimatic history, it easy find some periods where global was substantially different than present. Here, we examine these present current knowledge about past variability (specifically precipitation), temperature. investigation are Mid-Miocene Climate Optimum, Eemian Interglacial Stage, Last Glacial Maximum, Heinrich Dansgaard–Oeschger Events, Bølling–Allerød, Younger Dryas, 8.2 ka event, Medieval Anomaly, Little Ice Age. We report hypothesis a warmer climate wetter could be an oversimplification, because water appears spatio-temporally heterogeneous.