Variability of solar periodicities in southern African baobab δ 13 C data during the Wolf, Spörer, Maunder and Dalton minima

Variability of several solar periodicities in southern African Baobab δ13C data during the Wolf (1280–1350 AD), Spörer (1415–1550 AD), Maunder (1645–1715 AD) and Dalton (1790–1830 AD) solar minima have been investigated using Morlet wavelet and Lomb-Scargle spectral analysis methods. Annual stable carbon isotope (δ13C) data obtained from the Pafuri Baobab trees from north-eastern Southern Africa for the period 1200 AD – 1900 AD were used in this investigation. Results obtained showed for the first time that considerable variation in the power of the 11-year Schwabe and the 22-year Hale cycles exist in the δ13C proxy summer rainfall data for Southern Africa during the respective solar sunspot minima intervals. The findings in this investigation provides clear evidence of the influence of solar activity on the climate of the Southern Hemisphere. In contrast, most previous solar-climate interaction results were based on Northern Hemisphere data sets. •Spectral analysis and identification of Schwabe, Hale, Gleissberg and De Vries solar periodicities in southern African baobab δ13C data during the period 1200–1900 AD.•Variability of 11-year and 22-year solar periodicities during Wolf, Spörer, Maunder and Dalton solar minima in δ13C proxy rainfall tree ring data of Southern Africa.