Time series study of a 17-year record of 7Be and 210Pb fluxes in northern Taiwan using ensemble empirical mode decomposition

• Using EEMD method to study the time series of 7Be and 210Pb.
• The results provide probable factors controlling 7Be and 210Pb including monsoon delivery, deposition and solar modulation.
• We also discussed the probable factors controlling abnormal 210Pb fluxes by analyzing dust records.

Using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and a significance test method, we have analyzed time series data on the fluxes of 7Be and 210Pb collected over a span of 17 y in Northern Taiwan. Among nine intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) extracted from the method five (IMF4–8) are non-trivial for 210Pb and have adequate S/N with significant power in localized windows around the periodicities of 0.5 y, 1 y, 2 y, 5 y, and 11 y, respectively. For 7Be, IMF5 and IMF8 with periods around 1 y and 11 y, respectively, have adequate S/N. The semi-annual and annual cycles represented by IMF4 and IMF5, respectively, are dominated by East Asian monsoon. The sum of IMF6 and IMF7 reveals an inter-annual cycle where both 7Be and 210Pb fluxes are well-correlated with the East Asian winter monsoon index (EAWMI). The close tracking of the 210Pb and 7Be in IMF8 cases may reflect an 11 y cycle; implying that it is caused by common climatologic factors, likely related to solar cycle, rather than their distinct production modes.