Late Holocene high resolution palaeoclimatic reconstruction inferred from Sebkha Mhabeul, southeast Tunisia

Marquer, Laurent; Pomel, Simon; Abichou, Abdelhakim; Schulz, E; Kaniewski, David; Campo, Elise Van

doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2008.06.002

Cited by 67 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The first two phases of cooling (2600-2000, 1650-1100 cal BP) chronologically comprehend the last two periods of the Calderone glacier expansion (Giraudi et al, 2011). A general correlation is found with climate trends reconstructed in Morocco (Cheddadi et al, 1998) and with the phases of more important erosional activity in Tunisia (Marquer et al, 2008), which seems well correlated with phases of precipitation increase that we reconstruct in Sicily.…”

Section: Climate Reconstructionsupporting

confidence: 69%

The last 7 millennia of vegetation and climate changes at Lago di Pergusa (central Sicily, Italy)

et al. 2013

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The aim of this study is to investigate climate changes and human activities under the lens of palynology. Based on a new high-resolution pollen sequence (PG2) from Lago di Pergusa (667 m a.s.l., central Sicily, Italy) covering the last 6700 yr, we propose a reconstruction of climate and landscape changes over the recent past in central Sicily. Compared to former studies from Lago di Pergusa (Sadori and Narcisi, 2001), this work provides a reconstruction of the evolution of vegetation and climate over the last millennia in central Sicily, indeed completing previous results with new pollen data, which is particularly detailed on the last 3000 yr.

Joint actions of increasing dryness, climate oscillations, and human impact shaped the landscape of this privileged site. Lago di Pergusa, besides being the main inland lake of Sicily, is very sensitive to climate change and its territory was inhabited and exploited continuously since the Palaeolithic. The lake sediments turned out to be a good observatory for natural phenomena that occurred in the last thousands of years.

Results of the pollen-based study are integrated with changes in magnetic susceptibility and a tephra layer characterization. The tephra layer was shown to be related to the Sicanians' event, radiocarbon dated at 3055 ± 75 yr BP (Sadori and Narcisi, 2001).

We performed palaeoclimate reconstructions by MAT (Modern Analogues Technique) and WAPLS (Weighted Average Partial Least Square). Palaeoclimate reconstructions based on the core show important climate fluctuations throughout the Holocene. Climate reconstruction points out four phases of cooling and enhanced wetness in the last three millennia (2600-2000, 1650-1100, 850-550, 400-200 cal BP, corresponding to the periods between 650-50 BC, and 300-850, 1100-1400, 1550-1750 AD, respectively)

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Section: Climate Reconstructionsupporting

confidence: 69%

The last 7 millennia of vegetation and climate changes at Lago di Pergusa (central Sicily, Italy)

et al. 2013

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“…Nonetheless, the rate of sedimentation in endorheic Tunisian saline systems may be estimated based on the dating of cores collected from sebkhas of the same region namely the sebkhas of Mhabeul and El-Guettiate ( Figure 1b). For instance, tephrochronological dating indicated that the rate of sedimentation during the Late Holocene at sebkha Mhabeul was in the range of 0.33 mm/yr [3] and 0.37 mm/yr [18]. In the continental side of sebkha of El-Guettiate, the radiocarbon dating indicated that the rate of sedimentation during the Late Holocene was in the range of 0.32 mm/yr [19] and 0.38 mm/yr [20].…”

Section: Study Area: the Golf Of Gabes Within A Mediterranean Sea Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral Analysis of a Core from the Sebkha of Sidi Mansour, Southern Tunisia: The Holocene Cyclostratigraphy

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Ab³

et al. 2016

J Remote Sensing & GIS

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The Milancovitch Theory explaining the ancient cyclostratigraphy does not file a case for the Holocene cyclostratigraphy. Instead, other astronomical and oceanographic mechanisms control the cyclicity within Holocene sediment. This work aimed to find out the climatic cyclicity along a core from the sebkha of Sidi Mansour located along the Mediterranean coast in Tunisia, through using different proxies: the magnetic susceptibility, carbonate percentages and chemical elements (Ca, Na, and K). Based on previous radiocarbon and tephrochrnological dating in the study area, the core was estimated to cover the two last millennia with a sedimentation rate of 0.35 mm/yr. This rate allows the elaboration of a depth-age model to carry the spectral analysis. Not all the proxies visualize the same climatic cycles. For instance, the spectral analysis of the magnetic susceptibility and Sodium data visualized a 1000 yr cycle. The spectral analysis of Potassium data did not visualize significant cycles. The spectral analysis of the carbonate percentages and calcium data visualized dual cycles of 1700-700 yr and 493-329 yr respectively. The about 500 yr and 1000 yr cycles are related to Sun activity. Other oceanographic and atmospheric factors could generate other cycles of 1700 yr, 700 yr, 493 yr, and 329 yr. The majority of these cycles were worldwide recorded as interplay between the oceanography and the solar forcing. Contrary to the earth-driven cyclostratigraphy related to orbital parameters and geographical positions, the Holocene cyclostratigraphy is sun-driven.

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“…On the geologic scale, tectonic subsidence during the last two millennia is quite different within the eastern Tunisian sabkhas. During the last millennia, tectonic subsidence decreases from north to south with the sedimentation of 114 cm, 104 cm, and 65 cm within sabkha Souassi [13], Dkhila [13], and Mhabeul [38], respectively. This differential subsidence at the edges of these sebkhas shows the southward declining of the tectonic activity.…”

Section: Geodynamic Model Of Inherited Saline Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geodynamic Framework of Saline Systems in Eastern Tunisia: Saline Depressions Inherited from the Triassic Intrusions and/or the Messinian Salinity Crisis

et al. 2014

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Based on the geodynamic context, two hypotheses of origin of salt in the subsurface of the Sahel area are worth being defended. The first suggests that the halokinesis activities, namely, of the Triassic evaporitic sedimentation, may still be until now influencing the functioning of the saline systems in the Sahel. The second integrates the Sahel area geodynamic evolution in the framework of the convergence between African and Eurasian plates. It suggests a link between the blockage of the subduction between African and Eurasian plates in North Tunisia, the Messinian Salinity Crisis, and eventually the concrete opening and evolution of the playa during the Quaternary. Such a suggestion is materialized by a geodynamic model relating successively these events. This scenario suggests that the Messinian Salinity Crisis constituted huge quantities of salt and/or salty water. This saline subsurface reserve is until now influencing the Sahel behavior as a whole. Through groundwater convergence, huge quantities of salt are accumulated within depressions of the Sahel area. Currently, the convergence of the plate between African and Eurasian plates results in a tectonic activity within these saline systems materialized by the formation of fault spring mounds along preferential orientation ensuring the surface-subsurface connectivity.

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Late Holocene high resolution palaeoclimatic reconstruction inferred from Sebkha Mhabeul, southeast Tunisia

Abstract: International audienc

Cited by 67 publications

References 38 publications

The last 7 millennia of vegetation and climate changes at Lago di Pergusa (central Sicily, Italy)

The last 7 millennia of vegetation and climate changes at Lago di Pergusa (central Sicily, Italy)

Spectral Analysis of a Core from the Sebkha of Sidi Mansour, Southern Tunisia: The Holocene Cyclostratigraphy

Geodynamic Framework of Saline Systems in Eastern Tunisia: Saline Depressions Inherited from the Triassic Intrusions and/or the Messinian Salinity Crisis

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