Stable isotope compositions of speleothems from the last interglacial – Spatial patterns of climate fluctuations in Europe

Abstract

Highlights Stable isotope compositions of a last interglacial (LIG) stalagmite, Central Europe  A sequence of climate change events during the LIG for European speleothems  Hydrogen isotope data of inclusion water reveal a major event at about 125 ± 2 ka  Temperature and winter precipitation changes around the Mediterranean at 125 ± 2 ka ABSTRACT Studies on the last interglacial (LIG) can provide information on how our environment behaved in a period of slightly higher global temperatures at about 125 ± 4 ka, even if it is not the best analogue for the Holocene. The available LIG climate proxy records are usually better preserved and can be studied at a higher resolution than those of the preceding interglacials, allowing detailed comparisons. This paper presents complex stable hydrogen, carbon and oxygen isotope records obtained for carbonate (δ 13 Baradla data indicate enhanced aridity and seasonality for a part of GS26, with the relative dominance of summer precipitation and Mediterranean moisture contribution. Following the GS26 event, the effect of long-term global cooling becomes dominant in the Baradla isotope records and leads to glacial inception at about 109 ka.

Pollen-based temperature and precipitation changes in the Ohrid Basin (western Balkans) between 160 and 70 ka

“…7), in line with other studies on speleothems and on Mediterranean and North Atlantic marine records (e.g. De Abreu et al, 2003;Demény et al, 2017;Drysdale et al, 2009;Lisiecki and Raymo, 2005;Martrat et al, 2007Martrat et al, , 2014McManus, et al, 1994;Mokeddem et al, 2014;NGRIP Members, 2004;Oppo et al, 2006;Sánchez Goñi et al, 1999Wang et al, 2010). Based on the ODP-977 alkenone data (Martrat et al, 2004(Martrat et al, , 2014, warm SSTs occurred during interstadial periods, while cold SSTs persisted during stadials Melisey I and II.…”

The influence of climate on morphometric traits of fossil populations of Microtus arvalis and M . agrestis from the Carpathian Basin, northern Hungary

“…After the climatic optimum of MIS 5e, a short period of dry, temperate conditions is detected in the speleothems of NE Hungary, followed by a progressive cooling and an increase in humidity (Demény et al . ). By the onset of MIS 5c, the climate was back to continental conditions, mostly similar to the present, with complex, mosaic‐like environments (Zech et al .…”

Speleothem Stable Isotope Records from Eastern Europe & Turkey

“…Although it has been long recognized that stable isotope analysis of inclusion-hosted water has a great potential in speleothem-based paleoclimate reconstructions [17], the relatively large sample amount required for classical dual inlet mass spectrometry and the sophisticated technique for O isotope analysis (using fluorine compounds as reagents) precluded wide application. With the advent of continuous flow mass spectrometry and laser spectroscopy, the required sample volume has decreased significantly and coupled analysis of H and O isotope compositions of inclusion-hosted water became easily available, for details see [18]. Despite the potential of inclusion fluid research, stable isotope compositions of fluid inclusions have only been gathered from Turkish and Hungarian speleothems from the Eastern Europe & Turkey region.…”

“…Hydrogen isotope compositions of inclusion-hosted water, analyzed by the continuous flow technique [19] for a stalagmite from SE Hungary was interpreted as a sign of drip water composition variation in the Bronze Age [14]. Although the analytical precision and post-deposition exchange processes precluded precise paleotemperature calculations, the co-variation of δ 18 O for speleothem calcite and inclusion-hosted water analyzed in a stalagmite from Eastern Turkey were used to infer past variations in seasonal precipitation distribution [20]. Mid-Holocene changes in moisture transport trajectories were inferred from the H isotope compositions of inclusion-hosted water analyzed by conventional dual inlet mass spectrometry [21].…”

“…Mid-Holocene changes in moisture transport trajectories were inferred from the H isotope compositions of inclusion-hosted water analyzed by conventional dual inlet mass spectrometry [21]. An important methodological recognition is that hydrogen isotope compositions provide reliable paleoclimate records, while δ 18 O data are compromised due to post-deposition recrystallization and calcite-water isotope exchange [22]. As a result, δ 2 H values were used for paleotemperature calculations either applying local δ 2 H-temperature relationships, or combining the δ 2 H data with calcite δ 18 O values [11,18].…”