StalAge – An algorithm designed for construction of speleothem age models

Scholz, Denis; Hoffmann, Dirk L.

doi:10.1016/j.quageo.2011.02.002

Cited by 334 publications

(249 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…For additional information about the applied method, see Edwards et al (1987), Shen et al (2012) and Cheng et al (2013) and references therein. Age-depth modeling was carried out using the StalAge algorithm of Scholz and Hoffmann (2011). All depths are expressed in "mm dft", with dft being "distance from top".…”

Section: Methods and Analytical Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem

et al. 2016

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Abstract. The last interglacial serves as an excellent time interval for studying climate dynamics during past warm periods. Speleothems have been successfully used for reconstructing the paleoclimate of last interglacial continental Europe. However, all previously investigated speleothems are restricted to southern Europe or the Alps, leaving large parts of northwestern Europe undocumented. To better understand regional climate changes over the past, a larger spatial coverage of European last interglacial continental records is essential, and speleothems, because of their ability to obtain excellent chronologies, can provide a major contribution. Here, we present new, high-resolution data from a stalagmite (Han-9) obtained from the Han-sur-Lesse Cave in Belgium. Han-9 formed between 125.3 and ∼ 97 ka, with interruptions of growth occurring at 117.3-112.9 and 106.6-103.6 ka. The speleothem was investigated for its growth, morphology and stable isotope (δ 13 C and δ 18 O) composition. The speleothem started growing relatively late within the last interglacial, at 125.3 ka, as other European continental archives suggest that Eemian optimum conditions were already present during that time. It appears that the initiation of Han-9 growth is caused by an increase in moisture availability, linked to wetter conditions around 125.3 ka. The δ 13 C and δ 18 O proxies indicate a period of relatively stable conditions after 125.3 ka; however, at 120 ka the speleothem δ 18 O registered the first signs of regionally changing climate conditions, being a modification of ocean source δ 18 O linked to an increase in ice volume towards the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e-5d transition. At 117.5 ka, drastic vegetation changes are recorded by Han-9 δ 13 C immediately followed by a cessation of speleothem growth at 117.3 ka, suggesting a transition to significantly dryer conditions. The Han-9 record covering the early Weichselian displays larger amplitudes in both isotope proxies and changes in stalagmite morphology, evidencing increased variability compared to the Eemian. Stadials that appear to be analogous to those in Greenland are recognized in Han-9, and the chronology is consistent with other European (speleothem) records. Greenland Stadial 25 is reflected as a cold/dry period within Han-9 stable isotope proxies, and the second interruption in speleothem growth occurs simultaneously with Greenland Stadial 24.

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Section: Methods and Analytical Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem

et al. 2016

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“…The resulting Bayesian OxCal ages are shown in Table 1. The age model for the HS4 Holocene 14 C record was created using the 10 Bayesian OxCal ages and the remaining 20 U-Th dates from Hu et al (2008), using the R statistical software program StalAge (Scholz and Hoffmann, 2011) which are shown in Table 2. 14 C results are shown in Table 2 as conventional radiocarbon ages (Stuiver and Polach, 1977). Uncertainties are shown at 1σ and include contributions from background corrections, normalization to standards, as well as counting statistics.…”

Section: Study Location and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing influences on speleothem dead carbon variability over the Holocene: Implications for speleothem-based radiocarbon calibration

Noronha¹,

Johnson²,

et al. 2014

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

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Recently, it has been shown that U-Th dated speleothems may provide a valuable archive of atmospheric radiocarbon ( 14 C), but the reliability of these records is dependent upon the stability of the dead carbon proportion (DCP) derived from the soil and bedrock. In order to assess climatic influences on speleothem DCP, we have investigated DCP variability over the Holocene interval where atmospheric 14 C is well known based on dendrochronologically dated tree rings by conducting 14 C measurements on a U-Th dated stalagmite (HS4) from Heshang Cave, Hubei Province, China (30 • 27 N, 110 • 25 E; 294 m) spanning 0.5-9.6 ka. We investigated climatic controls on DCP, and found that DCP in HS4 has an average value over the Holocene of 10.3 ± 1.5%, with an average age offset from atmospheric radiocarbon of 875 ± 130 years, and displays a response to both precipitation increases and decreases. HS4 DCP increases during the wetter mid-Holocene interval (∼5.5-7.1 ka), likely reflecting a shift to more closed-system dissolution in response to increased soil moisture. DCP decreases during the 8.2 ka event, a time period of dry conditions at Heshang Cave, though the lower amplitude of this shift indicates that DCP may be less sensitive to dry events. Speleothems are potentially valuable archives of atmospheric radiocarbon, especially in older portions of the 14 C calibration curve where knowledge of atmospheric 14 C is limited, however minor climatic influences on DCP could introduce uncertainties of several hundred years to calibrated ages.

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“…2, and SI Appendix, Figs. S2-S4 and Table S1), with age models constructed using the StalAge algorithm (19). Variations in δ 18 O c and δ 13 C c along the transects were measured by ion microprobe using 10-μm-diameter spots (Methods, Fig.…”

Section: Carbonate Pedothemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pedothem carbonates reveal anomalous North American atmospheric circulation 70,000–55,000 years ago

Oerter

Sharp

Oster

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Our understanding of climatic conditions, and therefore forcing factors, in North America during the past two glacial cycles is limited in part by the scarcity of long, well-dated, continuous paleoclimate records. Here, we present the first, to our knowledge, continuous, millennial-resolution paleoclimate proxy record derived from millimeter-thick pedogenic carbonate clast coatings (pedothems), which are widely distributed in semiarid to arid regions worldwide. Our new multiisotope pedothem record from the Wind River Basin in Wyoming confirms a previously hypothesized period of increased transport of Gulf of Mexico moisture northward into the continental interior from 70,000 to 55,000 years ago based on oxygen and carbon isotopes determined by ion microprobe and uranium isotopes and U-Th dating by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This pronounced meridional moisture transport, which contrasts with the dominant zonal transport of Pacific moisture into the North American interior by westerly winds before and after 70,000–55,000 years ago, may have resulted from a persistent anticyclone developed above the North American ice sheet during Marine Isotope Stage 4. We conclude that pedothems, when analyzed using microanalytical techniques, can provide high-resolution paleoclimate records that may open new avenues into understanding past terrestrial climates in regions where paleoclimate records are not otherwise available. When pedothem paleoclimate records are combined with existing records they will add complimentary soil-based perspectives on paleoclimate conditions.

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StalAge – An algorithm designed for construction of speleothem age models

Cited by 334 publications

References 35 publications

Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem

Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem

Assessing influences on speleothem dead carbon variability over the Holocene: Implications for speleothem-based radiocarbon calibration

Pedothem carbonates reveal anomalous North American atmospheric circulation 70,000–55,000 years ago

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StalAge – An algorithm designed for construction of speleothem age models

Cited by 334 publications

References 35 publications

Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem

Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem

Assessing influences on speleothem dead carbon variability over the Holocene: Implications for speleothem-based radiocarbon calibration

Pedothem carbonates reveal anomalous North American atmospheric circulation 70,000–55,000 years ago

Contact Info

Product

Resources

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Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem

Paleoclimate in continental northwestern Europe during the Eemian and early Weichselian (125–97 ka): insights from a Belgian speleothem