Clay record of climate change since the mid‐Pleistocene in Jiujiang,south China

To obtain a better understanding of climate change in south China in the Quaternary, a clay mineralogical study was undertaken on the red earth profile at Jiujiang, using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and particle‐size distribution analysis methods. The XRD results showed that the clay minerals of the Jiujiang red earth were mainly mixed‐layer illite–smectite (I/S), illite, kaolinite and vermiculite, with trace amounts of mixed‐layer kaolinite–smectite (K/S). Changes in clay mineral composition displayed a trend of three‐stage evolution. The higher mixed‐layer I/S clays and kaolinite contents in the lower portion suggest extremely warm and humid climates over the period c. 700 to c. 350 ka ago. A gradual decrease in I/S clays and kaolinite reveals a gradual climate change from warm/humid to cool/dry during the period c. 350 to c. 130 ka ago. The higher illite and vermiculite contents indicate a relatively cool and dry climate during the period since c. 130 ka ago. The particle‐size distribution pattern of the upper section was similar to that of the Xiashu loess, while that of the middle to lower section was similar to those of fluvially reworked red earth. A rapid increase in the abundance of large grain‐size components at 2.6 m depth indicates an intensification of the winter monsoon and a cool and dry climate during the period, in good agreement with results from the clay mineral composition and homogeneous structure. The red earth sequences in south China could probably be used to test the response of tropical to subtropical regions to global climate changes.     

Paleoclimate evolution and aridification mechanism of the eastern Tethys during the Callovian–Oxfordian: evidence from geochemical records of the Qiangtang Basin,Tibetan Plateau

Global climate during the Jurassic has been commonly described as a uniform greenhouse climate for a long time. However, the climate scenario of a cool episode during the Callovian–Oxfordian transition following by a warming trend during the Oxfordian (163.53 to 157.4 Ma) is documented in many localities of the western Tethys. It is still unclear if a correlatable climate scenario also occurred in the eastern Tethys during the same time interval. In this study, a detailed geochemical analysis on the 1060 m thick successions (the Xiali and Suowa formations) from the Yanshiping section of the Qiangtang Basin, located in the eastern Tethys margin during the Callovian–Oxfordian periods, was performed. To reveal the climate evolution of the basin, carbonate content and soluble salt concentrations (SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻) were chosen as climatic indices. The results show that the overall climate patterns during the deposition of the Xiali and Suowa formations can be divided into three stages: relatively humid (~ 164.0 to 160.9 Ma), dry (~ 160.9 to 159.6 Ma), semi-dry (~ 159.6 to 156.8 Ma). A similar warming climate scenario also occurred in eastern Tethys during the Callovian–Oxfordian transition (~ 160.9 to 159.6 Ma). Besides, we clarify that the Jurassic True polar wander (TPW), the motion of the lithosphere and mantle with respect to Earth’s spin axis, inducing climatic shifts were responsible for the aridification of the Qiangtang Basin during the Callovian–Oxfordian transition with a review of the paleolatitude of the Xiali formation (19.7 + 2.8/−2.6° N) and the Suowa formation (20.7 + 4.1/−3.7° N). It is because the TPW rotations shifted the East Asia blocks (the North and South China, Qiangtang, and Qaidam blocks) from the humid zone to the tropical/subtropical arid zone and triggered the remarkable aridification during the Middle-Late Jurassic (ca. 165–155 Ma).

     

Environmental conditions leading to the formation of Holocene soil layers in the Northern Taklimakan Desert,Tarim Basin,Northwest China

Radiocarbon‐dated palaeontological remains and bedding features suggests that climatic changes in the northern Taklimakan Desert since the beginning of the Holocene can be divided into four stages: (i) 12 000–10 000 BP, a cool–to temperate–dry climate resulting in apparent alluvial–fluvial and weak aeolian activities; (ii) 10 000–8000 BP, a dry cold climate, resulting in large‐scale sand dune activity under regional desert expansion; (iii) 8000–3000 BP dry, warm climate, with a decreased area of shifting sand and the fixation of many sand dunes; (iv) 3000 BP to present, rising aeolian activity resulting in sandstorms, under the combined influence of climatic warming and excessive exploitation of land and water resources. Holocene deposits from profiles in the Northern Taklimakan Desert consist mainly of fine‐grained aeolian sand and silty clay. The fine aeolian sand was formed from re‐sorting of aeolian sand during the cold period of the Holocene, while the silty clay was formed by flood deposition in the Holocene warm period. The desert and desert steppe arboreal species and high CaCO₃ content of the warm period strata suggest that the Holocene climate in the area, although generally dry, varied between warm/dry and cold/dry, and, especially in recent times, has become increasingly dry. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climate variability in the Salawusu River valley of the Ordos Plateau (Inner Mongolia,China) during Marine Isotope Stage 3

Fluctuations in climatic proxies of the Milanggouwan section in the Salawusu River valley of the Ordos Plateau (Inner Mongolia, China) during Marine Isotope stage 3 (MIS 3) coincide well with sedimentary cycles for palaeo‐mobile dune sands alternating with fluvial–lacustrine facies and palaeosols. We compared the palaeo‐mobile dune sands with modern mobile dune sands (products of a cold and dry climate dominated by the East Asian winter monsoon), whereas the fluvial–lacustrine facies and palaeosols were controlled by a wet–warm climate similar to that of the East Asian summer monsoon. The MIS 3 climate of the Salawusu River valley appears to have experienced at least nine wet–warm and ten cold–dry fluctuations, divided into five stages: MIS 3e (58 900–49500 yr BP), MIS 3d (49 500–40 700 yr BP), MIS 3c (40 700–36 900 yr BP), MIS 3b (36 900–27 000 yr BP) and MIS 3a (27 000–22 300 yr BP). The 19 cold–warm climatic fluctuations corresponded roughly to the GRIP and Guliyan records, and with fluctuations in the North Atlantic climate. Notable peaks in the spectral analysis occurred at 19 500 yr, 1020 yr, 640 yr and 500 yr. Our results show that the millennial–centennial climate was closely related to the relative strengths of East Asian monsoons, which are controlled by the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation, and which is also closely linked to the Sun's precession period. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

安徽巢湖湖泊沉积物孢粉-炭屑组合记录的全新世以来植被与气候演变

利用湖泊钻孔的孢粉及炭屑分析资料,探讨了安徽巢湖湖泊沉积物孢粉-炭屑组合记录的全新世以来植被与气候演变。孢粉-炭屑记录表明：本区9870-6040 cal.{a BP},植被是以壳斗科的落叶、常绿属种为主的落叶阔叶、常绿阔叶混交林,气候呈现温和略干的特点;6040-4860 cal.{a BP},植被是以落叶栎类、栗属、青冈属和栲/石栎属为主的落叶阔叶、常绿阔叶混交林,气候由前一阶段的温和略干变为温暖湿润,进入全新世最适宜气候期;4860-2170 cal.{a BP},植被是以落叶栎类占绝对优势的落叶阔叶、常绿阔叶混交林,气温逐渐降低、湿度下降,气候温和干燥,环境整体向着干旱趋势转化,2170 cal.{a BP}左右出现一次明显的干旱事件;2170-1040 cal.{a BP},森林退缩,落叶阔叶、常绿阔叶混交林迅速被破坏,演替成以禾本科为主的草地,气候处于转型时期,总体上温和湿润;1040-200 cal.{a BP},木本植物仅零星分布,可能存在针叶阔叶混交林植被,植被类型逐渐演替成以禾本科、蒿属和蓼属等为主的草丛,其中包括较多的农作物,气候温凉稍湿;200 cal.{a BP}以来,湖区周围零星分布有阔叶乔木,松林在远处可能有分布,植被仍是以禾本科、蒿属和蓼属等为主的草丛,气候相对温暖湿润,但也有若干变凉干的波动,湖泊富营养化水平逐渐增加,人类活动已经对环境变化产生了较大的影响。     

贵州梵净山九龙池一万年来的植被和气候变化

九龙池剖面是梵净山顶上的一个洼地剖面,深6.05m,未达基岩。采样112块,孢粉分析鉴定获得孢粉24539粒,有75个科属,以木本花粉为主,其次为蕨类孢子,草本少。根据孢粉组合及~(14)C年龄,该剖面为一万年来的沉积物。其古植被、古气候可分为三个发展时期:(Ⅰ)距今8100—10000年左右为少量落叶阔叶树及较多蕨类组成的疏树蕨类——不很繁茂的落叶阔叶林(林下蕨多)。气候由温凉—稍转温暖。(Ⅱ)距今1300—8100年左右,阔叶林繁盛时期,植被由落叶阔叶树为主的常绿、落叶阔叶混交林——常绿阔叶树为主的常绿、落叶阔叶混交林——落叶阔叶树为主的常绿、落叶阔叶混交林——落叶阔叶林。气候相应由温暖—温暖湿热—温暖—温暖偏凉。(Ⅲ)距今1300—900年左右,以松、栎为主的针阔叶混交林及喜冷湿的莎草较多,气候温暖偏凉湿。 笔者等认为,其气候期的划分(Ⅰ)代表前北方期一北方期,(Ⅱ)代表大西洋期—亚北方期—亚大西洋期(Ⅲ)代表亚大西洋期后的气候。     

云南宝秀盆地泥炭—褐煤孢粉组合

由孢粉分析可知,宝秀盆地泥炭-褐煤自新第三纪上新世中期或早更新世初期至今,各个地质历史时期均有形成和积累;泥炭-褐煤堆积经历了温热-温暖-温凉的冷暖气候交替变化过程,相当于暖湿的大西洋期、温湿偏干的亚大西洋期和现代偏冷湿的山地气候。古植物变化为针叶林、阔叶林,针-阔叶混交林,落叶-常绿阔叶林和现在的稀疏灌丛和茂盛的草本植物。      

Does the Agulhas Current amplify global temperatures during super‐interglacials?

Future projections of climate suggest our planet is moving into a ‘super‐interglacial’. Here we report a global synthesis of ice, marine and terrestrial data from a recent palaeoclimate equivalent, the Last Interglacial (ca. 130–116 ka ago). Our analysis suggests global temperatures were on average ～1.5°C higher than today (relative to the AD 1961–1990 period). Intriguingly, we identify several Indian Ocean Last Interglacial sequences that suggest persistent early warming, consistent with leakage of warm, saline waters from the Agulhas Current into the Atlantic, intensifying meridional ocean circulation and increasing global temperatures. This mechanism may have played a significant positive feedback role during super‐interglacials and could become increasingly important in the future. These results provide an important insight into a future 2°C climate stabilisation scenario. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Post-glacial regional climate variability along the East Antarctic coastal margin—Evidence from shallow marine and coastal terrestrial records

We review the post-glacial climate variability along the East Antarctic coastline using terrestrial and shallow marine geological records and compare these reconstructions with data from elsewhere. Nearly all East Antarctic records show a near-synchronous Early Holocene climate optimum (11.5–9 ka BP), coinciding with the deglaciation of currently ice-free regions and the optimum recorded in Antarctic ice and marine sediment cores. Shallow marine and coastal terrestrial climate anomalies appear to be out of phase after the Early Holocene warm period, and show complex regional patterns, but an overall trend of cooling in the terrestrial records. A Mid to Late Holocene warm period is present in many East Antarctic lake and shallow coastal marine records. Although there are some differences in the regional timing of this warm period, it typically occurs somewhere between 4.7 and 1 ka BP, which overlaps with a similar optimum found in Antarctic Peninsula terrestrial records. The differences in the timing of these sometimes abrupt warm events in different records and regions points to a number of mechanisms that we have yet to identify. Nearly all records show a neoglacial cooling from 2 ka BP onwards. There is no evidence along the East Antarctic coastline for an equivalent to the Northern Hemisphere Medieval Warm Period and there is only weak circumstantial evidence in a few places for a cool event crudely equivalent in time to the Northern Hemisphere's Little Ice Age. There is a need for well-dated, high resolution climate records in coastal East Antarctica and particularly in Terre Adélie, Dronning Maud Land and Enderby Land to fully understand the regional climate anomalies, the disparity between marine and terrestrial records, and to determine the significance of the heterogeneous temperature trends being measured in the Antarctic today.     

Late Cenozoic Chemical Weathering and Environmental Changes Recorded in the Co Ngoin Sediments,Central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

A series of faulted inland basins were developed in the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, among which the Co Ngoin Basin containing thick lacustrine sediments is located in the peripheral area of the Indian monsoon. In this paper, we present the weathering history and paleoclimatic changes in the last 2.8 Ma based on studies of high-resolution temporal distributions of Sr, Rb and Zr concentrations, Rb/Sr and Zr/Rb ratios and δ ^13C and TOC for the Co Ngoin sediments, in combination with the sediment properties, grain size distribution and clay mineralogy. The sedimentary records indicate three environmental stages in the last 2.8Ma. At the core depth of 197-170m (about 2.8-2.5Ma), low-intensity chemical weathering in the Co Ngoin catchment was experienced under warm-dry to cool-wet climate conditions with relatively low Sr concentration and high Rb/Sr and Zr/Rb ratios. The sudden occurrence of both subalpine coniferous forest and coarses and and gravel sediments in the Co Ngoin core reflects a strong tectonic uplift. The high Sr concentrations and low Rb/Sr and Zr/Rb ratios reflect a relatively strong chemical weathering between 2.5Ma and 0.8Ma (at the core depth of 170-38.5m) under a temperate/cool and wet climate, characterized by mud and silt with fine sand, probably indicating a stable process of denudation and planation of the plateau. Above the depth of 38.5m (about 0.8-0Ma), the coarsening of sediments indicates a strong tectonic uplift and a relatively low intensity of chemical weathering as supported by the record of sediments having relatively low Sr concentrations and high Rb/Sr and Zr/Rb ratios. Since then, the plateau has taken the shape of the modern topographic pattern above 4000m a.s.l.     

Climatic Character of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e in the Representative Regions of the World: A Review

The Last Interglacial or Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, is of great interest because it serves as an analog for the Holocene. The climate change and duration during Marine isotope stage (MIS) 5e are considerably well understood for recent and future climate. Despite great interest in this subject over many years, a number of issues concerning the climate circumstances of MIS 5e are by no means resolved. We analyzed 35 published palaeoclimate records with reliable chronologies and robust proxies in typical region of the world to evaluate climate change during MIS 5e. These data indicate that: ① The duration of this warm phase is thought to range from (128±2) ka to (116±2) ka. The climate of MIS 5e was likely relatively stable with a number of abrupt, weak amplitude, cool and/or arid events. And the difference between regions is noticeable for the occurrence, amplitude, onset and duration of these events. For example, marine records from the North Atlantic indicate that the climate of MIS 5e was relatively stable, however the records from Norwegian sea show that the climate of MIS 5e had a significant changes at the beginning and cold event in the Mid-Eemian; The δ¹⁸O, δD and CH₄ in the ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica imply that climate was relatively stable during the last interglacial period, while in Europe from the north to the south the duration of this phase became shorter and the intensity of climatic events became stronger. In addition, the climatic conditions of MIS 5e reconstructed by climate proxy from China are various and have the subject of some controversy. ②The global climate response to the insolation forcing would have been uniform on suborbital timescale. Nevertheless, as a result of regional sundry climatic forcing factors, global millennial-scale/century-scale climate oscillations were marked by significant local features during stage 5e. ③ Based on the better chronological controls, the estimation of climate parameters, the high-resolution climate records, and precise knowledge of the phase relationship between climate changes in global, the earlier depiction for climate circumstances and environment change during Marine Isotope Stage 5e should be refined and our understanding of the climate dynamics and mechanism and climate modelling should be improved.     

青藏高原末次冰消期气候演化特点及其与格陵兰、欧洲的异同

根据生物、湖泊及冰川地层记录,分析了青藏高原末次冰消期的气候演化特点,并将其与格陵兰、欧洲气候演化序列进行了对比分析.结果表明,末次冰消期的气候演化大致可分为两个阶段:前一阶段为暖期,但波动频繁;格陵兰、欧洲在经历了H1事件后,迅速转暖,Bolling期比Allerod期气候更为适宜;而青藏高原渐趋回暖,夏季风降水逐渐增加,存在由冰融水与降水增加所形成的高湖面,气候温湿,进入一次湖泊扩涨期;大部分记录指示Allerod期比Bolling期气候更为适宜.后一阶段为冷期,格陵兰、欧洲气候恶化并显示出有回返冰期的气候特点;青藏高原气候严酷、荒漠扩展、冰流推进、湖面下降.气候演化的这种异同性表明:格陵兰、欧洲与青藏高原气候系统彼此存在联系,特别是在冷期;而在暖期,气候演化表现出各自的特点.气候演化格局所呈现的可比性,可能是通过冷期的一致而体现的.     

Clay mineralogy and geochemistry and their palaeoclimatic interpretation of the Pleistocene deposits in the Xuancheng section,southern China

A red soil profile in Xuancheng, Anhui province, southern China, in the middle to lower reaches of the Yangtze River, was investigated using X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The mobile components K₂O and Na₂O and trace elements Ba and Sr of the Xuancheng section exhibit a general trend of decrease downward along the red soil profile, together with an increase downward of chemical index of alteration (CIA) values, suggesting more intense depletion in the lower portion than in the upper portion. The major components SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃, as well as SiO₂/Al₂O₃, SiO₂/Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ ratios, show notable fluctuations along the soil profile, indicating intense climatic oscillations in the area during the Pleistocene age. The clay mineral assemblage of the Xuancheng section can be generally subdivided into three groups, suggesting a general trend of three stages of climate changes. The lower portion of ～10.4–6.3 m depth has a lower illite content and higher abundance of kaolinite and illite–smectite (I/S) clays, indicating that a warm and wet climate prevailed over the episode of ca. 600–350 ka BP. A decrease in abundance of kaolinite and I/S clays and increase in illite content at a depth of ～6.3–2.2 m probably indicate a transition stage of climate change from warm/humid to cool/dry in the period ca. 350–80 ka BP. The higher illite content and lower abundance of kaolinite and I/S clays in the upper portion of ～2.2–0 m depth suggest that a relatively cool and dry climate dominated since ca. 80 ka BP. Based on changes in clay mineralogy and chemical indices of the sediments, seven warm/cold fluctuations were determined in the area since the Middle Pleistocene. Climate changes documented in the Xuancheng section are in agreement with the δ¹⁸O records of sediments from the equatorial Pacific Core V28‐238 and the loess–palaeosol sequences in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China. Correlated to the episode of S4 and S5 soil units in the Loess Plateau, the period of ca. 600–350 ka BP in the Xuancheng area was dominated by the particularly strong East Asia summer monsoon, as indicated by its most abundant kaolinite and I/S clays. Fluctuations in clay mineralogy along the Xuancheng soil profile were mainly controlled by both the East Asia summer and winter monsoons in response to the global changes in the Middle–Late Pleistocene. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Holocene climatic fluctuations from Lower Brahmaputra flood plain of Assam,northeast India

Pollen analysis of a 3.2-m deep sedimentary profile cored from the Dabaka Swamp, Nagaon District, Lower Brahmaputra flood plain, Assam has revealed persistent fluvial activity during 14,120–12,700 cal years BP which may be attributed to the paucity of pollen and spores with encounterance of fluvial marker taxa like Ludwigia octavalvis and Botryococcus. Later, fluvial activity was succeeded by the tropical tree savanna under cool and dry climate between 12,700 and 11,600 cal years BP corresponding to that of global Younger Dryas. Between 11,600 and 8310 cal years BP, relatively less cool and dry climate prevailed with inception of tropical mixed deciduous taxa like Shorea robusta and Lagerstroemia parviflora. This phase is further followed by a fluvial activity between 8310 and 7100 cal years BP as evidenced by trace values of pollen and spores. Fluvial activity was further succeeded by enrichment of tropical mixed deciduous forest under warm and humid climatic regime between 7100 and 1550 cal years BP which is well-matched with the peak period of the Holocene climatic optimum. However, during 1550–768 cal years BP, final settlement of tropical mixed deciduous forest occurred under increased warm and humid climate followed by deterioration in tropical mixed deciduous forest under warm and relatively dry climatic regime since 768 cal years BP onwards due to acceleration in human settlement as evidenced by Cerealia. Increase in Melastoma, Ziziphus and Areca catechu imply forest clearance at this phase. The occurrence of degraded pollen-spore along with adequate fungal elements especially, Xylaria, Nigrospora and Microthyriaceous fruiting body is suggestive of aerobic microbial digenesis of rich organic debris during sedimentation.     

Atmospheric circulation patterns during glacial inception: A possible candidate

Models of atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic sector during glacial inception can be expanded to a hemispheric scale with the aid of diagnostic studies of the present climate. The present “Greenland Above” (GA) atmospheric circulation type may be a candidate for the atmospheric circulation type required during glacial inception. The pattern is an amplification, with only minor phase shifts, of the present average winter circulation pattern in the extratropical Northern Hemisphere. Southerly flow in the northwest Atlantic is associated with warm ocean temperatures, low sea ice in the Davis Strait, and increased precipitation over northeast Canada. Evidence from modeling of the present climate indicates that the GA pattern could be maintained by increased snow cover over eastern North America. Enhanced snow cover, due to decreased Northern Hemisphere summer insolation, could cause a similar response on an ice-age time scale.     

The Taylor Dome Antarctic O Record and Globally Synchronous Changes in Climate

The ¹⁸O/¹⁶O profile of a 554-m long ice core through Taylor Dome, Antarctica, shows the climate variability of the last glacial–interglacial cycle in detail and extends at least another full cycle. Taylor Dome shares the main features of the Vostok record, including the early climatic optimum with later cool phase of the last interglacial period in Antarctica. Taylor Dome δ¹⁸O fluctuations are more abrupt and larger than those at Vostok and Byrd Station, although still less pronounced than those of the Greenland GISP2 and GRIP records. The influence of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation on regional ocean heat transport explains the partly “North Atlantic” character of this Antarctic record. Under full glacial climate (marine isotope stage 4, late stage 3, and stage 2), this marine influence diminished and Taylor Dome became more like Vostok. Varying degrees of marine influence produce climate heterogeneity within Antarctica, which may account for conflicting evidence regarding the relative phasing of Northern and Southern Hemisphere climate change.     

Mid-Holocene vegetation and climatic variability in tropical deciduous sal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Shorea robusta</Emphasis>) forest of Lower Brahmaputra valley,Assam

One 2.5 m lacustrine sedimentary profile dated back to 6340 years BP from Deosila swamp under Rangjuli Reserve forest of Assam, Northeast India has been pollen analyzed for tracing past vegetation vis à vis climate variability since mid-Holocene. The pollen diagram has deciphered that during 6340 to 2970 years BP, tropical tree savannah type of vegetation grew in the region chiefly constituted of grasses interspersed with scattered trees of Salmalia, Dillenia, Emblica, Meliaceae along with sporadic presence of Artocarpus chaplasha, Symplocos, Ilex, Schima and Shorea robusta under relatively less cool and dry climatic condition with a little ameliorating trend at the upper column. The vegetation scenario implies poor growth of arboreals due to harsh abiotic dynamics causing changes in drainage system. Subsequently during 2970 to 1510 years BP, tropical mixed deciduous forest succeeded tree savannah with invasion of Shorea robusta, Lagerstroemia, Lannea, Semecarpus and Acacia under warm and humid climate. The gradual enrichment of organic soil might have been conducive for better growth of both deciduous and semi evergreen arboreals as found today. However, during 1510 to 540 years BP, the forest groves became more strengthened resulting establishment of tropical deciduous Sal forest. Steady increment of Shorea robusta along with Lannea, Lagerstroemia, Terminalia, Sapotaceae, Albizia and Adina was observed probably due to influence of active SW monsoon under increased warm and humid climatic regime. This is well substantiated by the consistent occurrence of marshy and aquatic taxa along with ferns and fungal remains. Finally during 540 years BP onward the reduced forest floristics have obviously been envisaged the change in climate which turned to warm and relatively dry probably attributable to the weak monsoon rainfall. The acceleration in human settlement during this phase is evidenced by Cerealia and by the increase of Melastoma, Ziziphus and Areca catechu implying forest clearance.     

Holocene climate variability in Europe: Evidence from δ18O,textural and extension-rate variations in three speleothems

Time-series O isotope profiles for three U–Th dated stalagmites have revealed that for much of the Holocene, a site on the Atlantic seaboard (SW Ireland) exhibits first-order δ¹⁸O trends that are almost exactly out of phase with coupled δ¹⁸O curves from two southern European sites (SE France and NW Italy). In the Irish stalagmite (CC3 from Crag Cave, SW Ireland), low δ¹⁸O at 10,000 cal yr BP reflects cool conditions. By the early to mid-Holocene (9000–6000 cal yr BP) δ¹⁸O had increased, reflecting the onset of warmer conditions on the Atlantic seaboard. This shift to higher δ¹⁸O was accompanied by a marked increase in the stalagmite extension rate, reinforcing our interpretation that this was a period of relative warmth. Except for an episode of increased extension rate about 5500 yr ago, δ¹⁸O in the Crag stalagmite exhibits a gradual decrease, accompanied by declining extension rates between 7800 and 3500 cal yr BP, interpreted as a cooling trend. There is evidence for increases in both δ¹⁸O and stalagmite extension rate in the period from 3500 cal yr BP to the present day suggesting a return to warmer conditions on the Atlantic seaboard. In the stalagmite from NW Italy (ER76, Grotta di Ernesto, Trentino province) the early-Holocene (c. 9200-7800 cal yr BP) is characterised by high δ¹⁸O, probably indicative of warm and/or dry conditions. Exceptionally low δ¹⁸O from 7800 to 6900 cal yr BP at this site reflects a well-defined wet phase (Cerin wet phase). In the last three millennia, this stalagmite exhibits a shift to lower δ¹⁸O, interpreted as some combination of cooler and/or wetter conditions. Unlike the Irish stalagmite, the Italian sample does not show a correlation between δ¹⁸O and extension rate. Instead, its extension rate correlates roughly with δ¹³C, presumably reflecting a climate-driven vegetation change. In the early Holocene, δ¹⁸O in the French stalagmite (CL26, Grotte de Clamouse, Herault province, SE France) was low relative to its Holocene average. For much of the period since c. 3500 cal yr BP this stalagmite exhibits higher δ¹⁸O than in the early Holocene, suggesting warmer conditions. Like the Irish stalagmite, the French sample exhibits a well-defined correlation between δ¹⁸O and extension rate. Had drip-water availability been the dominant control on δ¹⁸O at this semi-arid site then higher δ¹⁸O would have been accompanied by lower, not higher extension rates. This suggests strongly that temperature rather than rainfall amount was the dominant control at this site. While conclusions regarding the patterns of climate variability on a continent scale must remain tentative because of the limited number of stalagmites studied we argue that early Holocene warm conditions on the Atlantic seaboard (Irish site) coincided with relatively cool conditions at the Clamouse site. By c. 3500 yr ago the pattern appears to have been reversed.     

How cold was it for Neanderthals moving to Central Europe during warm phases of the last glaciation?

Precise estimates of mean annual temperature (MAT) for when Neanderthals occupied Central Europe are critical for understanding the role that climatic and associated environmental factors played in Neanderthal migrations and in their ultimate extinction. Neanderthals were continuously present in the relatively warm regions of southern and Western Europe in the Pleistocene but only temporarily settled Central Europe (CE), presumably because of its colder and less hospitable climate. Here, we present a new approach for more spatially and temporally accurate estimation of palaeotemperatures based on the stable oxygen isotope composition of phosphates extracted from animal teeth found at sites linked directly to concurrent Neanderthal occupation. We provide evidence that Neanderthals migrated along the Odra Valley of CE during warmer periods throughout the Upper Pleistocene. The MATs during these migrations were about 6.8 °C for the warm phase of Oxygen Isotope Stage OIS 5a–d (prior to the OIS4 cold event) at ～115–74,000 yr BP and about 6.3 °C during the early OIS 3 warm phase ～59–41,000 yr BP. Our results show that temperatures during these phases peaked 2–4 °C above longer term estimates from ice cores and pollen records. We argue that our approach can provide valuable insights into evaluating the role of climate in human migration patterns in the Pleistocene.