Climate change on the Yucatan Peninsula during the Little Ice Age

We studied a 5.1-m sediment core from Aguada X'caamal (20° 36.6′N, 89° 42.9′W), a small sinkhole lake in northwest Yucatan, Mexico. Between 1400 and 1500 A.D., oxygen isotope ratios of ostracod and gastropod carbonate increased by an average of 2.2‰ and the benthic foraminifer Ammonia beccarii parkinsoniana appeared in the sediment profile, indicating a hydrologic change that included increased lake water salinity. Pollen from a core in nearby Cenote San José Chulchacá showed a decrease in mesic forest taxa during the same period. Oxygen isotopes of shell carbonate in sediment cores from Lakes Chichancanab (19° 53.0′N, 88° 46.0′W) and Salpeten (16° 58.6′N, 89° 40.5′W) to the south also increased in the mid-15th century, but less so than in Aguada X'caamal. Climate change in the 15th century is also supported by historical accounts of cold and famine described in Maya and Aztec chronicles. We conclude that climate became drier on the Yucatan Peninsula in the 15th century A.D. near the onset of the Little Ice Age (LIA). Comparison of results from the Yucatan Peninsula with other circum-Caribbean paleoclimate records indicates a coherent climate response for this region at the beginning of the LIA. At that time, sea surface temperatures cooled and aridity in the circum-Caribbean region increased.     

内蒙古岱海地区小冰期气候演化特征的地球化学记录

通过对地处气候敏感带的岱海湖泊岩芯介形类壳体丰度、Sr/Ca和Mg/Ca摩尔比值，以及自生碳酸盐氧同位素组成等地球化学指标的综合分析，结合岩芯的岩性特征和^210Pb、^14C测年，重建了岱海小冰期以来气候环境演化过程，揭示小冰期前期本区以冷湿气候为主，在中后期，气候寒冷干旱，间有气候转温和的冷湿、湿干气候。本区小冰期气温变化与华北其他地区具有一致性，但降水与气温组合状况复杂，反映了明显的区域特征，其原因可能是气候转型期经向环流加强，气旋活动加强所致。     

小冰期十年际尺度亚洲季风变化的四川黑竹沟洞石笋记录

基于四川省黑竹沟洞一支石笋（编号：EB1）高精度²³⁰Th年龄和氧同位素数据,建立小冰期时期（1375~1810A.D.）气候变化时间序列。该序列δ¹⁸O值变化范围为-10.37‰~-8.58‰,敏感响应于区域气候变化过程。高分辨率δ¹⁸O变化序列能清晰地捕捉到10年际尺度振荡旋回。该石笋记录根据δ¹⁸O值变化可分为4个阶段：1375~1540A.D.和1680~1780A.D.时段,δ¹⁸O值整体偏负,指示季风增强时期;1540~1680A.D.和1780~1810A.D.时段,δ¹⁸O值整体偏正,处于弱季风阶段。与贵州董哥洞、甘肃万象洞和印度Jhumar洞石笋记录对比发现在小冰期时期δ¹⁸O变化特征具有一定的相似性,表明上述区域降水可能共同受控于印度季风水汽输送影响,反映了区域性夏季风经向环流及其降水变化特征。通过EB1石笋记录与北半球温度曲线的对比发现,两者在百年尺度上同相位变化,可能指示北高纬气候的控制作用。而该石笋与秘鲁东北部Cascayunga洞石笋记录的进一步对比结果显示亚洲季风与南半球季风记录呈反相位关系,证实了ITCZ位置的南北移动在半球间能量传递和交换过程中的重要作用。功率谱分析结果显示小冰期季风波动具有显著的25a和9a周期旋回,接近太阳黑子22a和11a周期频率,表明太阳活动变化可能是小冰期十年际尺度亚洲季风波动的重要驱动因素。

     

小冰期时中国南方地区降水模式的差异研究

小冰期是过去一千年中全球气候变化的重要事件之一。关于小冰期时中国季风区和西风影响区气候变化的对比研究众多,但是缺乏中国南方地区降水模式时空差异的研究,难以了解中国南方地区降水变化规律。为了系统地了解小冰期时中国南方地区降水的复杂性,本文将中国南方地区划分为东南—华南沿海地区、中部地区以及西南地区三个区域,总共选取了19条高分辨率的古气候记录进行对比研究,主要有以下几点认识:(1)相对于中世纪暖期而言,小冰期期间中国南方东南—华南沿海地区的气候偏湿,这可能与雨带在中国南方的滞留时间延长和沿海地区受台风的影响增强有关。(2)中国中部地区秦岭南麓和神农架高山林区在小冰期时期主要呈"冷湿"的模式,差异在于秦岭南麓区域主要在小冰期中后期偏湿,这与中部其他区域偏"冷干"的模式不同。这种区域差异可能是由于地形地势和大气环流的复杂性导致。(3)中国西南地区受印度夏季风和东亚夏季风的共同影响,且该区域地形复杂,其气候变化在小冰期时期存在更加明显的空间差异,没有呈现出比较一致的降水模式。与小冰期期间的降水变化不同的是,近30年东南—华南沿海地区除了台湾和雷州半岛,其他区域降水明显减少,可能受气温和人类活动等因素的影响。通过结合高分辨率的古气候记录,我们系统分析了中国南方小冰期的干湿模式在时空上的差异及其可能的影响因子,这对于认识小冰期时中国南方不同区域降水的复杂性及未来旱涝灾害的防控具有一定意义。     

小冰期气候的湖北石笋碳同位素记录

研究季风区小冰期的结构特征和区域响应有助于深入了解季风系统与地球内外驱动力的耦合关系。利用湖北神农架永兴洞YX275石笋的7个230Th年龄和120个碳同位素数据,建立了1 360~1 955 AD期间5年分辨率的石笋碳同位素序列。石笋δ13C与δ18O记录在长期趋势上有很好的对应关系,对小冰期气候响应明显,δ13C记录在大尺度季风环流影响下主要反映了局域湿度变化特征。δ13C序列在1 453~1 890 AD显著正偏,表明小冰期时湿度明显降低。此外,石笋δ13C与亚洲夏季温度、南方涛动指数和热带辐合带记录有较好的一致性,表明亚洲大陆夏季温度和太平洋水汽可能通过影响夏季风的强弱来调控湖北地区的湿度变化。在小冰期内部,δ13C记录在1 450~1 550 AD和1 790~1 830 AD出现进一步正偏,这些振荡分别对应于太阳活动的Sp?rer和Dalton极小期,暗示太阳活动减弱期对中国中部小冰期水文振荡的进一步调控作用。     

Oxygen isotope evidence of Little Ice Age aridity on the Caribbean slope of the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic

Climate change during the so-called Little Ice Age (LIA) of the 15th to 19th centuries was once thought to be limited to the high northern latitudes, but increasing evidence reflects significant climate change in the tropics. One of the hypothesized features of LIA climate in the low latitudes is a more southerly mean annual position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which produced more arid conditions through much of the northern tropics. High-resolution stable oxygen isotope data and other sedimentary evidence from Laguna de Felipe, located on the Caribbean slope of the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic, support the hypothesis that the mean annual position of the ITCZ was displaced significantly southward during much of the LIA. Placed within the context of regional paleoclimate and paleoceanographic records, and reconstructions of global LIA climate, this shift in mean annual ITCZ position appears to have been induced by lower solar insolation and internal dynamical responses of the global climate system. Our results from Hispaniola further emphasize the global nature of LIA climate change and the sensitivity of circum-Caribbean climate conditions to what are hypothesized to be relatively small variations in global energy budgets.     

Sr and Nd isotopes as tracers of clastic sources in Lake Le Bourget sediment (NW Alps, France) during the Little Ice Age: Palaeohydrology implications

Geochemical methods (major elements and Sr, Nd isotopes) have been used to (1) characterize Lake Le Bourget sediments in the French Alps, (2) identify the current sources of the clastic sediments and estimate the source variability over the last 600 years. Major element results indicate that Lake Le Bourget sediments consist of 45% clastic component and 55% endogenic calcite. In addition, several individual flood levels have been identified during the Little Ice Age (LIA) on the basis of their higher clastic content (> 70%).Potential sources of Lake Le Bourget clastic sediments have been investigated from Sr and Nd isotope compositions. The sediments from the Sierroz River and Leysse River which are mainly derived from the Mesozoic Calcareous Massifs are characterised by lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and slightly lower ?_Nd(0) ratios than the Arve River sediments which are derived from the Palaeozoic Mont-Blanc External Crystalline Massifs. The Rhône River appears to have been the main source of clastic sediments into the lake for the last 600 years, as evidenced by a similar Sr and Nd isotopic compositions analyzed in core B16 sediments (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.719, ?_Nd(0) = − 10) and in the sediments of the Rhône River (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.719, ?_Nd(0) = − 9.6).The isotopic signatures of flood events and background samples from core B16 in Lake Le Bourget are also similar. This indicates that prior to ∼ 1800, the inputs into the lake have remained relatively homogeneous with the proportion of clastic component mainly being a function of the palaeohydrology of the Rhone River. Early human modification (deforestation and agriculture) of the lake catchment before the 1800s appears to have had little influence on the source of clastic sediments.     

Younger Dryas cirque glaciers in western Spitsbergen: smaller than during the Little Ice Age

The outermost moraines in front of the Scottbreen glacier in Spitsbergen date from c . AD 1900. These moraines rest on top of a marine shoreline radiocarbon-dated to about 11 200 ¹⁴C yr BP and demonstrate that the AD-1900 moraines show the maximum glacier extent since late Allerød time. This means that Scottbreen was smaller during the Younger Dryas than at AD 1900, in contrast with glaciers on mainland western Europe, which were all much larger during the Younger Dryas. The explanation is probably starvation of precipitation on western Spitsbergen during the Younger Dryas. In contrast, ice sheets and glaciers in Spitsbergen reacted more or less in concert with glaciers in western Europe, during the global Last Glacial Maximum and the Little Ice Age.     

普若岗日冰原及其小冰期以来的冰川变化

普若岗日是藏北高原最大的由数个冰帽型冰川组合成的大冰原.冰川覆盖面积422.58km²,冰储量为52.5153km³.冰川雪线海拔5620～5860m.冰原呈辐射状向周围微切割的宽浅山谷溢出50多条长短不等的冰舌,最大的可伸至山麓地带,形成宽尾状冰舌.在一些下伸较低的冰舌段,形成有许多冰塔林,以雄伟壮观的连座冰塔林和雏形冰塔林为主.在东南部一些冰舌段雏形冰塔林的上部,分布着奇特的新月型雪冰丘和链状排列有序的雪冰丘.小冰期以来,普若岗日的冰川呈退缩趋势.环绕冰舌分布的冰碛序列,在北部和东南部普遍可区分出3道.对比研究认为,分别属于小冰期3次寒冷期冰进的遗迹.而西部小冰期冰川作用的范围较小.按小冰期最盛时的规模量测当时的冰川面积,和现在相比该时段内冰川面积减少了24.20km²,当时冰川面积比现在大57%.由此引起的冰川资源的减少为3.6583km³,相当于36.583×10⁸m³的水量.在普若岗日西侧,小冰期后期至20世纪70年代,冰川退缩了20m;70年代至90年代末,冰川退缩了40～50m;平均1.5～1.9m·a^-1;1999年9月至2000年10月,退缩4～5m.明显反映出逐渐加剧的变化趋势.和其它地区相比较,普若岗日冰原变化比较小,表现出比较稳定的状。     

Iron isotope variations in Holocene sediments of the Gotland Deep, Baltic Sea

Holocene sediments from the Gotland Deep basin in the Baltic Sea were investigated for their Fe isotopic composition in order to assess the impact of changes in redox conditions and a transition from freshwater to brackish water on the isotope signature of iron. The sediments display variations in δ⁵⁶Fe (differences in the ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratio relative to the IRMM-14 standard) from −0.27 ± 0.09‰ to +0.21 ± 0.08‰. Samples deposited in a mainly limnic environment with oxygenated bottom water have a mean δ⁵⁶Fe of +0.08 ± 0.13‰, which is identical to the mean Fe isotopic composition of igneous rocks and oxic marine sediments. In contrast, sediments that formed in brackish water under periodically euxinic conditions display significantly lighter Fe isotope signatures with a mean δ⁵⁶Fe of −0.14 ± 0.19‰. Negative correlations of the δ⁵⁶Fe values with the Fe/Al ratio and S content of the samples suggest that the isotopically light Fe in the periodically euxinic samples is associated with reactive Fe enrichments and sulfides. This is supported by analyses of pyrite separates from this unit that have a mean Fe isotopic composition of −1.06 ± 0.20‰ for δ⁵⁶Fe. The supply of additional Fe with a light Fe isotopic signature can be explained with the shelf to basin Fe shuttle model. According to the Fe shuttle model, oxides and benthic ferrous Fe that is derived from dissimilatory iron reduction from shelves is transported and accumulated in euxinic basins. The data furthermore suggest that the euxinic water has a negative dissolved δ⁵⁶Fe value of about −1.4‰ to −0.9‰. If negative Fe isotopic signatures are characteristic for euxinic sediment formation, widespread euxinia in the past might have shifted the Fe isotopic composition of dissolved Fe in the ocean towards more positive δ⁵⁶Fe values.     

Raexcess/Ba growth rates and U-Th-Ra-Ba systematic of Baltic Mn/Fe crusts

We analyzed ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²³²Th, ²³⁰Th, and ²²⁶Ra by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and Ba by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) on eight Mn/Fe crusts from the Mecklenburg Bay (SW Baltic) and on one from the Bothnian Bay (N Baltic) to test the ²²⁶Ra_ex/Ba ratio as potential geochronometer. ²²⁶Ra_ex/Ba ratios decrease as a function of depth within the concretions in all analyzed profiles. Calculated diffusion coefficients are relatively low (∼9 · 10⁻⁷ cm²/yr for Ra and 5 · 10⁻⁷ cm²/yr for Ba) and suggest that diffusion is negligible for the Ra and Ba record. In addition, ²²⁶Ra_ex/Ba ages are consistent and independent from the growth rate and growth direction within a crust. Thus, the decline in ²²⁶Ra_ex/Ba ratio is most likely due to radioactive decay of ²²⁶Ra_ex, although the influence of varying oxic conditions has still to be evaluated. ²²⁶Ra_ex/Ba growth rates range from 0.021 to 0.0017 mm/yr and tend to be lower than those calculated and based on stratigraphic methods (1 to 0.013 mm/yr). ²²⁶Ra_ex/Ba ages of concretions from shallow water environment (20 m depth, Mecklenburg Bay/SW Baltic) cover a time interval from 990 ± 140 yr to 4310 ± 310 yr BP corresponding to the stabilization of the sea level close to the present position about 5500 to 4500 yr ago. One sample from greater depth (70 m, Bothnian Bay-/N Baltic) showed a higher ²²⁶Ra_ex/Ba age of 6460 ± 520 yr BP.     

High-resolution isotope records of early Holocene rapid climate change from two coeval stalagmites of Katerloch Cave,Austria

Two coeval stalagmites from Katerloch Cave show pronounced intervals of low δ¹⁸O values around 8.2, 9.1, and 10.0 kyr (all ages are reported before the year 2000 AD) and represent an inorganic U–Th dated climate archive from the southeast of the European Alps, a region where only very few well-dated climate records exist. The O isotope curves, providing near-annual resolution, allow a direct comparison to the Greenland ice core records, as temperature was the primary factor controlling the O isotopic composition of Katerloch speleothems.The 8.2 kyr climate anomaly lasted about one century, from 8196 to 8100 yr, with a maximum amplitude of 1.1‰ at 8175 yr. The event is characterized by a rapid onset and a more gradual demise and U–Th data as well as annual lamina counting support a rapid climate change towards cooler conditions within 10–20 yr. There is no strong evidence that the 8.2 kyr anomaly was superimposed on a pronounced longer-term cooling episode, nor do the new data support two separate cooling events within the 8.2 kyr event as reported by other studies. Our record also shows a distinct climate anomaly around 9.1 kyr, which lasted 70–110 yr and showed a maximum amplitude of 1.0‰, i.e. it had a similar duration and amplitude as the (central) 8.2 kyr event. Compared to the 8.2 kyr event, the 9.1 kyr anomaly shows a more symmetrical structure, but onset and demise still occurred within a few decades only. The different progression of the 8.2 (asymmetrical) and 9.1 kyr anomaly (symmetrical) suggests a fundamental difference in the trigger and/or the response of the climate system. Moreover, both stalagmites show evidence of a climate anomaly around 10.0 kyr, which was of comparable magnitude to the two subsequent events.Using a well constrained modern calibration between air temperature and δ¹⁸O of precipitation for the study area and cave monitoring data (confirming speleothem deposition in Katerloch reflecting cave air temperature), a maximum cooling by ca 3 °C can be inferred at 8.2 and 9.1 kyr, which is similar to other estimates, e.g., from Lake Ammersee north of the Alps. The O isotopic composition of meteoric precipitation, however, is a complex tracer of the hydrological cycle and these temperature estimates do not take into account additional effects such as changes in the source area or synoptic shifts. Apart from that, the relative thickness of the seasonally controlled lamina types in the Katerloch stalagmites remains rather constant across the intervals comprising the isotopic anomalies, i.e. the stalagmite petrography argues against major shifts in seasonality during the early Holocene climate excursions.     

High-resolution patterns of palaeoenvironmental changes during the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula

A high resolution core(9.7 yr cm~(-1)) from the Chao de Veiga Mol raised bog(NW Iberian Peninsula) was analyzed to identify plant macrofossils,estimate peat humification and calculate hydroclimatic indices based on current bog species,with the overall aim of determining the climate conditions associated with evolution of the bog during the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age.These proxies,together with historical and climate data,proved to be good indicators of the changes in bog surface wetness.Analysis:of the core led to identification of 9 different periods:two corresponding to the so-called Medieval Climate Anomaly(930 to 1345 AD,1075-665 calibrated years before present [cal.yr BP]);four corresponding to the Little Ice Age(1345 to 1905 AD;665-105 cal yr BP);and three corresponding to the last century(1905 to2000 AD).The findings revealed a generally dry climate that lasted until the 14 th century,followed by a transition to a long period with a more humid,but characteristically very variable climate,which ended at the beginning of the 20 th century and was followed by a rapid transition to more humid conditions and finally,a change to drier conditions.The Medieval Climate Anomaly was indicated by the abundance of dry-adapted mosses(Leucobryum glaucum,Hypnum cupressiforme) and characterized by warm dry conditions and high levels of peat humification,with alternating wet phases.The LIA period was dated by a large abundance of Sphagnum species(an indicator of wetness) and a gradual increase in the humification index.However,four different climate phases were differentiated in this period.High-resolution reconstruction of the evolution of the CVM bog and the multiproxy approach have together enabled a more detailed identification of climatic variations in this area,which are generally consistent with the global models,as well as better definition of the elusive climatic oscillations in the last millennium and confirmation of the importance of local modulation of global models.The study provides new information and a detailed chronology of climatic events that will help to refine local modulation of the climate evolution model in the still quite unexplored region of the NW Iberian Peninsula,a key area for understanding the paleoclimatic dynamics in SW Europe.     

流域生物、化学风化对小冰期气候变化的响应

岱海近500年沉积物的孢粉，介形类和地球化学记录表现了流域生物，化学风化对全球性小冰期气候波动明显而快速的响应，孢粉量的下降，化学风化强度的减弱（高Rb/Sr比值）以及意外湖花介（Limnocythere inopinata)的繁盛反映了小冰期最盛期岱海地区以干旱为特征的气候环境及其造成的高矿化度湖水，其中，介形类丰度及种类对环境变化的反应最迅速，植被生长的调节则要缓慢一些，内陆湖泊流域植被的衰弱与干旱环境下化学风化强度的减弱以及风尘作用的加强是相辅相成的。     

华北平原东北部小冰期干湿变化特征及其驱动机制

小冰期作为距今最近的一次冷期,是研究寒冷事件对人类社会和自然环境影响的重要参照期,其气候总体偏冷已达成共识,但干湿变化存在明显的时间和区域差异。华北平原作为东亚季风系统控制的核心区,对气候变化响应十分敏感,由于受到研究材料、技术方法等因素限制,致使华北平原小冰期次一级干湿变化过程研究较少,且缺乏高分辨率的定量研究。本研究在6个AMS ¹⁴C定年的基础上,通过对秦皇岛七里海湖泊深度为245~62 cm的钻孔沉积物92个样品的孢粉分析,利用加权平均偏最小二乘回归法（WA-PLS）,高分辨率地定量重建了华北平原东北部1250~1610 A.D.的降水变化过程。结果显示：小冰期早期（1310~1450 A.D.）年降水量平均为565 mm,较中世纪温暖期降水减少约25 mm,气候变干,但程度较轻;小冰期中期（1450~1610 A.D.）降水量进一步降低,降至525 mm左右,最低可达410 mm,气候达到研究段最为干旱时期。分析认为,华北平原东北部地区小冰期冷干变化过程可能受太阳辐射量、火山活动和太平洋年代际振荡（PDO）的共同驱动。

     

小冰期多尺度气候波动:贵州董哥洞高分辨率石笋记录

具有精准年代控制的高分辨率气候记录对于深入研究小冰期气候变化规律具有重要意义。文章基于黔南荔波县董哥洞D41石笋（研究部分长约11.7 cm）的24个U-Th绝对定年和1165组碳、氧稳定同位素测试数据,得到明清小冰期期间（公元1400~1880年）平均分辨率高于0.5年的洞穴上游水汽传输路径的空间集成降雨量变化记录。重建记录表明小冰期内部气候变化存在着多年代际-百年尺度变化趋势和年际-年代际波动;次级波动与干旱事件、火山活动的响应表明石笋δ¹⁸O能够反映一定的大尺度气候信号。D41石笋的δ¹⁸O序列功率谱分析结果显示出160年、11.5年、9年以及14~16、4~7年周期,可能反映了太阳活动和ENSO等地球气候系统内部变率的影响。中国南北方多根石笋氧同位素记录的对比表明崇祯大旱期间（公元1628~1643年）石笋记录显示出与历史文献资料类似的干旱边界,从南方至北方水汽传输路径上,干旱状态反映的空间集成降雨量减少可能是引起北方石笋氧同位素偏重的主要原因。另外,石笋氧同位素记录在年际-年代际尺度上明显的区域差异表明在短尺度上将单个洞穴石笋氧同位素记录用作亚洲季风强度指标时需要谨慎。

     

A chronology of the Little Ice Age in the tropical Andes of Bolivia (16°S) and its implications for climate reconstruction

Dating moraines by lichenometry enabled us to reconstruct glacier recession in the Bolivian Andes since the Little Ice Age maximum. On the 15 proglacial margins studied, we identified a system of ten principal moraines that marks the successive positions of glaciers over the last four centuries. Moraines were dated by performing statistical analysis of lichen measurements based on the extreme values theory. Like glaciers in many mid-latitude mountain areas, Bolivian glaciers reached their maximal extent during the second half of the 17th century. This glacier maximum coincides with the Maunder minimum of solar irradiance. By reconstructing the equilibrium-line altitude and changes in mass-balance, we think the glacier maximum may be due to a 20 to 30% increase in precipitation and a 1.1 to 1.2 °C decrease in temperature compared with present conditions. In the early 18th century, glaciers started to retreat at varying rates until the late 19th to early 20th century; this trend was generally associated with decreasing accumulation rates. By contrast, glacier recession in the 20th century was mainly the consequence of an increase in temperature and humidity. These results are consistent with observations made in the study region based on other proxies.     

小冰期以来中国季风温冰川对全球变暖的响应

中国的季风温冰川主要分布在青藏高原东南部、冰川覆盖面积为 １３ ２０３．２ ｋｍ２,占我国冰川 总面积的２２．２％．由于这类冰川的特性、对气候变暖极为敏感自小冰期最盛时（１７世纪）以来,温冰 川区平均升温０．８℃,冰川面积减小相当现代面积的３０％,为３９２１．２ｋｍ２．预估中国季风湿冰川区 ２１００年的升温值２．１℃,届时冰川面积将减少７５％,达９９００ ｋｍ２左右,考虑到降水增加趋势等因 素,实际冰川退缩比例不大于８０％,但这已足以说明温冰川的大规模衰退．其后果将对当地水资源 和环境产生重大影响     

A dinoflagellate cyst record of Holocene climate and hydrological changes along the southeastern Swedish Baltic coast

A high-resolution, well-dated dinoflagellate cyst record from a lagoon of the southeastern Swedish Baltic Sea reveals climate and hydrological changes during the Holocene. Marine dinoflagellate cysts occurred initially at about 8600 cal yr BP, indicating the onset of the Littorina transgression in the southeastern Swedish lowland associated with global sea level rise, and thus the opening of the Danish straits. Both the species diversity and the total accumulation rates of dinoflagellate cysts continued to increase by 7000 cal yr BP and then decreased progressively. This pattern reveals the first-order change in local sea level as a function of ice-volume-equivalent sea level rise versus isostatic land uplift. Superimposed upon this local sea level trend, well-defined fluctuations of the total accumulation rates of dinoflagellate cysts occurred on quasi-1000- and 500-yr frequency bands particularly between 7500 and 4000 cal yr BP, when the connection between the Baltic basin and the North Atlantic was broader. A close correlation of the total accumulation rates of dinoflagellate cysts with GISP2 ice core sea-salt ions suggests that fluctuations of Baltic surface conditions during the middle Holocene might have been regulated by quasi-periodic variations of the prevailing southwesterly winds, most likely through a system similar to the dipole oscillation of the modern North Atlantic atmosphere.