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Effective precipitation in southern Spain (∼ 266 To 46 Ka) based on a speleothem stable carbon isotope record

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Edward J. Hodge ,
David A. Richards ,
Peter L. Smart ,
Bartolomé Andreo ,
Dirk L. Hoffmann ,
Dave P. Mattey  and
Antonio González-Ramón
Edward J. Hodge
Affiliation:
School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK Bristol Isotope Group, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
David A. Richards
Affiliation:
School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK Bristol Isotope Group, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
Peter L. Smart
Affiliation:
School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
Bartolomé Andreo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, E-29071, Malaga, Spain
Dirk L. Hoffmann
Affiliation:
School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK Bristol Isotope Group, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
Dave P. Mattey
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
Antonio González-Ramón
Affiliation:
Instituto Geologico y Minero de España, Urbanización Alcazar del Genil, 4. Edificio Zulema, Bajo. 18006 Granada, Spain
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Abstract

We present the longest-duration directly dated terrestrial palaeoclimate record from the western Mediterranean region: a flowstone speleothem from Gitana Cave, southeast Spain. The main phase of growth was 274 to 58 ka, dated by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) U-series methods. Effective precipitation, which we consider primarily responsible for flowstone calcite δ13C variations, measured at 300 μm resolution, was higher during interglacials associated with marine oxygen isotope stages (MIS) 7 and 5, and lower during glacial MIS 6. There is a close correspondence between speleothem δ13C and sea surface temperature (SST) estimates from adjacent Atlantic Ocean cores during MIS 6, which implies that oceanic conditions are critical in controlling the western Mediterranean terrestrial moisture balance during glacial periods. Other features of our record, such as the sequence of termination II warming/moistening between approximately 133 and 127 ka, including a "pause" around 130–128 ka, and the lagged termination of MIS 5 warm intervals (5e, 5c and 5a) are similar to other terrestrial records within the Mediterranean basin, indicating climate synchroneity along the northern Mediterranean coast. The Gitana cave region also may have been a refugium for temperate species during short-lived cold/arid periods during MIS 5.

Keywords

SpeleothemsStable isotopesWestern Mediterranean palaeoclimateEffective precipitationU-series methods
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , May 2008 , pp. 447 - 457
Copyright
University of Washington

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