Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T23:09:56.731Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Holocene Trends in 18O in Land Snail Shells from the Negev Desert and Their Implications for Changes in Rainfall Source Areas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Glenn A. Goodfriend*
Affiliation:
Isotope Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel

Abstract

The δ18O value of the carbonate of land snail shells is related to the 18O content of precipitation, which in turn relates to the source region and trajectory of the rain-bearing air masses. Analyses of 18O of the shell carbonate of 76 radiocarbon-dated Holocene samples of the land snail Trochoidea seetzeni from the northern Negev Desert in southern Israel were carried out and the results were compared to modern snails from the same region. Early Holocene δ18O values are similar to modern but during the period centered around 6500-6000 yr B.P., a depletion of some 2%. below modern is observed. A change in the atmospheric circulation pattern for this period is thus indicated, most likely an increase in the frequency of storm systems reaching the region from north-eastern Africa. By 3500 yr B.P., δ18O values had reached modern levels and indicate a stable pattern of atmospheric circulation since that time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abell, P.I. Oxygen isotope ratios in modern African gastropod shells: A data base for paleoclimatology Chemical Geology (Isotope Geoscience Section) 58 1985 183 193 Google Scholar
Andres, W. Geomorphodynamik und Reliefentwicklung in der nördlichen Eastern Desert (Ägypten) in den letzten 30 000 Jahren Verhandlungen des Deutschen Geographentages 45 1987 183 188 Google Scholar
Baruch, U. The late Holocene vegetational history of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Israel Paléorient 12 1986 37 48 Google Scholar
Begin, Z.B. Broecker, W. Buchbinder, B. Druckman, Y. Kaufman, A. Magaritz, M. Neev, D. Dead Sea and Lake Lisan levels in the last 30,000 years Reports of the Geological Survey of Israel 29/85 1985 1 18 Google Scholar
Brookes, I.A. Early Holocene basinal sediments of the Dakhleh Oasis region, south central Egypt Quaternary Research 32 1989 139 152 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edmunds, W.M. Wright, E.P. Groundwater recharge and palaeoclimate in the Sirte and Kufra basins, Libya Journal of Hydrology 40 1979 215 241 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Epstein, S. Buchsbaum, R. Lowenstam, H. Urey, H.C. Revised carbonate-water temperature scale Geological Society of American Bulletin 62 1953 417 426 Google Scholar
Gat, J.R. Dansgaard, W. Stable isotope survey of the fresh water occurrences in Israel and the northern Jordan rift valley Journal of Hydrology 16 1972 177 212 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldberg, P. Late Quaternary environment history of the southern Levant Geoarchaeology 1 1986 225 244 Google Scholar
Goldberg, P. The geology and stratigraphy of Shiqmim Levy, T.E. Shiqmim I. Studies Concerning Chalcolithic Societies in the Northern Negev Desert Israel, 1982–1984 British Archaeological Reports International Series (No. 356) 1987 35 43 Oxford Google Scholar
Goldberg, P. The geology and stratigraphy of Shiqmim Levy, T.E. Shiqmim I. Studies Concerning Chalcolithic Societies in the Northern Negev Desert Israel (1982–1984) British Archaeological Reports International Series (No. 356) 1987 435 444 Google Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Chronostratigraphic studies of sediments in the Negev Desert, using amino acid epimerization analysis of land snail shells Quaternary Research 28 1987 374 392 Google Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Radiocarbon age anomalies in shell carbonate of land snails from semi-arid areas Radiocarbon 29 1987 159 167 Google Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Mid-Holocene rainfall in the Negev Desert from 13C of land snail shell organic matter Nature (London) 333 1988 757 760 Google Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Complementary use of amino-acid epimerization and radiocarbon analysis for dating of mixed-age fossil assemblages Radiocarbon 31 1989 1041 1047 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Rainfall in the Negev Desert during the middle Holocene, based on 13C of organic matter in land snail shells Quaternary Research 34 1990 186 197 Google Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Magaritz, M. Carbon and oxygen isotope composition of shell carbonate of desert land snails Earth and Planetary Science Letters 86 1987 377 388 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Magaritz, M. Carmi, I. A high stand of the Dead Sea at the end of the Neolithic period: paleoclimatic and archeological implications Climatic Change 9 1986 349 356 Google Scholar
Goodfriend, G.A. Magaritz, M. Gat, J.R. Stable isotope composition of land snail body water and its relation to environmental waters and shell carbonate Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 53 1989 3215 3221 Google Scholar
Haynes, C.V. Jr. Holocene migration rates of the Sudano-Sahelian wetting front, Arba'in Desert, eastern Sahara Close, A.E. Prehistory of Aird North Africa. Essays in Honore of Fred Wendorf 1987 Southern Methodist University Press Dallas, TX 69 84 Google Scholar
Hillaire-Marcel, C. Casanova, J. Isotopic hydrology and paleohydrology of the Magadi (Kenya-Natron (Tanzania) basin during the Late Quaternary Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 58 1987 155 181 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klitzsch, E. Sonntag, C. Weistroffer, K. El Shazly, E.M. Grundwasser zur Zentralsahara: fossile Vorräte Geologische Rundschau 65 1976 264 287 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kröpelin, S. Palaeoclimatic evidence from early to mid-Holocene playas in the Gilf Kebir (southwest Egypt) Coetzee, J.A. Palaeoecology of Africa and the Surrounding Islands Vol. 18 1987 A. A. Balkema Rotterdam 189 208 Google Scholar
Kutzbach, J.E. Street-Perrott, F.A. Milankovitch forcing of fluctuations in the level of tropical lakes from 18 to 0 kyr BP Nature (London) 317 1985 130 134 Google Scholar
Lécolle, P. The oxygen isotope composition of landsnail shells as a climatic indicator: applications to hydrogeology and paleoclimatology Chemical Geology (Isotope Geoscience Section) 58 1985 157 181 Google Scholar
Leguy, C. Rindsberger, M. Zangwil, A. Issar, A. Gat, J.R. The relation between the 18O and deuterium contents of rain water in the Negev Desert and air-mass trajectories Isotope Geoscience 1 1983 205 218 Google Scholar
Longinelli, A. Oxygen isotopes in mammal bone phosphate: A new tool for paleohydrological and paleoclimatological research? Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 48 1984 385 390 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luz, B. Palaeo-oceanography of the post-glacial Eastern Mediterranean Nature (London) 278 1979 847 848 Google Scholar
Luz, B. Kolodny, Y. Horowitz, M. Fractionation of oxygen isotopes between mammalian bone-phosphate and environmental drinking water Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 48 1984 1689 1693 Google Scholar
Magaritz, M. Heller, J. A desert migration indicator—oxygen isotopic composition of land snail shells Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 32 1980 153 162 Google Scholar
Magaritz, M. Heller, J. Annual cycle of 18O/16O and 13C/12C isotope ratios in landsnail shells Isotope Geoscience 1 1983 243 255 Google Scholar
Neumann, K. Zur Vegetationsgeschichte der Ostsahara im Holozän. Holzkohlen aus prähistorischen Fundstellen (mit einem Exkurs über die Holzkohlen von Fachi-Dogonboulo/Niger) Kuper, R. Forschungen zur Umweltsgeschichte der Ostsahara 1989 Heinrich-Barth-Institut, Universität Köln Köln 13 181 Google Scholar
Pachur, H.-J. Kröpelin, S. L'aridification du Sahara oriental à l'Holocène moyen et supérieur Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 8 V 1989 99 107 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Petit-Marie, N. Casta, L. Delibrias, G. Gaven, C. Testud, A.-M. Preliminary data on Quaternary palaeolacustrine deposits in the Wādi ash Shāti' area, Libya Salem, M.J. Busrewil, M.T. The Geology of Libya Vol. III 1980 Academic Press London 797 807 Google Scholar
Rindsberger, M. Jaffe, S. Rahamim, S. Gat, J.R. Patterns of the isotopic composition of precipitation in time and space: data from the Israeli storm water collection program Tellus 42B 1990 263 271 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rindsberger, M. Magaritz, M. Carmi, I. Gilad, D. The relation between air mass trajectories and the water isotope composition of rain in the Mediterranean Sea area Geophysical Research Letters 10 1983 43 46 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ritchie, J.C. Haynes, C.V. Holocene vegetation zonation in the eastern Sahara Nature (London) 330 1987 645 647 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosen, A. Quaternary alluvial stratigraphy of the Shephela and its paleoclimatic implications Reports of the Geological Survey of Israel no. 25/86 1986 1 38 Google Scholar
Schwarcz, H.P. Geochronology and isotope geochemistry of speleothems Fritz, P. Fontes, J.C. Handbook of Environmental Isotope Geochemistry, Volume 2. The Terrestrial Environment, B 1986 Elsevier Amsterdam 271 303 Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. Oxygen and carbon isotope ratios of fresh-water carbonates as climatic indicators Journal of Geophysical Research 75 1970 5247 5257 Google Scholar
Turi, B. Stable isotope geochemistry of travertines Fritz, P. Fontes, J.C. Handbook of Environmental Isotope Geochemistry, Volume 2. The Terrestrial Environment, B 1986 Elsevier Amsterdam 207 238 Google Scholar
Tzur, Y. Isotope Effects in the Evaporation of Water into Air Thesis 1971 Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot [in Hebrew with English summary] Google Scholar
Yapp, C.J. Oxygen and carbon isotope measurements of land snail shell carbonate Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 43 1979 629 635 Google Scholar