Speleothems as indicators of wet and dry periods

INTRODUCTION Calcareous speleothems, cave deposits such as stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones are phenomena which are generated by a complex set of processes in part dependent on climate. During the late 20th century, the main focus of research was on δ18O records in speleothems as palaeotemperature indicators. However, even where the results of this approach can be calibrated in the instrumental period (e.g. Mangini et al., 2005), there are discrepancies with other palaeoclimate indicators, and it now appears that shifts in meteorological patterns over time need to be considered. Such changing patterns are also likely to be reflected in changing rainfall amount and indeed much attention is currently being

[1]  A. Mangin,et al.  Le gaz carbonique dans la dynamique de l'atmosphère des cavités karstiques : l'exemple de l'Aven d'Orgnac (Ardèche) , 2001 .

[2]  A. Baker,et al.  Modelling of dripwater hydrology and hydrogeochemistry in a weakly karstified aquifer (Bath, UK): Implications for climate change studies , 2006 .

[3]  B. Spiro,et al.  Controls on trace element Sr-Mg compositions of carbonate cave waters: implications for speleothem climatic records , 2000 .

[4]  H. Schwarcz,et al.  ISOTOPES IN SPELEOTHEMS , 2006 .

[5]  G. Henderson,et al.  Seasonal trace-element and stable-isotope variations in a Chinese speleothem: The potential for high-resolution paleomonsoon reconstruction , 2005 .

[6]  Climate and the Collapse of Maya Civilization , 2003, Science.

[7]  Wolfgang Dreybrodt,et al.  Chemical kinetics, speleothem growth and climate , 1999 .

[8]  Manfred Mudelsee,et al.  Holocene Forcing of the Indian Monsoon Recorded in a Stalagmite from Southern Oman , 2003, Science.

[9]  A. Baker,et al.  Hydrological characterisation of stalagmite dripwaters at Grotte de Villars, Dordogne, by the analysis of inorganic species and luminescent organic matter , 2000 .

[10]  M. Bar-Matthews,et al.  Sea-land oxygen isotopic relationships from planktonic foraminifera and speleothems in the Eastern Mediterranean region and their implication for paleorainfall during interglacial intervals , 2003 .

[11]  J. Chappell,et al.  Complex speleothem growth processes revealed by trace element mapping and scanning electron microscopy of annual layers , 2005 .

[12]  M. Bar-Matthews,et al.  Rainfall-recharge relationships within a karstic terrain in the Eastern Mediterranean semi-arid region, Israel: δ 18O and δD characteristics , 1998 .

[13]  Pierre Genthon,et al.  Microclimates of l'Aven d'Orgnac and other French limestone caves (Chauvet, Esparros, Marsoulas) , 2006 .

[14]  I. Fairchild,et al.  Soil and karst aquifer hydrological controls on the geochemical evolution of speleothem-forming drip waters, Crag Cave, southwest Ireland , 2003 .

[15]  Pauline C. Treble,et al.  In situ measurement of seasonal δ18O variations and analysis of isotopic trends in a modern speleothem from southwest Australia , 2005 .

[16]  R. Kalin,et al.  Environmental Controls on the Petrology of a Late Holocene Speleothem from Botswana with Annual Layers of Aragonite and Calcite , 1994 .

[17]  B. Spiro,et al.  Holocene climate variability in Europe: Evidence from δ18O, textural and extension-rate variations in three speleothems , 1999 .

[18]  Andy Baker,et al.  University of Birmingham Modification and preservation of environmental signals in speleothems , 2005 .

[19]  P. Mayewski,et al.  Holocene climate variability , 2004, Quaternary Research.

[20]  F. McDermott,et al.  Annual trace element cycles in calcite–aragonite speleothems: evidence of drought in the western Mediterranean 1200–1100 yr BP , 2005 .

[21]  D. Genty,et al.  Drip flow variations under a stalactite of the Père Noël cave (Belgium). Evidence of seasonal variations and air pressure constraints , 1998 .

[22]  Christoph Spötl,et al.  Cave air control on dripwater geochemistry, Obir Caves (Austria): Implications for speleothem deposition in dynamically ventilated caves , 2005 .

[23]  Andy Baker,et al.  Intra- and inter-annual growth rate of modern stalagmites , 2001 .

[24]  P. Rustomji,et al.  Synoptic-scale climate patterns associated with rainfall δ18O in southern Australia , 2005 .

[25]  J. Holmes,et al.  Drought and dust deposition in the West African Sahel: a 5500-year record from Kajemarum Oasis, northeastern Nigeria , 2000 .

[26]  C. Spötl,et al.  Reconstruction of temperature in the Central Alps during the past 2000 yr from a δ18O stalagmite record , 2005 .

[27]  W. Dreybrodt.  Processes in Karst Systems , 1988 .

[28]  T. Gauquelin,et al.  Holocene climatic changes in the Western Mediterranean, from south-east France to south-east Spain , 2000 .

[29]  C. Hendy,et al.  The isotopic geochemistry of speleothems—I. The calculation of the effects of different modes of formation on the isotopic composition of speleothems and their applicability as palaeoclimatic indicators , 1971 .

[30]  R. Lawrence Edwards,et al.  The Holocene Asian Monsoon: Links to Solar Changes and North Atlantic Climate , 2005, Science.

[31]  S. Sánchez-Moral,et al.  Microclimatic characterization of a karstic cave: human impact on microenvironmental parameters of a prehistoric rock art cave (Candamo Cave, northern Spain) , 1998 .

[32]  A. Mangin.  Contribution à l'étude hydrodynamique des aquifères karstiques , 1975 .

[33]  S. Burns,et al.  Holocene ITCZ and Indian monsoon dynamics recorded in stalagmites from Oman and Yemen (Socotra) , 2007 .

[34]  M. Leng.  Isotopes in palaeoenvironmental research , 2006 .

[35]  D. King,et al.  Speleothem master chronologies: combined Holocene 18O and 13C records from the North Island of New Zealand and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation , 2004 .