Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia

The forcing mechanisms responsible for the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean-type climate in south-western Europe are currently unclear, but understanding these is critical for accurate climate projections under future greenhouse gas warming. Additionally, regional studies that present conflic...

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Published in:Quaternary Science Reviews
Main Authors: Walczak, I.W., Baldini, J.U.L., Baldini, L.M., McDermott, F., Marsden, S., Standish, C.D., Richards, D.A., Andreo, B., Slater, J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2015
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Online Access:https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/380851/
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spelling ftsouthampton:oai:eprints.soton.ac.uk:380851 2023-07-30T04:05:19+02:00 Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia Walczak, I.W. Baldini, J.U.L. Baldini, L.M. McDermott, F. Marsden, S. Standish, C.D. Richards, D.A. Andreo, B. Slater, J. 2015-11-01 https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/380851/ English eng Walczak, I.W., Baldini, J.U.L., Baldini, L.M., McDermott, F., Marsden, S., Standish, C.D., Richards, D.A., Andreo, B. and Slater, J. (2015) Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 127, 117-128. (doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.06.013 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.06.013>). Article PeerReviewed 2015 ftsouthampton https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.06.013 2023-07-09T22:01:09Z The forcing mechanisms responsible for the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean-type climate in south-western Europe are currently unclear, but understanding these is critical for accurate climate projections under future greenhouse gas warming. Additionally, regional studies that present conflicting patterns for the onset and advancement of Mediterranean climatic conditions complicate definitively ascribing causality. Here, we use a new high resolution stalagmite density record obtained non-destructively using Computed Tomography (CT scanning) to reconstruct southern Iberian climate between 9.3 and 2.9 ka BP. We suggest that stalagmite density can be used as a water-excess proxy, with lower densities associated with more variable drip rates, possibly reflecting increased seasonality consistent with expectations from previous studies of speleothem textures and crystal fabrics. Our results reveal an early Holocene humid interval and mid-Holocene year-round aridity that preceded the onset of Mediterranean climate at 5.3 ka BP in southern Iberia. Using this new dataset combined with previously published results, we link the gradual advancement of the Mediterranean climate to the southward migration of the North Atlantic Subtropical High induced by an orbitally driven decrease in Northern Hemisphere insolation. Future anthropogenic warming could result in a reversal of this trend, a northward migration of the North Atlantic Subtropical High, and a return to year-round aridity in south-western Europe. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic University of Southampton: e-Prints Soton Quaternary Science Reviews 127 117 128
institution Open Polar
collection University of Southampton: e-Prints Soton
op_collection_id ftsouthampton
language English
description The forcing mechanisms responsible for the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean-type climate in south-western Europe are currently unclear, but understanding these is critical for accurate climate projections under future greenhouse gas warming. Additionally, regional studies that present conflicting patterns for the onset and advancement of Mediterranean climatic conditions complicate definitively ascribing causality. Here, we use a new high resolution stalagmite density record obtained non-destructively using Computed Tomography (CT scanning) to reconstruct southern Iberian climate between 9.3 and 2.9 ka BP. We suggest that stalagmite density can be used as a water-excess proxy, with lower densities associated with more variable drip rates, possibly reflecting increased seasonality consistent with expectations from previous studies of speleothem textures and crystal fabrics. Our results reveal an early Holocene humid interval and mid-Holocene year-round aridity that preceded the onset of Mediterranean climate at 5.3 ka BP in southern Iberia. Using this new dataset combined with previously published results, we link the gradual advancement of the Mediterranean climate to the southward migration of the North Atlantic Subtropical High induced by an orbitally driven decrease in Northern Hemisphere insolation. Future anthropogenic warming could result in a reversal of this trend, a northward migration of the North Atlantic Subtropical High, and a return to year-round aridity in south-western Europe.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Walczak, I.W.
Baldini, J.U.L.
Baldini, L.M.
McDermott, F.
Marsden, S.
Standish, C.D.
Richards, D.A.
Andreo, B.
Slater, J.
spellingShingle Walczak, I.W.
Baldini, J.U.L.
Baldini, L.M.
McDermott, F.
Marsden, S.
Standish, C.D.
Richards, D.A.
Andreo, B.
Slater, J.
Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia
author_facet Walczak, I.W.
Baldini, J.U.L.
Baldini, L.M.
McDermott, F.
Marsden, S.
Standish, C.D.
Richards, D.A.
Andreo, B.
Slater, J.
author_sort Walczak, I.W.
title Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia
title_short Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia
title_full Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia
title_fullStr Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia
title_full_unstemmed Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia
title_sort reconstructing high-resolution climate using ct scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: a case study identifying the mid-holocene onset of the mediterranean climate in southern iberia
publishDate 2015
url https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/380851/
genre North Atlantic
genre_facet North Atlantic
op_relation Walczak, I.W., Baldini, J.U.L., Baldini, L.M., McDermott, F., Marsden, S., Standish, C.D., Richards, D.A., Andreo, B. and Slater, J. (2015) Reconstructing high-resolution climate using CT scanning of unsectioned stalagmites: A case study identifying the mid-Holocene onset of the Mediterranean climate in southern Iberia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 127, 117-128. (doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.06.013 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.06.013>).
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.06.013
container_title Quaternary Science Reviews
container_volume 127
container_start_page 117
op_container_end_page 128
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