| SPELEOTHEMS |
Spötl et al. 2008 Spannagel Cave, Austria MIS 7 Stable Isotope Data
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Spötl, C.,Scholz, D.,Mangini, A. 2008 A terrestrial U/Th-dated stable isotope record of the Penultimate Interglacial. Earth
and Planetary Science Letters Vol. 276, Issues 3-4, pp. 283-292, 15 December 2008.
| Data Coverage |
North: 47.09 * South: 47.09 |
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West: 11.67 * East: 11.67 |
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Altitude: 2531 m |
Start Year: -242120 AD
End Year: -185340 AD
Data: Please Cite Data Contributors!
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Summary: Here we present the first U-series dated stable oxygen isotope record
in continental Europe that covers the entire tripartite Penultimate
Interglacial, i.e. Marine Isotope Stages 7.5 to 7.1. This record was
obtained from a U-rich stalagmite from Spannagel Cave in the Austrian
Alps which is largely devoid of kinetic isotope fractionation effects
which comprised previously studied flowstone from this site.
Composed of dense, columnar calcite this speleothem apparently grew
without significant interruption for ca. 50 ka, albeit at a very slow
rate. The age model was established based on 23 individual U/Th TIMS
dates using a combination of a Bayesian approach, which includes
additional information using stratigraphic constraints, and the mixed-
effect regression model. The resulting record shows three prominent
maxima in d18O (MIS 7.5, 7.3 and 7.1) separated by a long earlier and
a shorter later cold period (MIS 7.4 and 7.2, respectively). The mid
points of the transitions into the three warm phases occurred at
240 ± 3, 215 ± 2 and 200 ± 3 ka and the MIS 7/6 transition was dated
to 190 ± 3 ka. The timing of these climate transitions is supported by
other samples from the same cave and agrees within analytical
uncertainties with U/Th-dated evidence from corals, marine aragonitic
sediments and submerged stalagmites, as well as with orbitally tuned
deep-sea records. Good agreement was also found with new speleothem
data from China as far as MIS 7.1 and 7.5 are concerned, whereas
MIS 7.3 apparently started earlier and MIS 7.2 lasted longer than
in the Alps. Comparing the European speleothem data with Antarctic
ice cores reveals obvious differences in age (the latter suggesting
an earlier start and a generally shorter duration of the three warm
episodes). In essence, this study underscores the great potential
of speleothems as accurate and precise chronometers of Pleistocene
climate change and emphasizes the need for similar studies in other
continents (including submerged caves) in order to improve the
imperfect chronological framework of MIS 7.
More Info on Speleothems |
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Complete XML Record: noaa-cave-6212
(Last Revised: 2009-02-11 )
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