A preliminary assessment of speleothem sampling methods for paleoclimate research

Author

National Cave and Karst Research Institute

Files

Publication Date

November 2013

Document Type

Article

Notes

Sarah Truebe Dept of Geosciences, University of Arizona Gould-Simpson Bldg #77, Rm 208 1040 E. 4th St. Tucson, AZ 85721, USA sarah.truebe@gmail.com AbstractSpeleothems are incomparable archives of paleoclimate information. However, most methods to extract past climate information from speleothems are destructive, because sampling must occur along the growth axis. Development of sustainable methods for sampling these nonrenewable resources, whereby the needs of science and cave conservation are balanced, ought to be a priority of the paleoclimate community. Ergo, I am studying currently practiced field methods in speleothem paleoclimatology. Part 1 of this two-part study entails surveying paleoclimatology labs working on speleothems nationally and internationally. The results of this portion of the survey were converted to an anonymous list of current methods. These data will be written into a second survey in which stakeholders, including cave managers, will be asked which method(s) aligns best with their cave use and goals. The final output will be a peer-reviewed assessment of methodology, including "best practice" guidelines, which will improve sampling and field methodology in the community as a whole. Additional outputs (e.g., interpretive educational products, brochures, or a speleothem sample archive, etc.) could be produced through collaboration with speleothem paleoclimate labs and cave and karst managers worldwide. Open Access - Permission by Publisher See Extended description for more information.

Identifier

K26-00129

Recommended Citation

National Cave and Karst Research Institute, "A preliminary assessment of speleothem sampling methods for paleoclimate research" (2013). KIP Articles. 4223.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/4223