Carbonate Stable Isotopes

H. Schwarcz

Link to Full Text

Download Full Text

Publication Date

January 2007

Abstract

The oxygen isotopic composition of calcite speleothems (stalagmites, etc.) can be used as a record of changing climate. In deep caves, calcite grows in isotopic equilibrium with drip water and, if δ18O of past drip waters were known, could provide paleotemperatures for caves, equivalent to average surface temperature above the cave. Isotopic records can be dated with high precision by U series up to 500,000 years. Equilibrium O isotope records have been widely used as relative climate indicators by comparison with other climate archives (δ18O in ice cores and foraminifera). Carbon isotope (δ13C) variations reflect changes in vegetation above the cave. Fluid inclusions in speleothem represent trapped drip waters, from which H isotope (δD) records can be used to estimate δ18O of paleowaters. Cavespeleothemstalagmitestalactiteflowstonecalcitestable isotopeO-18C-13U seriesC-14Paleotemperaturemeteoric waterpaleoclimate

Document Type

Article

Identifier

SFS0072097_00001

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS