A High-Resolution Record of Holocene Climate Change in Speleothem Calcite from Cold Water Cave, Northeast Iowa

Author

Jeffrey A. Dorale
Luis A. González
Mark K. Reagan
David A. Pickett
Michael T. Murrell
Richard G. Baker

Files

Publication Date

12-4-1992

Publication Title

Science

Volume Number

258

Abstract

High-precision uranium-thorium mass spectrometric chronology and 18 O- 13 C isotopic analysis of speleothem calcite from Cold Water Cave in northeast Iowa have been used to chart mid-Holocene climate change. Significant shifts in δ 18 O and δ 13 C isotopic values coincide with well-documented Holocene vegetation changes. Temperature estimates based on 18 O/ 16 O ratios suggest that the climate warmed rapidly by about 3δC at 5900 years before present and then cooled by 4δC at 3600 years before present. Initiation of a gradual increase in δ 13 C at 5900 years before present suggests that turnover of the forest soil biomass was slow and that equilibrium with prairie vegetation was not attained by 3600 years before present.

Document Type

Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/ 10.1126/science.258.5088.1626

Recommended Citation

Dorale, Jeffrey A.; González, Luis A.; Reagan, Mark K.; Pickett, David A.; Murrell, Michael T.; and Baker, Richard G., "A High-Resolution Record of Holocene Climate Change in Speleothem Calcite from Cold Water Cave, Northeast Iowa" (1992). KIP Articles. 9758.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/9758