High‐Resolution Proxy Records From Two Simultaneously Grown Stalagmites From Zoolithencave (Southeastern Germany) and their Potential for Palaeoclimate Reconstruction

Dana F C Riechelmann,Sylvia Riechelmann,Bernd R Schöne,Klaus Peter Jochum,Jasper A Wassenburg,Jens Fohlmeister,Denis Scholz,Detlev K Richter

doi:10.1029/2019gc008755

Abstract

AbstractTwo small annually laminated stalagmites from Zoolithencave (southeastern Germany) grew between CE 1821 and 1970 (Zoo‐rez‐1) and CE 1835 and 1970 (Zoo‐rez‐2), respectively. Trace element concentrations were determined by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). Samples for δ13C and δ18O analyses were micromilled on annual and subannual resolution. Soil and host rock samples were analyzed by X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) and their elemental concentrations determined via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP‐OES). Trace element concentrations in the stalagmites show two groups in the principal component analyses: one with Mg, Ba, and Sr and another with Y, P, and Al, respectively. The second group reflects the content of detrital material. Increased weathering of soil minerals seems to have a strong influence on the silicate/carbonate weathering ratio controlling the variability of Mg, Ba, and Sr. Meteorological and Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) station data were used to calculate the δ18O values of the drip water (infiltration‐weighted, mean annual, and the mean of the winter precipitation δ18O values) as well as the corresponding speleothem calcite. The δ18O values calculated by the infiltration‐weighted model show similar patterns and amplitudes as the measured δ18O values of the two stalagmites. This suggests that the δ18O values of speleothem calcite reflect the δ18O values of infiltration‐weighted annual precipitation, which zis related to mean annual temperature, resulting in a significant correlation between mean annual temperature and the measured δ18O values of stalagmite Zoo‐rez‐2. This relationship could potentially be used for quantitative climate reconstruction in the future by extending the time series back in time with further stalagmites from Zoolithencave.

Highlights

Quantifying past temperature and precipitation changes is an important but challenging task to set the recent climate change in relation to variations in the past
Soil and host rock samples were analyzed by X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) and their elemental concentrations determined via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP‐OES)
The second group of trace elements in the principal component analysis (PCA) is formed by Y, P, and Al (Figure 5), which show elevated values at the same time in all three elemental records (Figures 4d–4f)

Summary

Introduction

Quantifying past temperature and precipitation changes is an important but challenging task to set the recent climate change in relation to variations in the past. To achieve this aim, annually to subannually resolved proxy records from climate archives are needed. The most prominent climate archive providing temperature or precipitation reconstructions with annual resolution are tree rings (e.g., Büntgen et al, 2011; Esper et al, 2014; Wilson et al, 2005). Speleothems can provide similar high‐resolution proxy records, especially if they show annual laminae. Speleothem δ13C and δ18O values can be measured with annual to subannual resolution and have provided information on past temperature and/or precipitation variability

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion