High-resolution geochemical (μXRF) and palynological analyses for climatic and environmental changes in lake sediments from Sultansazlığı Marsh (Central Anatolia) during the last 14.5 kyr

Abstract

Multi-proxy analyses of Sultansazlığı Marsh sedimentary sequence covering the last ∼14.5 kyr documents climatic and environmental changes in Central Anatolia (Turkey) and can be correlated with Holocene Rapid Climate Changes (RCCs). Well-correlated geochemical compositions (μXRF), pollen and lithological analyses, together with an age-depth model, were used to determine the time intervals of cold, dry, warm, and wet conditions in Sultansazlığı. Geochemical and pollen data including Younger Dryas (YD) revealed 9 arid periods RCCs; 11.1 ka, 10.3 ka, 9.3 ka, 8.2 ka, 7.3 ka (for this study), 6.5 ka (for this study), 5.9 ka, 4.2 ka, and 2.8 ka. The analysis of glacial advance during the Lateglacial suggests that the climate was cold and wet. YD and two more hiatuses have been accurately determined from the μXRF geochemical proxies. However, YD cold period does not show severe conditions like in other areas in the world. Moreover, the other two hiatuses were clearly determined between Early- Middle and inside the Middle Holocene. In general, the period after 9.8 ka indicates warming conditions towards the recent with some fluctuations compared to an overall trend of the climate.