Holocene Hydroclimatic Changes in Northern Peloponnese (Greece) Inferred from the Multiproxy Record of Lake Lousoi

Dionysios Stamatis,Pavlos Avramidis,Alessia Masi,Alexandros Emmanouilidis,Adam Izdebski

doi:10.3390/w14040641

Abstract

This research presents the paleoenvironmental evolution of a drained lake at the Lousoi plateau (northern Peloponnese), for the last 10,000 years, through the study of a 7 m depth core. Analyses conducted on the core include grain size, TOC, TN, pH, EC, total carbonates (%), magnetic susceptibility measurements, XRF analysis, and radiocarbon dating. Our paleoenvironmental reconstruction was based on geochemical proxies’ distribution in the core, combined with sediment physical and textural characteristics and later comparison between additional lacustrine archives from northern Peloponnese. From 10,900 to 7700 cal BP lacustrine, organic-rich deposits were recognized, reflecting increased lake water levels. Wet climatic conditions seem to have prevailed during this phase, interrupted by a dry pulse at 9400 cal BP. Transition to more shallow waters was marked at 8200 cal BP due to increased sediment deposition in the lake, with the environmental status shifting to a more oxygenated phase. Overall, wet conditions prevailed in this period and are in good agreement with regional records. In the Late Holocene period, the lake seems to have been highly affected by pedogenic processes, and thus, it was difficult to distinguish paleoclimatic/paleoenvironmental signals.

Highlights

Academic Editor: Hong YangThe eastern Mediterranean region (Figure 1a) is shaped by high spatiotemporal variability of climate, produced by mid-latitude and subtropical atmospheric circulation systems [1,2]
We used a multiproxy approach on a 7 m long sediment core from Lake Lousoi, to identify similar/opposing trends between local and regional archives
For the last 10,900 years, Lake Lousoi experienced significant changes that led to final desiccation at around 4200 cal BP

Summary

Introduction

Academic Editor: Hong YangThe eastern Mediterranean region (Figure 1a) is shaped by high spatiotemporal variability of climate, produced by mid-latitude and subtropical atmospheric circulation systems [1,2]. The complex topography of the area further enhances this variability, with mountain ranges forming microclimates and distinct precipitation and temperature gradients. This climate complexity, combined with a long history of human occupation in the area, provides an ideal setting to track short- and long-term climatic and environmental fluctuations and even address how these changes affected early human societies. The Peloponnese, in particular, is located in the transitional zone of large-scale atmospheric patterns and is characterized by an E–W precipitation gradient (Figure 1b). The chronological framework of most studies is limited to the Middle and Late Holocene; data reflecting the Early Holocene environmental and climatic status of the Peloponnese are lacking

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion