Abstract
U-Th and 14C dating, and X-ray diffraction of the parts of 16 submerged speleothems taken from the depths of 1.5−41.5 m from 7 submarine caves and pits along the Eastern Adriatic coast, provided insight to the sea-level fluctuations during the last 220 ka and to the palaeogeographic changes caused by sea-level changes. Due to the climate changes, palaeoenvironmental settings also varied, but not so abrupt and intensive as in the rest of Europe. Namely, owing to the Alps and Dinarides acting as orographic barriers, Eastern Adriatic coast was the border region between periglacial Europe and temperate Mediterranean region. It was, also, refuge area for plant species from the north. This study showed that appropriate temperature, humidity and vegetation cover ensured favourable conditions for karstification and speleothems formation processes even during Last Glacial Maximum.
Highlights
Environmental conditions in the coastal zones almost completely depend on sea-land distribution
U-Th and 14C dating, and X-ray diffraction of parts of 16 submerged speleothems taken from depths of 1.5−41.5 m from 7 submarine caves and pits along the Eastern Adriatic coast, provided insight into the sea-level fluctuations during the last 220 ka, and to the palaeogeographic changes caused by sea-level changes
This study showed that appropriate temperature, humidity and vegetation cover ensured favourable conditions for karstification and speleothem formation even during the Last Glacial Maximum
Summary
Environmental conditions in the coastal zones almost completely depend on sea-land distribution. Other than on the spatial (palaeogeographic) settings, sea-land distribution had an indirect impact on climatic settings on the local and regional level, ( influencing animal and plant distribution), and on the hydrogeological settings of the coastal zones All of these changes can be recorded in the speleothems from the submerged caves. Calcite speleothems are secondary mineral deposits formed in caves by degassing of CO2 from supersaturated H2O-CO2-CaCO3 solutions that have entered the cave (DREYBRODT, 2005) If these are typical subaerial features, their present positions under the sea, in submerged caves, are irrefutable evidence of former lower sea stands. As they grow, they may trap trace quantities of other minerals, flood debris, dust, organic matter, pollen, etc. Speleothems are potentially excellent subjects for the study of long-term changes of continental mean temperature and perhaps other climatic parameters (FORD & WILLIAMS, 1989)
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