Reconstruction of MIS 5 climate in the central Levant using a stalagmite from Kanaan Cave, Lebanon

C Nehme,J Hellstrom,J J Delannoy,S Verheyden,P Claeys,A R Farrant,D Sahy,S R Noble

doi:10.5194/cp-11-1785-2015

Abstract

Abstract. Lying at the transition between the temperate Mediterranean domain and subtropical deserts, the Levant is a key area to study the palaeoclimatic response over glacial–interglacial cycles. This paper presents a precisely dated last interglacial (MIS 5) stalagmite (129–84 ka) from the Kanaan Cave, Lebanon. Variations in growth rate and isotopic records indicate a warm humid phase at the onset of the last interglacial at ~ 129 ka that lasted until ~ 125 ka. A gradual shift in speleothem isotopic composition (125–122 ka) is driven mainly by the δ18O source effect of the eastern Mediterranean surface waters during sapropel 5 (S5). The onset of glacial inception began after ~ 122 ka, interrupted by a short wet pulse during the sapropel 4 (S4) event. Low growth rates and enriched oxygen and carbon values until ~ 84 ka indicate a transition to drier conditions during Northern Hemisphere glaciation.

Highlights

Located at the interface between mid- and high-latitude climate systems, and affected by both the North Atlantic Oscillation and the monsoonal system over Africa, the Levant region has the unique potential to record the occurrence of climatic changes in both systems
In section it displays regular layers of dense calcite ranging in colour from dark brown to light yellow with a regular thin (< 0.2 mm) lamination www.clim-past.net/11/1785/2015/
The changes in carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of speleothems in the Levant are linked to changes in precipitation with periods of low rainfall inducing sparse vegetation and a lower contribution of “light” organic carbon in the speleothem resulting in higher δ13C value (Frumkin et al, 2000)

Summary

Introduction

Located at the interface between mid- and high-latitude climate systems, and affected by both the North Atlantic Oscillation and the monsoonal system over Africa, the Levant region (eastern Mediterranean Basin) has the unique potential to record the occurrence of climatic changes in both systems. Known for its long record of prehistoric human settlements, the Levant straddles the transition zone between the more humid Mediterranean climate in the north and the arid Saharo-Arabian desert climate regime in the south. This transition zone is characterized by steep precipitation and temperature gradients. A key period for understanding the climate system in the Levant is the last interglacial: Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 This is generally considered to be a warm period, comparable to the presentday climate, this is still under considerable debate (Vaks et al, 2003; Lisker et al, 2010; Ayalon et al, 2002, 2013; Bar-Matthews, 2014). Speleothem isotopic records of Soreq, Peqiin, and West

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