Drip Water Research Articles

Quantification of southwest China rainfall during the 8.2 ka BP event with response to North Atlantic cooling

Abstract. The 8.2 ka BP event could provide important information for predicting abrupt climate change in the future. Although published records show that the East Asian monsoon area responded to the 8.2 ka BP event, there is no high-resolution quantitative reconstructed climate record in this area. In this study, a reconstructed 10-year moving average annual rainfall record in southwest China during the 8.2 ka BP event is presented by comparing two high-resolution stalagmite δ18O records from Dongge cave and Heshang cave. This decade-scale rainfall reconstruction is based on a central-scale model and is confirmed by inter-annual monitoring records, which show a significant positive correlation between the regional mean annual rainfall and the drip water annual average δ18O difference from two caves along the same monsoon moisture transport pathway from May 2011 to April 2014. Similar trends between the reconstructed rainfall and the stalagmite Mg ∕ Ca record, another proxy of rainfall, during the 8.2 ka BP period further increase the confidence of the quantification of the rainfall record. The reconstructed record shows that the mean annual rainfall in southwest China during the central 8.2 ka BP event is less than that of present (1950–1990) by ∼ 200 mm and decreased by ∼ 350 mm in ∼ 70 years experiencing an extreme drying period lasting for ∼ 50 years. Comparison of the reconstructed rainfall record in southwest China with Greenland ice core δ18O and δ15N records suggests that the reduced rainfall in southwest China during the 8.2 ka BP period was coupled with Greenland cooling with a possible response rate of 110 ± 30 mm °C−1.

Cave drip water may contain fire evidence

Water that drips from aboveground into caves to form stalactites and stalagmites carries with it paleoclimate signatures in isotopic ratios. Now, researchers say this geochemical record may be alte...

Interpretation of epikarstic cave drip water recession curves: a case study from Velika Pasica Cave, central Slovenia

ABSTRACTRecession curves are widely used in hydrological studies and projects, such as in rivers, streams or springs. However, no cave drip water has been analysed with recession curves. In this paper, four cave drips were monitored in the Velika Pasica Cave, in order to discover the water flow and storage properties of the epikarst. Various methods were applied in the recession analysis, combining the hydrological characteristics of the four drips: for the slow water in the epikarst, the matching strip method was the identified as the appropriate model for the drip water recession analysis. According to the recession coefficient k, the water flow in the epikarst was divided into fast flow, intermediate flow and slow flow. The volume of water retained in the reservoir (the epikarst storage) could be presented as a function of its specific recession coefficient.EDITOR D.Koutsoyiannis; ASSOCIATE EDITOR X. Chen

Monsoon Climate Impact on Drip Water Geochemistry at Niah Great Cave, NW Borneo, Malaysia: Evaluating the Spatial and Temporal Trends

Monsoon Climate Impact on Drip Water Geochemistry at Niah Great Cave, NW Borneo, Malaysia: Evaluating the Spatial and Temporal Trends

What determines the calcium concentration of speleothem-forming drip waters?

Cave drip water calcium ion concentration is a primary determinant of speleothem deposition and growth rate. The factors that determine drip water calcium ion concentrations are the soil and vadose zone CO2 concentrations, and the hydrogeochemical evolution of the water from soil to cave. Here, we use a systematic literature review of cave drip water calcium concentrations, combined with PHREEQC equilibrium modelling, to investigate the global relationship between calcium concentration and surface climate. Our results are discussed in the context of understanding the climatic and environmental controls on drip water calcium concentration, speleothem growth rates and proxies of past climate and environmental change. We use an empirical, global soil CO2 concentration–temperature relationship to derive PHREEQC modelled cave drip water calcium concentrations. The global mean modelled drip water calcium concentration is close to that observed, but it over-predicts at high and low temperatures, and significantly under-predicts at temperate conditions. We hypothesise that closed system hydrochemical evolution due to water saturation is an important control on carbonate dissolution at colder temperatures. Under warmer conditions, for example temperate climates with a dry and hot or warm summer, seasonally-limited water availability can lead to: <100% soil cover; water-limitations on microbial and root respiration; wildfire; and prior calcite precipitation, all of which limit drip water calcium concentrations. In temperate climates with no dry season, higher CO2 concentrations than modelled from soil values are necessary to explain the observed drip water calcium values, which we propose is from an additional source of CO2 from microbial activity and root respiration in the vadose zone during open system hydrochemical evolution.

High-resolution Variations of Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotopes of Precipitation and Feedback from Cave Water: An Example of Jiguan Cave, Henan

The stable isotopes of atmospheric precipitation that affect the isotopes of speleothem and cave water are controlled by a variety of factors, such as temperature, rainfall amount, altitude, vapor source and others. Knowledge in the factors causing rainfall stable isotopes change is one of the keys to understanding the cave water stable isotopes change of monsoon-sensitive area in the north-south China intersection. The samples collected from 4 ground water sites in Jiguan Cave and the instantaneous heavy rain during Aug.4^th-6^th, 2015 were analyzed, and combined with the precipitation oxygen and hydrogen isotopes data for samples from almost 6 years (2009-2015) collected in Jiguan Cave of Luanchuan County in Henan Province, leading to the following findings:① The precipitation was divided into 2 stages with different vapor sources (high-altitude water vapor from the South China Sea and inland areas from near the ground to evaporate moisture) that could be recorded in the δ¹⁸O of single rainfall by HYSPLIT model. ② The evaporation of stage 2 masked the temperature effect to some extent, which also decreased the slope and intercept of LMWL and <i>d</i>-excess of precipitation. ③ The δ¹⁸O values feature of cave drip water in Jiguan Cave during this rainfall was mainly a response to the summer monsoon precipitation from sea source vapor. The cave drip water of Jiguan Cave responded to the heavy rain very quickly, and the time was ~3 h. The δ¹⁸O of drip became heavier when dripping rate increased and then decreased slowly. The same pattern could be found in underground river with slight delay, and the pool near the cave entrance reflected the difference of precipitation δ¹⁸O in two stages.

Spatiotemporal distribution of δ13C[sbnd]CO2 in a shallow cave and its potential use as indicator of anthropic pressure

This study deals with the spatiotemporal dynamics of CO2 and its isotopic composition (δ13CCO2) in the atmosphere of Altamira Cave (northern Spain) over two annual cycles. In general terms, the cavity shows two distinct ventilation modes, acting as a CO2 reservoir from October to May (recharge stage), while actively exchanging gases with the outside atmosphere between July and September (discharge stage). In recharge mode, the in-cave air shows higher and relatively homogeneous CO2 values (3332 ± 521 ppm) with lower δ13CCO2 (−23.2 ± 0.4‰). In contrast, during the discharge stage, the CO2 concentrations are lower and relatively more variable (1383 ± 435 ppm) and accompanied by higher δ13CCO2 (up to −12‰). This seasonal pattern is controlled by the distinct rates of exchange of air masses with the external atmosphere through the annual cycle, as well as by changes in the production of CO2 in the soil and natural fluctuations in the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon transported by drip water into the cave. In contrast to the interpretations of previous studies in Altamira Cave, no local air intakes into the deepest cave sections were flagged by our δ13C measurements. This finding is also supported by analyses of CO2 and 222Rn in air, density of airborne particles and air temperature. In addition, preliminary experiments examining the visitor-produced disturbances on δ13CCO2 were conducted during the various cave ventilation stages to explore the potential use of this parameter as an indicator of anthropic pressure in caves. Our data show that visits (overall stay of 60–85 min; i.e., 4 people for 20 min) significantly affected δ13CCO2 (up to Δδ13C ∼ −2‰) in the Polychrome Hall of Altamira Cave under conditions of low natural CO2 (discharge stage), whereas it remained almost unaltered under circumstances of high CO2 concentration (recharge stage). This demonstrates that δ13CCO2 is sensitive to perturbations produced by visitors during certain periods.

Characterization of minothems at Libiola (NW Italy): morphological, mineralogical, and geochemical study

The aim of this study is to characterize in detail, the mineralogy of different-shaped concretions as well as to investigate the physico-chemical parameters of the associated drainage and drip waters in the Santa Barbara level of the Libiola Mine (NW Italy) by several geochemical and mineralogical techniques. Under the term “minothems” we are grouping all those secondary minerals that occur under certain form or shape related to the conditions under which they formed but occur in a mine, or in any artificial underground environment (i.e., mine speleothems). Different types of minothems (soda straw stalactites, stalactites, and draperies) were sampled and analyzed. Mineralogical results showed that all the samples of stalactites, stalagmite and draperies are characterized by poorly crystalline goethite. There are significant differences either in their texture and chemistry. Stalactites are enriched in Zn, Cd, and Co in respect to other minothems and show botryoidal textures; some of these exhibit a concentric layering marked by the alternation of botryoidal and fibrous-radiating textures; the draperies are enriched in V and show aggregates of sub-spheroidal goethite forming compact mosaic textures. Geochemical investigations show that the composition and physico-chemical parameters of drainage and drip waters are different from the other acidic water occurrences in different areas of the Libiola Mine, where minothems are less abundant. All water samples contain Cu, Ni, and Zn in appreciable levels, and the physico-chemical conditions are consistent with the stability of ferrihydrite, which however tends to transform into goethite upon ageing.

Modern aragonite formation at near-freezing conditions in an alpine cave, Carnic Alps, Austria

Aragonite is a common mineral in caves hosted in dolomitic bedrock, and in particular in those from warm climate regions. It is much less common in cold caves, such as in the Alps, where the vast majority of speleothems consist of low-Mg calcite. Here we report the occurrence of modern aragonite at very low temperatures, the first of its kind from an alpine cave.In the interior part of Obstanser Eishöhle, a high-alpine cave containing perennial ice in its near-entrance zone, aragonite forms stalactites and flowstones, which coexist with calcite and locally also hydromagnesite. Precipitation of aragonite occurs at saturation indices between 0.4 and 0.6 at 1.0±0.4°C. Modern 230Th dates of the youngest aragonite deposits demonstrate that aragonite formation is an ongoing process. δ13C values are high and overlap with those of the host rock. A comparison between δ18O values of aragonite and drip water showed that modern aragonite formation does not occur at isotopic equilibrium. Surprisingly, no radiocarbon “bomb peak” was detected in these speleothems, despite their young age. In addition, these samples are characterized by extremely high reservoir ages between 8800 and 10,100yr, the highest ever reported for a speleothem worldwide. These data are best reconciled with a model of karst dissolution largely decoupled from the soil zone. Oxidation of disseminated pyrite in the dark gray host rock gives rise to acidic solutions driving carbonate dissolution. The dolomitic nature of the bedrock, prior calcite precipitation and ventilation-enhanced degassing leads to high Mg/Ca ratios in the drip water favoring aragonite formation. These in-situ observations confirm previous findings that temperature is not the dominant control on calcite versus aragonite formation in caves. They also suggest that ancient aragonite speleothems should be examined carefully and ideally be compared to coeval calcite samples prior to interpreting their stable isotope data in terms of environmental/climatic changes.

The transfer of seasonal isotopic variability between precipitation and drip water at eight caves in the monsoon regions of China

This study presents new stable isotope data for precipitation (δ18Op) and drip water (δ18Od) from eight cave sites in the monsoon regions of China (MRC), with monthly to bi-monthly sampling intervals from May-2011 to April-2014, to investigate the regional-scale climate forcing on δ18Op and how the isotopic signals are transmitted to various drip sites.The monthly δ18Op values show negative correlation with surface air temperature at all the cave sites except Shihua Cave, which is opposite to that expected from the temperature effect. In addition, although the monthly δ18Op values are negatively correlated with precipitation at all the cave sites, only three sites are significant at the 95% level. These indicate that, due to the various vapor sources, a large portion of variability in δ18Op in the MRC cannot be explained simply by either temperature or precipitation alone.All the thirty-four drip sites are classified into three types based on the δ18Od variability. About 82% of them are static drips with little discernable variation in δ18Od through the whole study period, but the drip rates of these drips are not necessary constant. Their discharge modes are site-specific and the oxygen isotopic composition of the stalagmites growing from them may record the average of multi-year climatic signals, which are modulated by the seasonality of recharge and potential effects of evaporation, and in some cases infiltration from large rainfall events. About 12% of the thirty-four drip sites are seasonal drips, although the amplitude of δ18Od is narrower than that of δ18Op, the monthly response of δ18Od to coeval precipitation is not completely damped, and some of them follow the seasonal trend of δ18Op very well. These drips may be mainly recharged by present-day precipitation, mixing with some stored water. Thus, the stalagmites growing under them may record portions of the seasonal climatic signals embedded in δ18Op. About 6% of the thirty-four drip sites are medium-variability drips, with constant and relatively low δ18Od values in the wet season, but with variable and relatively high δ18Od values in the dry season, reflecting flow switching in the karst or evaporation inside the cave.

Calibration of speleothem δ18O records against hydroclimate instrumental records in Central Brazil

δ18O in speleothems is a powerful proxy for reconstruction of precipitation patterns in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The aim of this study is to calibrate the δ18O record of speleothems against historical precipitation and river discharge data in central Brazil, a region directly influenced by the Southern Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ), a major feature of the South American Monsoon System (SAMS). The present work is based on a sub-annual resolution speleothem record covering the last 141years (the period between the years 1870 and 2011) from a cave in central Brazil. The comparison of this record with instrumental hydroclimate records since 1921 allows defining a strong relationship between precipitation variability and stable oxygen isotope ratios from speleothems. The results from a monitoring program of climatic parameters and isotopic composition of rainfall and cave seepage waters performed in the same cave, show that the rain δ18O variability is dominated by the amount effect in this region, while δ18O drip water remains almost constant over the monitored period (1.5years). The δ18O of modern calcite, on the other hand, shows clear seasonal variations, with more negative values observed during the rainy season, which implies that other factors also influence the isotopic composition of carbonate. However, the relationship between δ18O of carbonate deposits and rainwater is supported by the results from the comparison between speleothem δ18O records and historical hydroclimate records. A significant correlation between speleothem δ18O and monsoon rainfall variability is observed on sub-decadal time scales, especially for the monsoon period (DJFM and NDJFM), once the rainfall record have been smoothed with a 7–9years running mean. This study confirms that speleothem δ18O is directly associated with monsoon rainfall variability in central Brazil. The relationship between speleothem δ18O records and hydroclimatic historical records allows approximation of the absolute changes in mean annual rainfall during the last millennia in the SACZ/SAMS domain.

Application of Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy for Characterization of Detrital Minerals in Karst Cave Speleothems.

Micro-scale observations in karst caves help to identify different processes that shaped local morphology. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy inspection of speleothems from two karst caves in Slovenia, Predjama and Črna Jama, confirmed the presence of sub-angular to sub-rounded detrital fragments of clay minerals, feldspars, quartz, Fe-oxides/hydroxides, rutile and Nb-rutile, xenotime, kassite, allanite, fluorapatite, epidote, ilmenite, monazite, sphene, and zircon, between 2 and 50 μm across. These occur in porous layers separating calcite laminae in the clayey coating on the layer below the surface of the speleothems, and are also incorporated within actual crystals. It is likely that they are derived from the weathered rocks of the Eocene flysch. Probably they were first transported into the caves by floodwaters forming cave sediments. Later, depending upon the climate conditions, they were moved by air currents or by water to the surface of active speleothems. They might also be redeposited from overlying soils enriched with wind-transported minerals from the flysch, or from higher passages filled with weathered flysch sediment, by drip water percolating through the fissured limestone. As some of the identified minerals are carriers of rare earth elements, Ti and Zr, their presence could affect any palaeoclimatic interpretations that are based upon the geochemical composition of the speleothems.

An irrigation experiment to compare soil, water and speleothem tetraether membrane lipid distributions

Measurement of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) preserved in speleothems offers a potential proxy for past temperature but, in general, their origin is unknown. To understand the source of speleothem GDGTs, we undertook an irrigation experiment to activate drip sites within a hydrogeochemically well characterised cave. The cave drip water was analysed for GDGTs, inorganic elements (major ions and trace elements), stable isotopes and dissolved organic matter concentration and character. Published speleothem GDGT records from the site have been observed to be dominated by isoprenoid GDGTs and interpreted as deriving from in situ microbial communities within the cave or vadose zone. The drip water in our irrigation experiment had a GDGT distribution distinct from that of soil and speleothem samples, providing direct evidence that the distinctive GDGT signature in speleothems is derived from a subsurface source. Analysis of GDGTs in this context allowed further elucidation of their source and transport in cave systems, enhancing our understanding of how they might be used as a temperature proxy.

Influences of air CO2 on hydrochemistry of drip water and implications for paleoclimate study in a stream-developed cave, SW China

Cave air CO2 is a vital part of the cave environment. Most studies about cave air CO2 variations are performed in caves with no streams; there are few studies to date regarding the relationship of cave air CO2 variations and drip water hydrochemistry in underground stream–developed caves. To study the relationship of underground stream, drip water, and cave air CO2, monthly and daily monitoring of air CO2 and of underground stream and drip water was performed in Xueyu Cave from 2012 to 2013. The results revealed that there was marked seasonal variation of air CO2 and stream hydrochemistry in the cave. Daily variations of cave air CO2, and of stream and drip water hydrochemistry, were notable during continuous monitoring. A dilution effect was observed by analyzing hydrochemical variations in underground stream and drip water after rainfall. High cave air CO2 along with low pH and low δ13CDIC in stream and drip water indicated that air CO2 was one of the dominant factors controlling stream and drip water hydrochemistry on a daily scale. On a seasonal scale, stream flows may promote increased cave air CO2 in summer; in turn, the higher cave air CO2 could inhibit degassing of drip water and make calcite δ13C more negative. Variation of calcite δ13C (precipitated from drip water) was in reverse of monthly temperature, soil CO2, and cave air CO2. Therefore, calcite δ13C in Xueyu Cave could be used to determine monthly changes outside the cave. However, considering the different precipitation rate of sediment in different seasons, it was difficult to use stalagmites to reconstruct environmental change on a seasonal scale.

Factors controlling the growth rate, carbon and oxygen isotope variation in modern calcite precipitation in a subtropical cave, Southwest China

A prerequisite for using cave speleothems to reconstruct palaeoenvironmental conditions is an accurate understanding of specific factors controlling calcite growth, in particular the isotopic partitioning of oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) which are the most commonly used proxies. An in situ monitoring study from April 2008 to September 2009 at Xueyu Cave, Chongqing, SW China, provides insight into the controls on calcite growth rates, drip water composition, cave air parameters and δ18O and δ13C isotopic values of modern calcite precipitation. Both cave air PCO2 and drip water hydrochemical characteristics show obvious seasonality driven by seasonal changes in the external environment. Calcite growth rates also display clear intra-annual variation, with the lowest values occurring during wet season and peak values during the dry season. Seasonal variations of calcite growth rate are primarily controlled by variations of cave air PCO2 and drip water rate. Seasonal δ18O-VPDB and δ13C-VPDB in modern calcite precipitates vary, with more negative values in the wet season than in the dry season. Strong positive correlation of δ18O-VPDB vs. δ13C-VPDB is due to simultaneous enrichment of both isotopes in the calcite. This correlation indicates that kinetic fractionation occurs between parent drip water and depositing calcite, likely caused by the variations of cave air PCO2 and drip rate influenced by seasonal cave ventilation. Kinetic fractionation amplifies the equilibrium fractionation value of calcite δ18O (by ∼1.5‰) and δ13C (by ∼1.7‰), which quantitatively reflects surface conditions during the cave ventilation season. These results indicate that the cave monitoring of growth rate and δ18O and δ13C of modern calcite precipitation are necessary in order to use a speleothem to reconstruct palaeoenvironment.

High-resolution monitoring of Yok Balum Cave, Belize: An investigation of seasonal ventilation regimes and the atmospheric and drip-flow response to a local earthquake

The nature of cave ventilation is of interest to cavers, speleologists, and paleoclimatologists working with stalagmites. Because cave ventilation systematics may change over the growth span of a stalagmite, understanding what factors affect them is critical for determining events that may have affected climate proxies within the stalagmite. Similarly, understanding how the hydrology of the drips feeding a stalagmite evolves through time is key to building robust records of paleoclimate, particularly because stalagmite records have become critical archives of climate change information of the last 500,000 years. Here we present data from an extensive, on-going monitoring effort at Yok Balum Cave, Belize, initiated in 2011, that characterizes high-resolution ventilation dynamics at this site. Clear seasonal ventilation regimes exist, driven by thermally induced inside-outside air density differences. The winter regime is dominated by air inflow into the cave, decreased drawdown from the epikarst into the cave, and a limited diurnal signal. Conversely, summer ventilation is dominated by air outflow from the cave, greater CO2 drawdown and drip water degassing, and a strong diurnal signal. Active monitoring during a large (M7.4) earthquake in November 2012 provides a unique opportunity to assess the response of the cave atmosphere and hydrology to substantial seismic activity. Cave atmosphere dynamics and hydrology are found to be highly resilient to seismic activity, with no observable disturbance occurring around the earthquake, despite there being considerable evidence of physical disruption in the cave. Monitoring included different kinds of drips, and the earthquake affected none of the monitored drip types. This suggests that stalagmite-derived paleoclimate records are not affected by seismic activity, except in extreme cases where the stalagmite or conjugate stalactite is damaged or reoriented.

Semi-arid zone caves: Evaporation and hydrological controls on δ18O drip water composition and implications for speleothem paleoclimate reconstructions

Oxygen isotope ratios in speleothems may be affected by external processes that are independent of climate, such as karst hydrology and kinetic fractionation. Consequently, there has been a shift towards characterising and understanding these processes through cave monitoring studies, particularly focussing on temperate zones where precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. Here, we investigate oxygen isotope systematics at Wellington Caves in semi-arid, SE Australia, where evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation. We use a novel D2O isotopic tracer in a series of artificial irrigations, supplemented by pre-irrigation data comprised four years of drip monitoring and three years of stable isotope analysis of both drip waters and rainfall. This study reveals that: (1) evaporative processes in the unsaturated zone dominate the isotopic composition of drip waters; (2) significant soil zone ‘wetting up’ is required to overcome soil moisture deficits in order to achieve infiltration, which is highly dependent on antecedent hydro-climatic conditions; (3) lateral flow, preferential flow and sorption in the soil zone are important in redistributing subsurface zone water; (4) isotopic breakthrough curves suggest clear evidence of piston-flow at some drip sites where an older front of water discharged prior to artificial irrigation water; and (5) water residence times in a shallow vadose zone (<2 m) are highly variable and can exceed six months. Oxygen isotope speleothem records from semi-arid regions are therefore more likely to contain archives of alternating paleo-aridity and paleo-recharge, rather than paleo-rainfall e.g. the amount effect or mean annual. Speleothem-forming drip waters will be dominated by evaporative enrichment, up to ∼3‰ in the context of this study, relative to precipitation-weighted mean annual rainfall. The oxygen isotope variability of such coeval records may further be influenced by flow path and storage in the unsaturated zone that is not only drip specific but also influenced by internal cave climatic conditions, which may vary spatially in the cave.

Estimation of carbon dioxide flux degassing from percolating waters in a karst cave: Case study from Bijambare cave, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Drip water, collected above three actively forming stalagmites, has been analyzed and the results discussed using a calcite saturation index versus equilibrium carbon dioxide partial pressure theoretical relationship. Percolating water appears to have been originated from a parent solution in equilibrium with a carbon dioxide rich gas phase having a minimum concentration varying between 15,000ppmv and 26,000ppmv while large part of the variability recorded in the cave can be explained by different stage of degassing. Similarly, analyses performed at several cave pools confirm that drip water rapidly achieves equilibrium with the cave atmosphere after impact on the stalagmite apex, while oversaturation is retained longer. Using these boundary conditions, the changes in inorganic carbon concentration in the percolating water have been calculated and converted into fluxes using an average effective infiltration flow estimated from the annual water balance.The predicted flux of carbon dioxide degassing from drip water is in the range of 0.03–0.06μmolm−2s−1. This flux has been found to be one of the major sources of carbon dioxide in the cave atmosphere during low ventilation periods.

Triple isotope (δD, δ17O, δ18O) study on precipitation, drip water and speleothem fluid inclusions for a Western Central European cave (NW Switzerland)

Deuterium (δD) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes are powerful tracers of the hydrological cycle and have been extensively used for paleoclimate reconstructions as they can provide information on past precipitation, temperature and atmospheric circulation. More recently, the use of 17Oexcess derived from precise measurement of δ17O and δ18O gives new and additional insights in tracing the hydrological cycle whereas uncertainties surround this proxy. However, 17Oexcess could provide additional information on the atmospheric conditions at the moisture source as well as about fractionations associated with transport and site processes. In this paper we trace water stable isotopes (δD, δ17O and δ18O) along their path from precipitation to cave drip water and finally to speleothem fluid inclusions for Milandre cave in northwestern Switzerland. A two year-long daily resolved precipitation isotope record close to the cave site is compared to collected cave drip water (3 months average resolution) and fluid inclusions of modern and Holocene stalagmites. Amount weighted mean δD, δ18O and δ17O are −71.0‰, −9.9‰, −5.2‰ for precipitation, −60.3‰, −8.7‰, −4.6‰ for cave drip water and −61.3‰, −8.3‰, −4.7‰ for recent fluid inclusions respectively. Second order parameters have also been derived in precipitation and drip water and present similar values with 18 per meg for 17Oexcess whereas d-excess is 1.5‰ more negative in drip water. Furthermore, the atmospheric signal is shifted towards enriched values in the drip water and fluid inclusions (Δ of ∼ + 10‰ for δD). The isotopic composition of cave drip water exhibits a weak seasonal signal which is shifted by around 8–10 months (groundwater residence time) when compared to the precipitation. Moreover, we carried out the first δ17O measurement in speleothem fluid inclusions, as well as the first comparison of the δ17O behaviour from the meteoric water to the fluid inclusions entrapment in speleothems. This study on precipitation, drip water and fluid inclusions will be used as a speleothem proxy calibration for Milandre cave in order to reconstruct paleotemperatures and moisture source variations for Western Central Europe.

Timing and nature of the penultimate deglaciation in a high alpine stalagmite from Switzerland

The timing and nature of the penultimate deglaciation, also known as Termination II (T-II), is subject of controversial discussions due to the scarcity of precisely-dated palaeoclimate records. Here we present a new precisely-dated and highly-resolved multi-proxy stalagmite record covering T-II from the high alpine Schafsloch Cave in Switzerland, an area where climate is governed by the North Atlantic. The inception of stalagmite growth at 137.4 ± 1.4 kyr before present (BP) indicates the presence of drip water and cave air temperatures of above 0 °C, and is related to a climate-induced change in the thermal state (from cold-to warm-based) of the glacier above the cave. The cessation of stalagmite growth between 133.1 ± 0.7 and 131.9 ± 0.6 kyr BP is most likely related to distinct drop in temperature associated with Heinrich stadial 11. The resumption of stalagmite growth at 131.9 ± 0.6 kyr BP is accompanied by an abrupt increase in temperature and precipitation as indicated by distinct shifts in the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition as well as in trace element concentrations. The mid-point of T-II is around 131.8 ± 0.6 kyr BP in the Schafsloch Cave record is significantly earlier compared to the age of 129.1 ± 0.1 kyr BP in the Sanbao Cave record from China. The different ages between both records can be best explained by the competing effects of insolation and glacial boundary forcing on seasonality and snow cover extent in Eurasia.