Oxygen isotope precipitation anomaly in the North Atlantic region during the 8.2 ka event

David Dominguez-Villar, Ian Fairchild, Andrew Baker, X Wang, RL Edwards, H Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An annual laminated stalagmite from northern Spain recorded two outstanding oxygen isotope (delta O-18) pulses during the 8.2 ka event. Most of the oxygen isotope record variability is related to the amount of rainfall, although other factors affect the signal. The lamina thickness record, which is also related to amount of rainfall, does not show any significant anomaly at the time of oxygen isotope spikes. Considering the factors affecting the isotope signal, the two prominent falls in delta O-18 during the event are interpreted to be caused by the release of large amounts of fresh waters into the North Atlantic. Thus, O-18-depleted ocean surface waters shifted the rainfall delta O-18 composition for Europe and Greenland. Our precise chronology provides the timing of the outbursts that caused the delta O-18 anomalies at 8350-8340 and 8221-8211 +/- 34 yr B. P., most probably generated by the drainage of proglacial lakes Agassiz and Ojibway. Therefore, in the North Atlantic region delta O-18 records during the 8.2 ka event trace important hydrological modifications in the ocean, not just local climate. As a consequence, paleoclimate reconstructions from Europe and Greenland using the delta O-18 proxy that does not take this into account would be overestimating the magnitude of the anomalies during the 8.2 ka event.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1095-1098
Number of pages4
JournalGeology
Volume37
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2009

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