Paleoclimate reconstruction during MIS5a based on a speleothem from Nerja Cave, Málaga, South Spain

C. Jiménez de Cisneros, E. Caballero

Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra. CSIC-UGR. Avd. de las Palmeras 4, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain.

DOI: 10.4236/ns.2013.55067                

Abstract

Speleothems from Nerja Cave in southern Spain provide a record during interglacial period MIS5a. Period of speleothem deposition occurred from 70,000 90,000 yr ago. Oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δD) isotope ratios of speleothem and fluid inclusions enable the reconstruction of climatic variability in this region of southern Spain. Fluid inclusions trapped in speleothems represent samples of drip water from which the speleothems grew. The isotopic compositions of cave dripwaters approximate average annual δ18O and δD of precipitation, therefore δ18O can be calculated from D/H of inclusion water using the MWL relationship δD = 8δ18O + 10. The measurements of the δD values of fluid-inclusion water and δ18O values from speleothems have been applied to paleoclimate reconstruction in Southern Spain indicating a colder condition than at present.

Keywords

Speleothems; Fluid Inclusions; Stable Isotope; Paleoclimate; Spain

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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