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Reconstructing of past temperatures at regional scales during the Common Era is necessary to place the current warming in the context of natural climate variability. Here we present a composite record of oxygen isotope variations during last 2500 years based on eight stalagmites from four caves in the central Pyrenees (NE Spain) dominated by temperature variations, with precipitation playing a minor role. The dataset is compared with other Iberian reconstructions that show a high degree of internal coherence with respect to variability at the centennial scale. The Roman Period (especially 0–200 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly, and part of the Little Ice Age represent the warmest periods, while the coldest decades occurred during the Dark Ages and most of the Little Ice Age intervals (e.g., 520–550 AD and 1800–1850 AD). Importantly, the LIA cooling or the MCA warming were not continuous or uniform and exhibited high decadal variability. The Industrial Era shows an overall warming trend although with marked cycles and partial stabilization during the last two decades (1990–2010). The strong coherence between the speleothem data, European temperature reconstructions and global tree-ring data informs about the regional representativeness of this new record as Pyrenean past temperature variations. Solar variability and major volcanic eruptions appear to be the two main drivers of climate in southwestern Europe during the past 2.5 millennia.

Cryogenic cave carbonates (CCCs) are a type of speleothem, typically dated with 230Th/U disequilibrium methods, that provide evidence of palaeo-permafrost conditions. In the field, CCCs occur as distinct patches of millimetre- to centimetre-sized loose crystals and crystal aggregates on the floors of cave chambers, so they lack a framework that would allow ages to be validated by stratigraphic order. Correction factors for the initial 230Th (230Th0) are often based on the bulk-earth-derived initial 230Th/232Th activity ratio ((230Th/232Th)0), which is a well-established approach when 230Th0 is moderately low. For samples with elevated levels of 230Th0, however, accuracy can be improved by constraining (230Th/232Th)0 independently. Here, we combine detailed morphological observations from three CCC patches found in Water Icicle Close Cavern in the Peak District (UK) with 230Th/U analyses. We find that individual CCC crystals show a range of morphologies that arise from non-crystallographic branching in response to the chemical evolution of the freezing solution. Results of 230Th/U dating indicate that samples with a large surface area relative to the sample volume are systematically more affected by contamination with 230Th0. By fitting isochrons to these results, we test whether the CCCs in a patch formed during the same freezing event, and demonstrate that (230Th/232Th)0 can deviate substantially from the bulk-earth-derived value and can also vary between the different CCC patches. Where CCCs display elevated 230Th0, isochrons are a useful tool to constrain (230Th/232Th)0 and obtain ages with improved accuracy. Detritus absorbed to the crystal surface is shown to be the most likely source of 230Th0. Our results suggest that some previously published CCC ages may merit re-assessment, and we provide suggestions on how to approach future dating efforts.

Surface temperature is a fundamental parameter of Earth’s climate. Its evolution through time is commonly reconstructed using the oxygen isotope and the clumped isotope compositions of carbonate archives. However, reaction kinetics involved in the precipitation of carbonates can introduce inaccuracies in the derived temperatures. Here, we show that dual clumped isotope analyses, i.e., simultaneous ∆47 and ∆48 measurements on the single carbonate phase, can identify the origin and quantify the extent of these kinetic biases. Our results verify theoretical predictions and evidence that the isotopic disequilibrium commonly observed in speleothems and scleractinian coral skeletons is inherited from the dissolved inorganic carbon pool of their parent solutions. Further, we show that dual clumped isotope thermometry can achieve reliable palaeotemperature reconstructions, devoid of kinetic bias. Analysis of a belemnite rostrum implies that it precipitated near isotopic equilibrium and confirms the warmer-than-present temperatures during the Early Cretaceous at southern high latitudes., Some palaeotemperature proxies suffer from inaccuracies related to kinetic fractionations occurring during carbonate mineral growth. Here, the authors show that dual clumped isotope thermometry can identify the origin of these kinetic biases and allows for the reconstruction of accurate environmental temperatures.

This study presents δ26Mg values, Mg2+ concentrations, δ18O and δ2H values of monthly collected rain and snow samples between 2014 and 2017 from north-west Germany. The δ26Mg values of snow are similar to those of rain. Unlike δ18O and δ2H, neither δ26Mgprecipitation values nor Mg2+ concentrations display a relationship with air temperature. In contrast, δ26Mgprecipitation values and Mg2+ concentrations are correlated with precipitation amount. As previously suggested by other studies but now based on a larger data set, it is proposed that the δ26Mg values and Mg2+ concentrations are affected by the mineralogical composition and amount of airborne dust. Consequently, a small number of random precipitation samples cannot represent the complex processes influencing the δ26Mgprecipitation values. δ26Mgprecipitation can be used to differentiate between seawater aerosols, carbonate and silicate dust. Silicate dust is typified by higher Mg concentrations and δ26Mg values compared to carbonate dust. Concerning carbonates, dolostone dust has higher Mg concentrations and δ26Mg values, while limestone dust is Mg-lean with lower δ26Mg values. Dust of anthropogenic origin in the region can come from active limestone and dolostone quarries, surface mining of siliciclastics, and agriculture on silicate-rich soils. Although dust of this mineralogy can also be of natural origin, most natural dust consists of airborne silicates transported by wind systems from the Sahara to Europe. Higher δ26Mgprecipitation values would indicate silicate or dolostone dust influx. Lower δ26Mgprecipitation values suggest lower dust concentrations and a predominantly calcitic dust mineralogy. It appears that δ26Mgprecipitation is most probably influenced by changes in weather conditions and natural and anthropogenic dust origin. This study implies that δ26Mgprecipitation is a potential proxy for dust mineralogy and fluxes. Nevertheless, further research should include the determination of atmospheric dust mineralogy and their fractions as well as air mass back trajectory analysis to identify the source(s) of dust.

International audience

Rapid and continuous analysis of radiocarbon (14C) concentration in carbonate samples at spatial resolution down to 100 µm has been made possible with the new LA-AMS (laser ablation accelerator mass spectrometry) technique. This novel approach can provide radiocarbon data at a spatial resolution similar to that of stable carbon (C) isotope measurements by isotope ratio mass spectrometry of micromilled samples and, thus, can help to interpret δ13C signatures, which otherwise are difficult to understand due to numerous processes contributing to changes in the C-isotope ratio. In this work, we analyzed δ13C and 14C on the Holocene stalagmite SPA 127 from the high-alpine Spannagel Cave (Austria). Both proxies respond in a complex manner to climate variability. Combined stable carbon and radiocarbon profiles allow three growth periods characterized by different δ13C signatures to be identified: (i) the period 8.5 to 8.0 ka is characterized by relatively low δ13C values with small variability combined with a comparably high radiocarbon reservoir effect (expressed as dead carbon fraction, dcf) of around 60 %. This points towards C contributions of host rock dissolution and/or from an “old” organic matter (OM) reservoir in the karst potentially mobilized due to the warm climatic conditions of the early Holocene. (ii) Between 8 and 3.8 ka there was a strong variability in δ13C with values ranging from −8 ‰ to +1 ‰ and a generally lower dcf. The δ13C variability is most likely caused by changes in C exchange between cave air CO2 and dissolved inorganic carbon in drip water in the cave, which are induced by reduced drip rates as derived from reduced stalagmite growth rates. Additionally, the lower dcf indicates that the OM reservoir contributed less to stalagmite growth in this period possibly as a result of reduced meteoric precipitation or because it was exhausted. (iii) In the youngest section between 3.8 and 2.4 ka, comparably stable and low δ13C values, combined with an increasing dcf reaching up to 50 % again, hint towards a contribution of an aged OM reservoir in the karst. This study reveals the potential of combining high-resolution 14C profiles in speleothems with δ13C records in order to disentangle climate-related C dynamics in karst systems., Climate of the Past, 17 (5), ISSN:1814-9324, ISSN:1814-9332

Sub-orbital-scale climate variability of the last glacial period provides important insights into the rates at which the climate can change state, the mechanisms that drive such changes, and the leads, lags, and synchronicity occurring across different climate zones. Such short-term climate variability has previously been investigated using δ18O from speleothems (δ18Ocalc) that grew along the northern rim of the Alps (NALPS), enabling direct chronological comparisons with δ18O records from Greenland ice cores (δ18Oice). In this study, we present NALPS19, which includes a revision of the last glacial NALPS δ18Ocalc chronology over the interval 118.3 to 63.7 ka using 11, newly available, clean, precisely dated stalagmites from five caves. Using only the most reliable and precisely dated records, this period is now 90 % complete and is comprised of 16 stalagmites from seven caves. Where speleothems grew synchronously, the timing of major transitional events in δ18Ocalc between stadials and interstadials (and vice versa) are all in agreement on multi-decadal timescales. Ramp-fitting analysis further reveals that, except for one abrupt change, the timing of δ18O transitions occurred synchronously within centennial-scale dating uncertainties between the NALPS19 δ18Ocalc record and the Asian monsoon composite speleothem δ18Ocalc record. Due to the millennial-scale uncertainties in the ice core chronologies, a comprehensive comparison with the NALPS19 chronology is difficult. Generally, however, we find that the absolute timing of transitions in the Greenland Ice Core Chronology (GICC) 05modelext and Antarctic Ice Core Chronology (AICC) 2012 are in agreement on centennial scales. The exception to this is during the interval of 100 to 115 ka, where transitions in the AICC2012 chronology occurred up to 3000 years later than in NALPS19. In such instances, the transitions in the revised AICC2012 chronology of Extier et al. (2018) are in agreement with NALPS19 on centennial scales, supporting the hypothesis that AICC2012 appears to be considerably too young between 100 and 115 ka. Using a ramp-fitting function to objectively identify the onset and the end of abrupt transitions, we show that δ18O shifts took place on multi-decadal to multi-centennial timescales in the North Atlantic-sourced regions (northern Alps and Greenland) as well as the Asian monsoon. Given the near-complete record of δ18Ocalc variability during the last glacial period in the northern Alps, we also offer preliminary considerations regarding the controls on mean δ18Ocalc for given stadials and interstadials. We find that, as expected, δ18Ocalc values became increasingly lighter with distance from the oceanic source regions, and increasingly lighter with increasing altitude. Exceptions were found for some high-elevation sites that locally display δ18Ocalc values that are heavier than expected in comparison to lower-elevation sites, possibly caused by a summer bias in the recorded signal of the high-elevation site, or a winter bias in the low-elevation site. Finally, we propose a new mechanism for the centennial-scale stadial-level depletions in δ18O such as the Greenland Stadial (GS)-16.2, GS-17.2, GS-21.2, and GS-23.2 “precursor” events, as well as the “within-interstadial” GS-24.2 cooling event. Our new high-precision chronology shows that each of these δ18O depletions occurred in the decades and centuries following rapid rises in sea level associated with increased ice-rafted debris and southward shifts of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, suggesting that influxes of meltwater from moderately sized ice sheets may have been responsible for the cold reversals causing the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation to slow down similar to the Preboreal Oscillation and Older Dryas deglacial events.

International audience; The Barbegal watermill complex, a unique cluster of 16 waterwheels in southern France, was the first known attempt in Europe to set up an industrial-scale complex of machines during the culmination of Roman Civilization in the second century CE. Little is known about the state of technological advance in this period, especially in hydraulics and the contemporary diffusion of knowledge. Since the upper part of the Barbegal mill complex has been destroyed and no traces of the wooden machinery survived, the mode of operation of these mills has long remained elusive. Carbonate incrustations that formed on the woodwork of the mills were used to reconstruct its structure and function, revealing a sophisticated hydraulic setup unique in the history of water mills. The lower mills used an elbow shaped flume to bring water onto overshot millwheels. This flume was specially adapted to the small water basins and serial arrangement of the mills on the slope. Carbonate deposits from ancient water systems are therefore a powerful tool in archaeological reconstructions and provide tantalizing insights into the skills of Roman engineers during a period of history that is the direct predecessor of our modern civilization. © 2020, The Author(s).

Supplemental material, Supplement_Budsky for Speleothem δ13C record suggests enhanced spring/summer drought in south-eastern Spain between 9.7 and 7.8 ka – A circum-Western Mediterranean anomaly? by Alexander Budsky, Denis Scholz, Jasper A Wassenburg, Regina Mertz-Kraus, Christoph Spötl, Dana FC Riechelmann, Luis Gibert, Klaus Peter Jochum and Meinrat O Andreae in The Holocene

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is the largest falcon in the world. It inhabits a wide range of climate zones in the Northern Hemisphere, from boreal forests in the south of its range to the arid polar deserts of the High Arctic. In Greenland, because of the harsh, remote environments in which gyrfalcons live, research related to the contemporary and pre-modern periods has been limited to the north-west, central west and central east coasts, with no specific investigations being conducted for the north-east. Here, we report the first pre-modern record of a gyrfalcon in north-east Greenland, located at 80.4°N in Kronprins Christian Land. Skin tissue from a decaying gyrfalcon’s body was radiocarbon dated to 769–944 CE (common era) using a terrestrial-only calibration curve, and 1182–1456 CE using a marine-only calibration curve. Since the gyrfalcon has a mixed terrestrial/marine diet, the actual age can be said to belong between these two groups. This limited data, therefore places the presence of the gyrfalcon in north-east Greenland during a period of prolonged elevated temperatures and climate stress associated with the Medieval Climate Anomaly. Whether the gyrfalcon was part of a larger population or a straggler, and whether the species survived the whole of the Medieval Climate Anomaly in north-east Greenland, is unknown., Polar Research, 38, ISSN:0800-0395, ISSN:1751-8369

International audience; The trace-element geochemistry of speleothems is becoming increasingly used for reconstructing palaeoclimate, with a particularemphasis on elements whose concentrations vary according to hydrological conditions at the cave site (e.g. Mg, Sr, Baand U). An important step in interpreting trace-element abundances is understanding the underlying processes of their incorporation.This includes quantifying the fractionation between the solution and speleothem carbonate via partition coefficients(where the partitioning (D) of element X (DX) is the molar ratio [X/Ca] in the calcite divided by the molar ratio [X/Ca] in theparent water) and evaluating the degree of spatial variability across time-constant speleothem layers. Previous studies of howthese elements are incorporated into speleothems have focused primarily on stalagmites and their source waters in naturalcave settings, or have used synthetic solutions under cave-analogue laboratory conditions to produce similar dripstones. However,dripstones are not the only speleothem types capable of yielding useful palaeoclimate information. In this study, weinvestigate the incorporation of Mg, Sr, Ba and U into a subaqueous calcite speleothem (CD3) growing in a natural cave poolin Italy. Pool-water measurements extending back 15 years reveal a remarkably stable geochemical environment owing to thedeep cave setting, enabling the calculation of precise solution [X/Ca]. We determine the trace element variability of ‘modern’subaqueous calcite from a drill core taken through CD3 to derive DMg, DSr, DBa and DU then compare these with publishedcave, cave-analogue and seawater-analogue studies. The DMg for CD3 is anomalously high (0.042 ± 0.002) compared to previousestimates at similar temperatures (~8 °C). The DSr (0.100 ± 0.007) is similar to previously reported values, but datafrom this study as well as those from Tremaine and Froelich (2013) and Day and Henderson (2013) suggest that [Na/Sr] mightplay an important role in Sr incorporation through the potential for Na to outcompete Sr for calcite non-lattice sites. DBa inCD3 (0.086 ± 0.008) is similar to values derived by Day and Henderson (2013) under cave-analogue conditions, whilst DU (0.013 ± 0.002) is almost an order of magnitude lower, possibly due to the unusually slow speleothem growth rates(

Caves in Death Valley National Park reveal past water table fluctuations in response to 350,000 years of global climate change., The projected long-term drying of the southwest (SW) United States in response to climate warming raises a sobering alarm for this already water-limited region, yet the climatic controls on moisture availability over longer time scales remain a topic of debate. Here, we present a 350,000-year record of past water table fluctuations in Devils Hole 2 cave that are driven by variations in recharge amount to the local groundwater flow system. Because of the unprecedented length and precision of our record, we can observe variations in regional moisture availability over the last three glacial-interglacial cycles at a millennial-scale resolution. The timing of past water table rises and falls (>9 m in amplitude) closely coincides with the expansion and reduction of Northern Hemisphere ice volume, which in turn influences the position and intensity of westerly winter storms on orbital time scales. Superimposed on this long-term trend are millennial-scale highstands recorded during the last glaciation that coincide with North Atlantic Heinrich events. Earlier millennial-scale highstands provide the first evidence of multiple short-lived wet periods in the SW United States linked to coeval cooling intervals in the North Atlantic during marine isotope stages 6 and 8. The Devils Hole 2 water table record is currently the longest independently dated paleomoisture record in the SW United States and thus provides a critical testbed to examine the controls on regional moisture availability over larger time scales.

Carbonate-associated sulphate (CAS) is a useful carrier of palaeoenvironmental information throughout the geologic record, particularly through its stable isotope composition. However, a paucity of experimental data restricts quantitative understanding of sulphate incorporation into carbonates, and consequently CAS concentrations and their diagenetic modifications are rarely interpreted. However, in the case of calcite speleothems, the remarkably high-resolution CAS records which are obtainable via modern microanalytical techniques represent a potentially invaluable source of palaeoenvironmental information. Here, we describe the results of controlled experiments of sulphate co-precipitation with calcite in freshwater solutions where pH, saturation state, and sulphate concentration were varied independently of each other. Solution pH is confirmed as the principal control on sulphate incorporation into calcite. The relative efficiency of incorporation was calculated as a partition coefficient DSO4 = (mSO4/mCO3)solid / (mSO4/mCO3)solution. High crystal growth rates (driven by either pH or saturation state) encouraged higher values of DSO4 because of an increasing concentration of defect sites on crystal surfaces. At low growth rates, DSO4 was reduced due to an inferred competition between sulphate and bicarbonate at the calcite surface. These experimental results are applied to understand the incorporation of sulphate into speleothem calcite. The experimentally determined pH-dependence suggests that strong seasonal variations in cave air PCO2 could account for annual cycles in sulphate concentration observed in stalagmites. Our new experimentally determined values of DSO4 were compared with DSO4 values calculated from speleothem-drip water monitoring from two caves within the Austrian and Italian Alps. At Obir cave, Austria, DSO4 (x105) varies between 11.1 (winter) and 9.0 (summer) and the corresponding figures for Ernesto cave, Italy, are 15.4 (winter) and 14.9 (summer). These values approximate predicted DSO4 values based on our chamber experiments containing both low (2 ppm) and high (20 ppm) sulphate concentrations. Our experimental values of DSO4 obtained at crystal growth rates typical of stalagmites, closely match those observed in other cave sites from around the world. This validates the universality of the controls behind DSO4 and will enhance the use of speleothem CAS as a palaeoenvironmental proxy.

Abrupt Fluctuation of northern Mediterranean hydroclimate and North Atlantic Oscillation since the middle Holocene

Understanding the sequence of events that take place during glacial-interglacial climate transitions is important for improving our knowledge of abrupt climate change. Here, we present a new stacked, high-resolution, precisely-dated speleothem stable isotope record from the northern Alps, which provides an important record of temperature and moisture-source changes between 134 and 111 ka for Europe and the wider North Atlantic realm. The record encompasses the penultimate deglaciation (Termination II (TII)), which lies beyond the limit of radiocarbon dating, thus providing an important new archive for a crucial period of rapid paleoclimate change. Warmer and wetter ice-free conditions were achieved by 134.1 ± 0.7 ka (modelled ages) as indicated by the presence of liquid water at the site. Temperatures warmed further at 133.7 ± 0.5 ka and led into an interstadial, synchronous with slightly elevated monsoon strength during the week monsoon interval. The interstadial experienced an unstable climate with a trough in temperature associated with a slowdown in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and a reduction in North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation. The interstadial ended with a more extreme cold reversal lasting 500 years in which NADW formation remained active but the subpolar gyre weakened allowing cool polar waters to penetrate southwards. The main warming associated with TII was very rapid, taking place between 130.9 ± 0.9 and 130.7 ± 0.9 ka coeval with initial monsoon strengthening. Temperatures then plateaued before being interrupted by a 600-year cold event at 129.1 ± 0.6 ka, associated once again with penetration of polar waters southwards into the North Atlantic and a slowdown in monsoon strengthening. Sub-orbital climate oscillations were thus a feature of TII in the north Atlantic realm, which broadly resemble the Bølling/Allerød-Younger Dryas-8.2 ka event pattern of change observed in Termination I despite monsoon records indicating strong differences between the last and penultimate deglaciation.

Drill cores from the inner-alpine valley terrace of Unterangerberg, located in the Eastern Alps of Austria, offer first insights into a Pleistocene sedimentary record that was not accessible so far. The succession comprises diamict, gravel, sand, lignite and thick, fine grained sediments. Additionally, cataclastic deposits originating from two paleo-landslide events are present. Multi-proxy analyses including sedimentological and palynological investigations as well as radiocarbon and luminescence data record the onset of the last glacial period (Würmian) at Unterangerberg at ∼120–110 ka. This first time period, correlated to the MIS 5d, was characterised by strong fluvial aggradation under cold climatic conditions, with only sparse vegetation cover. Furthermore, two large and quasi-synchronous landslide events occurred during this time interval. No record of the first Early Würmian interstadial (MIS 5c) is preserved. During the second Early Würmian interstadial (MIS 5a), the local vegetation was characterised by a boreal forest dominated by Picea, with few thermophilous elements. The subsequent collapse of the vegetation is recorded by sediments dated to ∼70–60 ka (i.e. MIS 4), with very low pollen concentrations and the potential presence of permafrost. Climatic conditions improved again between ∼55 and 45 ka (MIS 3) and cold-adapted trees re-appeared during interstadials, forming an open forest vegetation. MIS 3 stadials were shorter and less severe than the MIS 4 at Unterangerberg, and vegetation during these cold phases was mainly composed of shrubs, herbs and grasses, similar to what is known from today's alpine timberline. The Unterangerberg record ended at ∼45 ka and/or was truncated by ice during the Last Glacial Maximum., Highlights ► We investigated drillcores from a site inside the Eastern Alps of Austria. ► The Late Pleistocene sedimentation history of a palaeolake was reconstructed. ► Pollen analysis gives insights into environmental dynamics during stadials and interstadials. ► Impacts of last glacial climate changes on Alpine vegetation can be traced.

An inscription on the supporting wall of the inverted siphon of the aqueduct of the ancient Roman city of Patara, SW Turkey, explains how the wall collapsed during an earthquake and was subsequently restored. Carbonate deposits formed inside the aqueduct channel show cyclic stable isotope changes representing 17 years of deposition. This sequence, together with the text of the inscription, allows dating the earthquake to 68 AD and the original inauguration of the aqueduct to the winter of 51/52 AD. Thus, the carbonate deposits represent a high-resolution record of palaeotemperature and precipitation for SW Turkey covering the complete reign of the Emperor Nero. The period shows a cooling and drying trend after an initial warm and more humid period, interrupted by a few anomalous years. These 2 cm of calcite highlight the significance of carbonate deposits in ancient water supply systems as a high-resolution archive for palaeoclimate, palaeoseismology and archaeology.

This short article provides detailed descriptions of custom-made and commercially available hand-held drilling gear and options for water-flushing units specifically designed to obtained good-quality core material from speleothems even in remote cave regions. We use small-diameter (6-7 mm) diamond drill-core bits to obtain aliquots of calcite (as little as a few hundred milligrams) from the interior of the basal part of in-situ stalagmites. These small cores are used to date the onset of stalagmite growth and occasionally to obtain other compositional information. Larger diameter drill-core bits produce cores 25-32 mm in diameter and up to 1.3 m in length which reveal internal structures and provide axial transects for chemical and isotope analysis and material for preparation of thin sections. This system has been successfully employed to sample flowstone and thick stalagmites. Given the growing interest in speleothem as archives of past environmental change, careful sample selection is primordial to keep the impact of sampling in these unique environments at a minimum. Low-invasive drilling is an essential technique and maximizes the amount of information gained.

Se aportan datos micromorfológicos, isotópicos y cronológicos de carbonatos criogénicos CCC) de la cueva helada Sarrios-6, situada a 2780 m s.n.m. en el macizo de Monte Perdido (Pirineo central). Es el primer estudio de este tipo de espeleotemas en la Peninsula Ibérica. En una masa de hielo aparecen cristales romboédricos de calcita de tamaño milimétrico constituidos por un núcleo interno de cristales esqueléticos rodeados por un crecimiento externo de color pardo-rojizo. Indican una fase rápida inicial de precipitación de calcita y otra posterior más lenta. Los dos tipos de calcita presentan composición isotópica diferente (núcleo: valor medio de δ13C = 4,8‰VPDB, valor medio de δ18O = -20,8‰VPDB; crecimiento externo: valor medio de δ13C = 5,3‰ VPDB, valor medio de δ18O = -21,3‰ VPDB). La datación de una semilla incluida en la masa de hielo indica que la formación de la CCC tuvo lugar durante la Anomalía Climática Medieval, We provide micromorphological, isotopic and chronological data on cryogenic cave carbonates (CCC) from Sarrios-6 ice cave (2780 m a.s.l.) in the Monte Perdido Massif (central Pyrenees). It is the first report of such speleothems on the Iberian Peninsula.Millimeter-sized white skeletal calcite rhombohedrons overgrown by brown rhombohedral crystals are present within a perennial ice body. The morphology of two carbonate generations suggests an early stage of fast carbonate precipitation followed by a second phase formed at a slower precipitation rate. The two generations show distinct isotopic compositions (skeletal cores:mean δ13C = 4.8‰,mean δ18O = -20.8‰; overgrowths: mean δ13C = 5.3‰, mean δ18O = -21.3‰). A preliminary radiocarbon date of a seed found in the same ice layer suggests that the precipitation of CCC likely occurred during the Medieval Climate Anomaly

Se aportan datos micromorfológicos, isotópicos y cronológicos de carbonatos criogénicos CCC) de la cueva helada Sarrios-6, situada a 2780 m s.n.m. en el macizo de Monte Perdido (Pirineo central). Es el primer estudio de este tipo de espeleotemas en la Peninsula Ibérica. En una masa de hielo aparecen cristales romboédricos de calcita de tamaño milimétrico constituidos por un núcleo interno de cristales esqueléticos rodeados por un crecimiento externo de color pardo-rojizo. Indican una fase rápida inicial de precipitación de calcita y otra posterior más lenta. Los dos tipos de calcita presentan composición isotópica diferente (núcleo: valor medio de δ13C = 4,8‰VPDB, valor medio de δ18O = -20,8‰VPDB; crecimiento externo: valor medio de δ13C = 5,3‰ VPDB, valor medio de δ18O = -21,3‰ VPDB). La datación de una semilla incluida en la masa de hielo indica que la formación de la CCC tuvo lugar durante la Anomalía Climática Medieval We provide micromorphological, isotopic and chronological data on cryogenic cave carbonates (CCC) from Sarrios-6 ice cave (2780 m a.s.l.) in the Monte Perdido Massif (central Pyrenees). It is the first report of such speleothems on the Iberian Peninsula.Millimeter-sized white skeletal calcite rhombohedrons overgrown by brown rhombohedral crystals are present within a perennial ice body. The morphology of two carbonate generations suggests an early stage of fast carbonate precipitation followed by a second phase formed at a slower precipitation rate. The two generations show distinct isotopic compositions (skeletal cores:mean δ13C = 4.8‰,mean δ18O = -20.8‰; overgrowths: mean δ13C = 5.3‰, mean δ18O = -21.3‰). A preliminary radiocarbon date of a seed found in the same ice layer suggests that the precipitation of CCC likely occurred during the Medieval Climate Anomaly

Poster; International audience; Ideal cyclone-sensitive speleothems would have the following properties: active at the time of sampling and recording the past few millenia, with fast growth rate, made of clean primary calcite, precipitated without kinetic fractionation, and fed by water with a short residence time allowing for the isotopic signal of short events like cyclones to be transferred but long enough for the drip water to be supersaturated. The screening for this type of speleothem is still in progress and the results presented here are very preliminary. U-Th dating: low U concentration (9-40ng/g; host rock is reef limestone) ; significant detrital content, involving large corrections and large final age uncertainties. Growth rate is highly variable, from ~0.12 mm/yr to ~0.03mm/yr. Tau12A: δ 18 O profile shows some quite large variations (~3‰), with several abrupt events that we will try to identify in other archives. δ 13 C signal amplitude is very large (~-4 to ~-14‰) suggesting the effect of prior calcite precipitation. The δ 18 O signal gets heavier when the δ 13 C does, which could reflect the rainfall amount in this context. Var12C: δ 18 O profile shows values between-3.1 and-6.3‰, with decadal or centennial fluctuations, superimposed on a general trend which is consistent with the one of the δ 13 C profile without being correlated, which implies that calcite precipitation could occur in conditions close to isotopic equilibrium. Once properly dated, this record should provide interesting information about past rainfall regimes on the island.

Poster; International audience; Une carotte de 23 cm a été extraite d'un monticule de calcite subaquatique, développée sur le fond d'un petit plan d'eau dans la grotte de Corchia (Italie). Les datations 234U/230Th et 234U/238U montrent que la croissance de ce spéléothème couvre les derniers 960 000 ans. L'analyse pétrographique du spéléothème et de ses variations de δ18O et δ13C témoignent de l'enregistrement quasi-continu des cycles glaciaires-interglaciaires sur toute cette période. Les analyses pétrographiques et isotopiques ont été complétées par l'analyse des concentrations en éléments traces d'une part, et du signal de fluorescence de la matière organique piégée d'autre part. Enfin, l'enregistrement isotopique de ce spéléothème est comparé aux enregistrements longs des carottes de glace et marines et aux données astronomiques. Cette archive unique en son genre fournit pour la première fois une référence continentale à long terme pour discuter du timing, de la durée et de la variabilité climatique des interglaciaires passés et peut-être mieux comprendre la nature des forçages orbitaux mis en jeu

The last four interglacials (intervals during which global ice volume was similar to, or less than, that of our current warm stage) correspond to the warmest parts of the marine oxygen isotope stages MIS 5, 7, 9, 11. These interglacials ffollowed the 100-kyr rhythm of eccentricity, but each had different insolation regimes, different durations, different ice volumes and different sea-level heights, bur atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations were similar and reached values which, by and large, were close to those of the current interglacial (Holocene or MIS1) before the industrial revolution led to the artificial enrichment of the atmosphere's greenhouse gas concentrations via the burning of fossil fuels ... The last four interglacials (intervals during which global ice volume was similar to, or less than, that of our current warm stage) correspond to the warmest parts of the marine oxygen isotope stages MIS 5, 7, 9, 11. These interglacials ffollowed the 100-kyr rhythm of eccentricity, but each had different insolation regimes, different durations, different ice volumes and different sea-level heights, bur atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations were similar and reached values which, by and large, were close to those of the current interglacial (Holocene or MIS1) before the industrial revolution led to the artificial enrichment of the atmosphere's greenhouse gas concentrations via the burning of fossil fuels ...

International audience; The last four interglacials (intervals during which global ice volume was similar to, or less than, that of our current warm stage) correspond to the warmest parts of the marine oxygen isotope stages marine isotopic age (MIS) 5, 7, 9, and 11. These interglacials followed the 100-kyr rhythm of eccentricity, but each had different insolation regimes, different durations, different ice volumes, and different sea-level heights. However, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations were similar and reached values, which, largely, were close to those of the current interglacial (Holocene or MIS 1) before the industrial revolution led to the artificial enrichment of the atmosphere's greenhouse gas concentrations via the burning of fossil fuels. This chapter summarizes the state of knowledge on each of the climatic warm intervals.

Karst springs in the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains and the Crimean Piedmont show a restricted range of values (δ18O = –10.5 to –8.0 ‰, δ2H = –72 to –58 ‰), somewhat more negative than the weighted mean of meteoric precipitation. This suggests preferential recharge at higher elevations during winter months. Groundwater tapped by boreholes splits in three groups. A first group has isotopic properties similar to those of the springs. The second group shows significantly lower values (δ18O = –13.3 to –12.0 ‰, δ2H = –95 to –82 ‰), suggesting recharge during colder Pleistocene times. The third group has high isotope values (δ18O = –2.5 to +1.0 ‰, δ2H = –24 to –22 ‰); the data points are shifted to the right of the Local Meteoric Water Line, suggesting water–rock exchange processes in the aquifer. These boreholes are located in the Crimean Plains and discharge mineralized (ca. 25 g L−1) thermal (65°C) water from a depth of 1600–1800 m. Groundwater associated with mud volcanoes on the Kerch peninsula have distinct isotope characteristics (δ18O = –1.6 to +9.4 ‰, δ2H = –30 to –18 ‰). Restricted δ2H variability along with variable and high δ18O values suggest water–rock interactions at temperatures exceeding 95 °C.

In the tropics, geochemical records from stalagmites have so far mainly been used to qualitatively reconstruct changes in precipitation, but several new methods to reconstruct past temperatures from stalagmite material have emerged recently: i) liquide vapor homogenization of fluid inclusion water ii) noble gas concentrations in fluid inclusion water, iii) the partitioning of oxygen isotopes between fluid inclusion water and calcite, and iv) the abundance of the 13C18O16O(‘clumped’) isotopologue in calcite. We present, for the first time, a direct comparison of these four paleo-thermometers by applying them to a fossil stalagmite covering nearly two glaciale interglacial cycles (Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 12 e 9) and to two modern stalagmites, all from northern Borneo. The temperature estimates from the different methods agree in most cases within errors for both the old and recent samples; reconstructed formation temperatures of the recent samples match within 2-sigma errors with measured cave temperatures. However, slight but systematic deviations are observed between noble gas and liquide vapor homogenization temperatures. Whereas the temperature sensitivity of fluid inclusion d18O and clumped isotopes is currently debated, we find that the calibration of Tremaine et al. (2011) for fluid inclusion d18O and a synthetic calcite-based clumped isotope calibration (Ziegler et al., in prep.) yield temperature estimates consistent with the other methods. All methods (with the potential exception of clumped isotopes) show excellent agreement on the amplitude of glaciale interglacial temperature change, indicating temperature shifts of 4-5 C°. This amplitude is similar to the amplitude of Mg/Ca-based regional sea surface temperature records, when correcting for sea level driven changes in cave elevation. Our reconstruction of tropical temperature evolution over the time period from 440 to 320 thousand years ago (ka) adds support to the view that climate sensitivity to varying greenhouse forcing is substantial also in the deep tropics.

Radiometric dating of glacial terminations over the past 640,000 years suggests pacing by Earth's climatic precession, with each glacial-interglacial period spanning four or five cycles of ~20,000 years. However, the lack of firm age estimates for older Pleistocene terminations confounds attempts to test the persistence of precession forcing. We combine an Italian speleothem record anchored by a uranium-lead chronology with North Atlantic ocean data to show that the first two deglaciations of the so-called 100,000-year world are separated by two obliquity cycles, with each termination starting at the same high phase of obliquity, but at opposing phases of precession. An assessment of 11 radiometrically dated terminations spanning the past million years suggests that obliquity exerted a persistent influence on not only their initiation but also their duration.

Karst springs in the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains and the Crimean Piedmont show a restricted range of values (δ18O = –10.5 to –8.0 ‰, δ2H = –72 to –58 ‰), somewhat more negative than the weighted mean of meteoric precipitation. This suggests preferential recharge at higher elevations during winter months. Groundwater tapped by boreholes splits in three groups. A first group has isotopic properties similar to those of the springs. The second group shows significantly lower values (δ18O = –13.3 to –12.0 ‰, δ2H = –95 to –82 ‰), suggesting recharge during colder Pleistocene times. The third group has high isotope values (δ18O = –2.5 to +1.0 ‰, δ2H = –24 to –22 ‰); the data points are shifted to the right of the Local Meteoric Water Line, suggesting water–rock exchange processes in the aquifer. These boreholes are located in the Crimean Plains and discharge mineralized (ca. 25 g L−1) thermal (65°C) water from a depth of 1600–1800 m. Groundwater associated with mud volcanoes on the Kerch peninsula have distinct isotope characteristics (δ18O = –1.6 to +9.4 ‰, δ2H = –30 to –18 ‰). Restricted δ2H variability along with variable and high δ18O values suggest water–rock interactions at temperatures exceeding 95 °C.

We present the first speleothem-derived central North Africa rainfall record for the last glacial period. The record reveals three main wet periods at 65-61 ka, 52.5-50.5 ka and 37.5-33 ka that lead obliquity maxima and precession minima. We find additional minor wet episodes that are synchronous with Greenland interstadials. Our results demonstrate that sub-tropical hydrology is forced by both orbital cyclicity and North Atlantic moisture sources. The record shows that after the end of a Saharan wet phase around 70 ka ago, North Africa continued to intermittently receive substantially more rainfall than today, resulting in favourable environmental conditions for modern human expansion. The encounter and subsequent mixture of Neanderthals and modern humans – which, on genetic evidence, is considered to have occurred between 60 and 50 ka – occurred synchronously with the wet phase between 52.5 and 50.5 ka. Based on genetic evidence the dispersal of modern humans into Eurasia started less than 55 ka ago. This may have been initiated by dry conditions that prevailed in North Africa after 50.5 ka. The timing of a migration reversal of modern humans from Eurasia into North Africa is suggested to be coincident with the wet period between 37.5 and 33 ka., Scientific Reports, 6, ISSN:2045-2322

A precisely dated speleothem isotope record from the Sieben Hengste cave system, Switzerland, reveals a Last Interglacial (LIG) climate optimum centred at 128.1 ± 1.2 ka. The oxygen isotope signal is consistent with a temperature-dominated record and shows a strong correlation with the modelled Greenland d18O signal. The comparison with speleothems formed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in the same cave indicates a 4e5‰ difference in d18O between peak LIG and peak LGM conditions, suggesting peak LIG temperatures being up to 3 C higher than the Holocene average. Pollen extracted from the stalagmite indicates a vegetation response delayed by up to 3 ka with maximum pollen concentrations recorded at 125 ± 2.2 ka. Our results support a regional vegetation dominated by thermophile tree species including Corylus (hazel), Quercus robur-type (oak), Ulmus (elm), Tilia (lime tree) and Hedera (ivy), consistent with slightly warmer conditions than today. Despite the relatively low pollen concentration, the speleothem-based pollen spectra are consistent with regional pollen assemblage zones from paleolake sediments and provide the first direct paleovegetation evidence of thermophilization during the LIG at high altitudes in the Alps., Quaternary Science Reviews, 262, ISSN:0277-3791

Glacial periods and their terminations are useful for assessing the full scale of natural climate variability in the diverse climate regions of West Asia (i.e. deserts, mountains, alluvial plains, coastal zones). In this study, we report the first stalagmite stable isotope (δ18O and δ13C) records from the southern Zagros Mountains in southwest Iran. The records partially span the period from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the early Holocene, 24.2–9.6 thousand years before the present. The southwest Iran stalagmite δ18O and δ13C records indicate that climate and environment in the area differed substantially between the LGM and early Holocene. High stalagmite δ13C values are found at the LGM (7‰ greater compared to the early Holocene), and are attributed to sparse vegetation and reduced soil bio‐productivity, and possibly a greater degree of prior calcite precipitation in the epikarst, as a result of a cold and dry climate. Stalagmite δ18O values are also high at the LGM (4‰ greater compared to the early Holocene), and are attributed to lower temperatures (larger water–calcite isotope fractionation) and higher δ18O values of the moisture sources (Mediterranean and Red Seas). Through the deglaciation, stalagmite δ18O, δ13C and/or growth features coincide with the North Atlantic Heinrich Stadial 1, the Bølling–Allerød warm period and the Younger Dryas cold event, supporting a relationship between southern Zagros climate and the North Atlantic millennial events.

Similarly to the effects of current climate change, the last deglaciation (Termination I) rapidly altered northern latitude temperatures and ice-sheet extent, as well as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. However, it is still unclear how these changes propagated and impacted the central Mediterranean continental rainfall variability. This prevents a full understanding on how global warming will affect Mediterranean areas in the future. Here, we present a high-resolution reconstruction of rainfall changes in the central Mediterranean across Termination I, based on a novel δ18O time series from a southern Italian stalagmite. Across Termination I the availability of Atlantic moisture varied in response to northern latitude temperature increases (decreases) and ice-sheet decreases (increases), promoting a higher (lower) intensity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, and resulting in a relatively wetter (drier) climate in the Mediterranean. In the light of future warming, this study emphasises the role of high-latitude climate changes in causing rainfall variation in highly populated Mediterranean areas.

Speleothems show an array of shapes. Flowstones are commonly tabular sheet-like deposits, which cover cave floors and walls. They can procure detailed information about past hydrogeological conditions through their morphology, geochemical composition and stratigraphic properties, which in turn are related to the climate conditions at the surface. This is possible if the climate and environmental factors controlling the formation of these deposits are well understood. In Bossea Cave (north-east Italy), we have investigated highly symmetrical wavy flowstones that have never been described in detail before. These deposits show a cyclical repetition of sloped and sub-vertical layers, with knickpoints migrating downslope. This paper investigates the origin of these peculiar carbonate deposits, using: i) terrestrial laser scanning surveys; ii) petrographic observations; iii) oxygen and carbon stable isotope analyses; iv) hydrochemical monitoring data of feeding waters. According to these analyses, we have generated a genetic model that demonstrates: 1) laminar flow of CaCO3–rich water prevails during the deposition of the flowstone; in accordance, the final flowstone architecture does not appear to be influenced by random irregularities of the underlying bedrock substrate. 2) The peculiar morphology is inherited by ripples occurring in the flowing water films during carbonate deposition, which trigger the precipitation of regularly spaced CaCO3 deposits along the bedrock slopes. Because of these ripple-induced initial deposits, calcite then deposits as sloped and sub-vertical layers, giving rise to a wavy-like morphology. 3) Wavy calcite layers are only deposited after heavy rainfall events occurred within two to four consecutive rainy days (10 to 20 mm/hour during rainfall peaks; average rates between 3.5 and 7.0 mm/hour); in contrast, calcite deposition cannot occur during low rainfall events (less than 5 mm/hour during rainfall peaks, average rates around 0.8 mm/hour). We therefore propose that the studied wavy flowstones are hydroclimatic indicators, testifying the occurrence of flashy type recharge related to heavy rainfall events. Similar deposits could record these same hydro-climatic conditions in other karst areas. In recent decades, storms have caused more frequent flooding in highly populated Mediterranean areas, especially in Italy. Wavy flowstones may offer a new archive to gain a better understanding of the long-term dynamics of intense precipitation events and, thus, help to improve future climate scenarios.

Here we present the first record of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7 from Sardinia, based on a U-Th-dated speleothem from Crovassa Azzurra cave, which also grew during MIS 5. Carbonate precipitation was continuous during MIS 7, while two multi-millennial hiatuses interrupted growth during MIS 5. These hiatuses occurred during times of unstable climate, but local karst-specific conditions are considered to have played an important role as well. δ13C values mostly reflect soil bioproductivity and vegetation density. During less humid periods these values reflect bedrock δ13C values, because of a semi-closed system and/or sulphuric acid-driven bedrock dissolution. δ18O changes were governed by the interplay of rainfall amount and moisture source. Disentangling these two effects was possible by comparing δ13C and δ18O values, whereby both isotopes co-vary during periods when δ18O was dominated by the amount effect. Changes in the relative proportion of Atlantic and Mediterranean moisture sources was the main control on δ18O at times when δ18O was decoupled from δ13C. δ18O variations during MIS 5 are synchronous with Greenland stadials (GS) and interstadials (GI) GS 26, GI 25, GI-GS 22, GI-GS 21. With the exception of GS 22, these climate oscillations did not affect soil bioproductivity, and δ18O mirrors the relative proportion of Atlantic and Mediterranean moisture sources. GS 22 was a prominent arid period in Sardinia, in accordance with other regional palaeoclimate archives. High soil bioproductivity is indicated by δ13C values for MIS 7e and MIS 7c-a; the latter interval was characterized by a 30 kyr-long time span of warm and humid conditions in Sardinia. Soil bioproductivity decreased markedly during MIS 7d and the climate became drier. The latter period, also constrained by δ18O data, lasted significantly shorter in Sardinia than in central Europe. As indicated by changes in δ13C and δ18O relationships, variations in moisture source are also recorded for MIS 7, with Mediterranean-dominated rainfall during MIS 7e and 7c followed by a shift toward Atlantic-dominated rainfall.

The fourth‐ and fifth‐century aqueduct system of Constantinople is, at 426 km, the longest water supply line of the ancient world. Carbonate deposits in the aqueduct system provide an archive of both archaeological developments and palaeo‐environmental conditions during the depositional period. The 246‐km‐long aqueduct line from the fourth century used springs from a small aquifer, whereas a 180‐km‐long fifth‐century extension to the west tapped a larger aquifer. Although historical records testify at least 700 years of aqueduct activity, carbonate deposits in the aqueduct system display less than 27 years of operation. This implies that the entire system must have been cleaned of carbonate, presumably during regular campaigns. A 50‐km‐long double‐aqueduct section in the central part of the system may have been a costly but practical solution to allow repairs and cleaning of the aqueducts of carbonate to ascertain a continuous water supply to the city. The fifth‐century channel was commonly contaminated with clay, caused by the nature of the aqueduct system and possible local damage to the channel. This clay‐rich water could have been one of the reasons for the construction of large reservoirs in Constantinople. image, Leverhulme Trust http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000275, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

The sensitivity of tropical Atlantic precipitation patterns to the mean position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) at different time scales is well‐known. However, recent research suggests a more complex behavior of the northern hemispheric tropical rain belt related to the ITCZ in the western tropical Atlantic. Here we present a precisely dated speleothem multi‐proxy record from a well‐monitored cave in Puerto Rico, covering the period between 46.2 and 15.3 ka. The stable isotope and trace element records document a pronounced response of regional rainfall to abrupt climatic excursions in the North Atlantic across the Last Glacial such as Heinrich stadials and Dansgaard/Oeschger events. The annual to multidecadal resolution of the proxy time series allows substructural investigations of the recorded events. Spectral analysis suggests that multidecadal to centennial variability persisted in the regional hydroclimate mainly during interstadial conditions but also during the Last Glacial Maximum. In particular, we observe a strong agreement between the speleothem proxy data and the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, supporting a persistent link of oceanic forcing to regional precipitation. Comparison to other paleo‐precipitation records enables the reconstruction of past changes in position, strength, and extent of the ITCZ in the western tropical Atlantic in response to millennial‐ and orbital‐scale global climate change., Plain Language Summary: It is important to understand the climatic circumstances of how rainfall in the western tropical Atlantic varies under a changing climate to better manage the water supply for millions of people. However, it is not well understood how rainfall varied in the past, especially during the Last Glacial period, a time of strong climate variability and abrupt climate changes. Here, we use a stalagmite from Puerto Rico to create a new record of past changes in rainfall in this region. For this purpose, we analyzed proxy data that reveal a series of wet and dry periods during the Last Glacial corresponding to rapid global climate shifts. Our rainfall‐sensitive stalagmite record captured changes of the tropical rain belt on various timescales and shows that this variability in rainfall is closely connected to changes in the strength of the ocean circulation. This suggests that the link between the ocean and the atmosphere is more robust than previously assumed. The comparison of our record with other rainfall‐sensitive records from Central America and the northern Caribbean allows for a detailed reconstruction of the spatial and temporal changes of the western tropical Atlantic rain belt., Key Points: Puerto Rican speleothem record documents multidecadal to millennial‐scale precipitation variability between 46.2 and 15.3 ka. Climate proxies show a distinct rainfall response to abrupt North Atlantic climate change including Heinrich and Dansgaard/Oeschger events. Compilation of regional precipitation records allows to reconstruct past changes in ITCZ patterns in the western tropical Atlantic., National Science Foundation (NSF) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000930, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

Radiometric dating of glacial terminations over the past 640,000 years suggests pacing by Earth’s climatic precession, with each glacial-interglacial period spanning four or five cycles of ~20,000 years. However, the lack of firm age estimates for older Pleistocene terminations confounds attempts to test the persistence of precession forcing. We combine an Italian speleothem record anchored by a uranium-lead chronology with North Atlantic ocean data to show that the first two deglaciations of the so-called 100,000-year world are separated by two obliquity cycles, with each termination starting at the same high phase of obliquity, but at opposing phases of precession. An assessment of 11 radiometrically dated terminations spanning the past million years suggests that obliquity exerted a persistent influence on not only their initiation but also their duration. We acknowledge financial support from Australian Research Council Discovery Project grants 0664621 (to J.D.W.), 110102185 (to R.N.D., J.D.W., J.C.H., E.W., A.E.F., and S.F.), and 160102969 (to R.N.D., J.D.W., G.Z., E.W., and P.F.). We thank the Gruppo Speleologico Lucchese and the Federazione Speleologica Toscana for logistic and funding support. The SUERC contribution to this study falls within the framework of the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES). P.B. was the recipient of a University of Melbourne International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and Postgraduate Writing-Up Award supported by the Albert Shimmins Fund. J.C.H. was the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT130100801). P.F. acknowledges support from the European Union through a Marie-Curie Reintegration grant (PERG-GA-2010-272134 - MILLEVARIABILI). D.H. acknowledges support from the UK Natural Environmental Research Council. E.W. is supported by a Royal Society Professorship. A.H.L.V. and T.R. received financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) projects MOWCADYN (PTDC/MAR-PRO/3761/2012), WarmWorld (PTDC/CTA-GEO/29897/2017), and CCMAR (UID/ Multi/04326/2019). Samples from the marine sites were provided by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program to D.H., A.H.L.V., and T.R. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Most of the caves and pits with ice and snow in Croatia are situated in Dinaric Karst Mountains (Gorski kotar area, Kapela Mt., Velebit Mt., Dinara Mt, Biokovo Mt.). Generally, the highest mountains parts (higher than 1500 m a.s.l.) have a humid boreal climate (Köppen's type Df) and the lower parts have a temperate humid climate (Cfb) highly modified by the relief (distribution of ridges and depressions suitable for retention of colder air even in lower altitudes below 1000 m a.s.l.). Mean annual temperature in the area 1000 m a.s.l. is about 5.5°C and in the highest parts around 3.5°C. The coldest months are January and February (mean annual temperature between -2 and -5°C) and the warmest one is July (12-16°C). Due to the position between Adriatic Sea and the Pannonian Basin there are important climate modifications. The most important ones are very high amounts of precipitation due to the vicinity of the Adriatic Sea, general atmospheric circulation, and a high relief. Annual precipitation varies from 2000 to 3900 mm/year. According to these data there are good conditions for the accumulation of ice and snow in caves and pits. In our presentation we will use data from Risnjak and Velebit Mt. area. The Risnjak Mt. area is located in Gorski kotar in NW Croatia. There are 80 speleological features (mostly pits) developed in carbonate rocks of mostly Jurassic age. Most of them have occasional accumulation of snow fallen down from the surface and ice formed by freezing of drip water. According to meteorological data collected in the 105 m deep Nestasna jama (1335 m a.s.l.) air temperature in the summer at the bottom of the vertical passage filled with permanent ice was 0°C to 1°C with a very small amplitude during a one week measurement period. The northern Velebit karst area is conducive to the formation of deep pits, three of these are deeper than 1 km: Lukina Jama - Trojama pit system (-1392 m), Slovačka Jama (-1320 m) and the Velebita Cave system (-1026 m). So far, more than 280 pits have been discovered in an area of 25 km2 . The area is composed of carbonate lithostratigraphic units ranging from the Middle Triassic to the Paleogene. Lukina jama is almost vertical from the entrance (1475 m a.s.l.) up to the depth of 550 m with one inclined snow shelf at a depth of 320 m. From 50 to 320 m, the deposits of snow and ice are on the walls, so the pit temperature in this part is 0°C. In deeper parts there is a positive temperature gradient up to 4°C at the bottom. Patkov Gušt pit is 553 m deep. The entrance is at 1450 m a.s.l. From the depth of 50 to 135 m there are thick deposits of snow and ice on the walls. At the depth of 105 m there is the narrowest passage part (2×1.5 m) which is occasionally completely filled with snow and ice. Below the depth of 130 m the pit widens. The walls are completely or partially covered by ice coating up to 300 m depth. Ice breaking and collapse was noticed in summer. Ledena jama in Lomska duliba is 536 m deep. It has a 42 m thick layer of ice starting at the depth of 62 m. Paž pit is 400 m deep. There is a negative temperature gradient in this pit in the summer from about 20°C near the entrance down to 0°C at the depth of 200 m. Down to the bottom the walls are partially covered by ice which is falling down to the hall where the temperature is 0°C. Most of the pits on Mt. Velebit have vertical entrances with temperatures close to 0°C down to about 100 m, so in many other pits we found ice and snow. On the other hand, in some of deepest pits in the same area – Slovačka jama, Velebita, Lubuška jama – there is no ice and snow, most likely because the entrance is not vertical. In the upper parts of these pits there is also a negative temperature gradient, but the minimum temperature is a few degrees above 0°C.