Simulated European stalagmite record and its relation to a quasi-decadal climate mode

• Main Authors: G. Lohmann, A. Wackerbarth, P. M. Langebroek, M. Werner, J. Fohlmeister, D. Scholz, A. Mangini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Climate of the Past
• Online Access: http://www.clim-past.net/9/89/2013/cp-9-89-2013.pdf
• ISSN: 1814-9324; 1814-9332

A synthetic stalagmite δ¹⁸O record for the Bunker Cave (51° N, 7° E) is constructed using a combined climate–stalagmite modelling approach where we combine an atmospheric circulation model equipped with water isotopes and a model simulating stalagmite calcite δ¹⁸O values. Mixing processes in the soil and karst above the cave represent a natural low-pass filter of the speleothem climate archive. Stalagmite δ¹⁸O values at Bunker Cave lag the regional surface climate by 3–4 yr. The power spectrum of the simulated speleothem calcite δ¹⁸O record has a pronounced peak at quasi-decadal time scale, which is associated with a large-scale climate variability pattern in the North Atlantic. Our modelling study suggests that stalagmite records from Bunker Cave are representative for large-scale teleconnections and can be used to obtain information about the North Atlantic and its decadal variability.