A multi-proxy record of abrupt cooling events during the Windermere Interstadial at Crudale Meadow,Orkney, UK |
| |
| Authors: | Christopher P Francis Stefan Engels Ian P Matthews Adrian P Palmer Rhys G O Timms Anne-Lise Jourdan Ian Candy |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK;2. Department of Geography, Birkbeck University of London, London, UK;3. Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK |
| |
| Abstract: | Three clearly defined abrupt cooling events (ACEs) can be observed within Greenland Interstadial (GI)-1 in the Greenland ice-core records. However, the spatial variation in amplitude and timing of these ACEs is poorly understood due to the paucity of well-dated records with quantified temperature reconstructions. This study presents high-resolution chironomid-inferred July air temperature (TJul) and oxygen isotope (δ18O) records from Crudale Meadow (Orkney Isles, UK). Three centennial-scale ACEs punctuate the Windermere Interstadial at Crudale Meadow. The largest ACE shows an amplitude of 5.4 °C and a 1% isotopic decline and is centred on ~14.0 ka bp , consistent with the timing of the GI-1d event in the Greenland stratigraphy. The two other observed ACEs are of smaller magnitude and are centred on ~13.6 ka bp and ~13.2 ka bp , with these smaller magnitude events tentatively correlated with the GI-1cii and GI-1b events, respectively, but lack sufficient chronological constraint to fully assess their timing. When comparing the Crudale Meadow record with other locations in the British Isles a strong relationship can be observed between the magnitude of TJul cooling and latitude, with a reduced signal in more southerly locations, indicating that oceanic forcing may be a key driver of the ACEs. |
| |
| Keywords: | abrupt cooling event (ACE) British Isles chironomids GI-1d stable isotopes |
|
|
