Sanbao Cave, China Holocene Speleothem Oxygen Isotope Data Dong, J.; Wang, Y.; Cheng, H.; Hardt, B.F.; Edwards, R.L.; Kong, X.; Wu, J.; Chen, S.; Liu, D.; Jiang, X.-Y.; Zhao, K. Dong, J. Wang, Y. Cheng, H. Hardt, B.F. Edwards, R.L. Kong, X. Wu, J. Chen, S. Liu, D. Jiang, X.-Y. Zhao, K. Monsoon earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (depth,null,null,millimeter,null,speleothems,null,null,N,null) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (age,null,null,calendar year before present,null,speleothems,null,null,N,null) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (delta 18O,calcium carbonate,null,per mil VPDB,null,speleothems,raw,isotope ratio mass spectrometry,N,null) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (Sanbao Cave>LATITUDE 31.667>LONGITUDE 110.433) High-resolution oxygen isotope (d18O) profiles of six stalagmites from Sanbao Cave in Hubei province, central China, established with 1413 oxygen isotope data and 65 230Th ages, provide a continuous history of East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) intensity for the period from 13-0.2 thousand years before present (ky BP, relative to AD 1950). The d18O record includes four distinct stages in the evolution of the EASM: (1) an abrupt transition (~11.5 ky BP) into the Holocene; (2) a period of gradual increase in monsoon intensity (11.5-9.5 ky BP); (3) the maximum humid period (9.5-6.5 ky BP); and (4) a period of gradual decline in monsoon intensity (6.5-0.2 ky BP). Comparison of Sanbao with regional records of comparable resolution reveals that the timing of the beginning and end of the Holocene Optimum (as defined by the minimum in d18O) was similar in the Indian and East Asian monsoon systems. This supports the idea that shifts in the monsoon tied to shifts in the mean position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) may control monsoon intensity throughout the entire low-latitude region of Asia on orbital timescales. This observation also supports the idea that the fluctuations in d18O recorded across southern Asia reflect broad changes in the monsoon, as opposed to local meteoric precipitation. The EASM records from Sanbao largely follow orbital-scale insolation changes, yet exhibit similar variability to Greenland ice core d18O on millennial to centennial scales during the early to middle Holocene (r = 0.94). STUDY NOTES: High-resolution oxygen isotope data and U/Th dating results over the entire Holocene from 6 stalagmites collected in Sanbao cave, Hubei province, central China. Stalagmites sb43 and sb10 have hiatus at ~7700-6700 years BP and ~3000-5700 years BP, respectively. Stalagmites sb26, sb27, sb44, and sb49 have no hiatus. Spacing between samples is 2mm for sb49 and sb44, and 1mm for the other samples. NCDC-Paleoclimatology https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/paleoclimatology-data - Bauer Bruce Investigator : Dong, J. Investigator : Wang, Y. Investigator : Cheng, H. Investigator : Hardt, B.F. Investigator : Edwards, R.L. Investigator : Kong, X. Investigator : Wu, J. Investigator : Chen, S. Investigator : Liu, D. Investigator : Jiang, X.-Y. Investigator : Zhao, K. 2010-03-13 ONLINE Files online, ASCII https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/10445 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/china/sanbao2010.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/china/sanbao2010.xls https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/china/sanbao2010.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/china/sanbao2010.xls English https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/10445 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/china/sanbao2010.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/china/sanbao2010.xls Dong, J., Y. Wang, H. Cheng, B. Hardt, R.L. Edwards, X. Kong, J. Wu, S. Chen, D. Liu, X. Jiang, and K. Zhao. 2010. A high-resolution stalagmite record of the Holocene East Asian monsoon from Mt Shennongjia, central China. The Holocene Vol. 20(2), pp. 257-264. DOI: 10.1177/0959683609350393 START YEAR: 13185 cal yr BP * END YEAR: 70 cal yr BP 110.433 31.667 110.433 31.667