Soreq Cave, Israel Speleothem Oxygen Isotope Data 33.8-4.4 ky BP Orland, I.J.; Bar-Matthews, M.; Ayalon, A.; Matthews, A.; Kozdon, R.; Ushikubo, T.; Valley, J.W. Orland, I.J. Bar-Matthews, M. Ayalon, A. Matthews, A. Kozdon, R. Ushikubo, T. Valley, J.W. earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (depth,null,null,micrometer,null,speleothems,null,null,N,horizontal distance in um from the edge of the sample 2N slab) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (delta 18O,calcite,two standard deviations,per mil VPDB,null,speleothems,raw,multiple collector secondary ion mass spectrometry,N,spot-to-spot reproducibility; 10um-diameter analysis spots) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (age,null,null,calendar year before present,null,speleothems,null,null,N,present defined as 1950 CE; age model is a linear interpolation between U-Th ages; linear extrapolation of observed growth rates is extended to data not bracketed by dates) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (delta 18O,calcite,null,per mil VPDB,null,speleothems,raw,multiple collector secondary ion mass spectrometry,N,10um-diameter analysis spots) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (Soreq Cave>LATITUDE 31.45>LONGITUDE 35.03) The combination of ion microprobe analysis of d18O and confocal laser fluorescent microscope imaging of annual growth bands in a Soreq Cave speleothem provides sub-annual-scale climate information between 34 and 4 ka. This high-resolution methodology is ideal both for comparing seasonal climate patterns across broad windows of time and examining rapid climate events, such as the Younger Dryas termination, in detail. The sub-annual d18O gradients we report represent a combination of seasonal variability in rainfall amount and air temperature. A distinct change in both the pattern of fluorescent banding and the gradient of d18O measured in situ across single, annual growth bands indicates a change in seasonal climate patterns of the Eastern Mediterranean region following Heinrich event 1 and again after the Younger Dryas. Throughout the Holocene, wet winters and dry summers characterized regional climate. During the Younger Dryas, we find that regional climate may have been more arid than in the Holocene, but the fluorescent banding pattern indicates that the supply of dripwater to the cave was more consistent year-round. We suggest that a reduced gradient of seasonal precipitation, occasional snowfall, and vegetation differences may have all contributed to the isotope and fluorescent banding patterns observed during Heinrich event 1 and the last glacial stadial. Detailed investigation of the Younger Dryas termination reveals a rapid onset of regional environmental change. Fluorescent band counting indicates that the Younger Dryas termination, as recorded by rainfall in the Eastern Mediterranean, spanned a minimum of 12 years. STUDY NOTES: Oxygen isotope data and age model from sample 2N of Soreq Cave near Jerusalem, Israel NCDC-Paleoclimatology https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/paleoclimatology-data - Bauer Bruce Investigator : Orland, I.J. Investigator : Bar-Matthews, M. Investigator : Ayalon, A. Investigator : Matthews, A. Investigator : Kozdon, R. Investigator : Ushikubo, T. Investigator : Valley, J.W. 2017-11-09 ONLINE Files online, ASCII https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/23099 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/israel/soreq2012d18o.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/israel/soreq2012d18o.txt English https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/23099 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/asia/israel/soreq2012d18o.txt Ian J. Orland, Miryam Bar-Matthews, Avner Ayalon, Alan Matthews, Reinhard Kozdon, Takayuki Ushikubo, John W. Valley2012Seasonal resolution of Eastern Mediterranean climate change since 34 ka from a Soreq Cave speleothemGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta89240-25510.1016/j.gca.2012.04.035 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016703712002402 START YEAR: 33804 cal yr BP * END YEAR: 4440 cal yr BP 35.03 31.45 35.03 31.45