Lee-Thorp et al. 2001, Holmgren et al. 1999 South African Speleothem Stable Isotope Data Holmgren, K.; Lee-Thorp, J.A.; Karlén, W.; Lauritzen, S.-E.; Partridge, T.C.; Piketh, S.; Repinski, P.; Stevenson, C.; Svanered, O.; Tyson, P.D.; Linge, H.; Moberg, A. Holmgren, K. Lee-Thorp, J.A. Karlén, W. Lauritzen, S.-E. Partridge, T.C. Piketh, S. Repinski, P. Stevenson, C. Svanered, O. Tyson, P.D. Linge, H. Moberg, A. PAGES 2k Network PAGES Africa 2k earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (depth,null,null,millimeter,null,speleothems,null,null,N,null) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (delta 13C,calcium carbonate,null,per mil PDB,null,speleothems,raw,isotope ratio mass spectrometry,N,null) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (age,null,null,year Common Era,null,speleothems,null,null,N,null) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (delta 18O,calcium carbonate,null,per mil PDB,null,speleothems,raw,isotope ratio mass spectrometry,N,null) earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems earth science/paleoclimate/speleothems (Cold Air Cave>LATITUDE -24.02>LONGITUDE 29.11) A detailed climate proxy record based on d18O, d13C, and grey index of a well-dated stalagmite from Cold Air Cave in the Makapansgat Valley in north-eastern South Africa suggests that regional precipitation, temperatures, and vegetation oscillated markedly and rapidly over the last ~6500 years on centennial and multi-decadal scales. The mid-Holocene prior to 5200 years ago was humid and warm. A fundamental transition occurred 3200 years ago, leading to drier and cooler conditions that culminated at 1750 AD. Comparisons with ice core records suggest synchronous changes implicating rapid global teleconnections. STUDY NOTES: DESCRIPTION: Stable isotope and grey colour intensity data from an aragonite stalagmite from Cold Air Cave in the Makapansgat Valley in northeastern South Africa. The record indicates wetter conditions in the summer rainfall areas of southern Africa during the mid Holocene warm phase, in phase with previously identified reduction in Antarctic circumpolar circulation. The record also captures a marked climate shift 3200 years ago. The trend thereafter towards the most pronounced cool, dry episode in the past 6500 years, culminating at AD 1750, reflects a cooling trend observed also in Antarctic and Greenland ice cores. NCDC-Paleoclimatology https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/paleoclimatology-data - Bauer Bruce Investigator : Holmgren, K. Investigator : Lee-Thorp, J.A. Investigator : Karlén, W. Investigator : Lauritzen, S.-E. Investigator : Partridge, T.C. Investigator : Piketh, S. Investigator : Repinski, P. Investigator : Stevenson, C. Investigator : Svanered, O. Investigator : Tyson, P.D. Investigator : Linge, H. Investigator : Moberg, A. 2001-03-01 ONLINE Files online, ASCII https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/5420 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/africa/cold_air_cave.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/syntrace/speleothem/cave-coldair-t7.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/africa/cold_air_cave.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/syntrace/speleothem/cave-coldair-t7.txt English https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/5420 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/africa/cold_air_cave.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/syntrace/speleothem/cave-coldair-t7.txt Lee-Thorp, J.A., K. Holmgren, S.E. Lauritzen, H. Linge, A. Moberg, T.C. Partridge, Stevenson, C. and P.D. Tyson. 2001. Rapid climate shifts in the southern African interior throughout the mid to late Holocene. Geophysical Research Letters, 28, 4507-4510. doi:10.1029/2000GL012728. Holmgren, K, W. Karlén, S.E. Lauritzen, J.A. Lee-Thorp, T.C. Partridge, S. Piketh, P. Repinski, C. Stevenson, O. Svanered and P.D. Tyson. 1999. A 3000-year High-Resolution Record of Palaeoclimate for North-Eastern South Africa. The Holocene, 9(3), 295-309. doi:10.1191/095968399672625464 START YEAR: -4456 AD * END YEAR: 1996 AD 29.11 -24.02 29.11 -24.02