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Visualisation of luminescence excitation‐emission timeseries: Palaeoclimate implications from a 10,000 year stalagmite record from Ireland
Author(s) -
Baker Andy,
Bolton Lucy,
Brunsdon Chris,
Charlton Martin,
McDermott Frank
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl011380
Subject(s) - stalagmite , luminescence , geology , cave , vegetation (pathology) , optically stimulated luminescence , climate change , holocene , physical geography , climatology , remote sensing , paleontology , geography , oceanography , materials science , archaeology , medicine , optoelectronics , pathology
Stalagmite luminescence excitation emission wavelength timeseries can provide high‐resolution palaeoclimate records. Here, we employ multidimensional visualisation techniques in order to interpret a 10,000 year luminescence record from a stalagmite from Crag Cave, SW Ireland. Our results demonstrate three periods of distinct luminescence properties: (1) 0–4,000 BP, when they are affected by overlying agriculture. (2) 4,000–9,600 BP, where there is a strong correlation between luminescence and 13 C isotopic variations; we suggest the correlation demonstrates a vegetation response to climate change, (3) Before 9,600 BP, where a strong early Holocene transition is visible. Our results suggest that it took about 400–600 years for soils above the cave to stabilise after significant climate or environmental change, and that there was a complex vegetation response between 8,000 and 7,100 BP that my have been a lagged response to the “8.2 ka event”.