Climatic quantification and seasonality of the late MIS 3 in North China: A perspective from carbon and oxygen isotopes of fossil mammal teeth

Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3, at 60-25 ka B.P.) was a short interstadial within the Last Glacial period. A generally warm and wet climatic condition during the MIS 3 period has been suggested by many previous studies. Quantitative climatic reconstruction and studies of seasonality, however, have been seldom attempted given the scarcity of useful proxy indicators. A full understanding the climatic characteristics during this period is hampered by their absence. This is especially the case in the East Asian monsoon region in North China, which is very sensitive to climatic change. To help fill this knowledge gap, we have determined the stable carbon (delta C-13) and oxygen isotope (delta O-13) compositions of tooth enamel from fossil mammals (Bubalus sp [buffalo] and Cervus elaphus [red deer], dated at similar to 33-31 ka B.P.) recovered from Longquan Cave in North China. We use these data to constrain ecology, local air temperature and precipitation amounts during the late MIS 3. The average delta C-13 (VPDB) of tooth enamel (-14.4 parts per thousand and -8.8 parts per thousand, respectively for buffalo and red deer) indicate that C3 plants comprised the main diet of animals living in this area. Pollen assemblages demonstrated that vegetation mainly consisted of grasses and herbs (similar to 64%) with trees only accounting for about 26%. These results indicate a landscape of open steppe with sparsely distributed trees. The reconstructed climate derived from tooth enamel delta O-13 was relatively colder and drier than present-day condition, with mean annual air temperature ranging from 4 to 13 degrees C and mean annual precipitation ranging from 360 to 670 mm. Moreover, the inferred summer and winter half-year temperatures were respectively 8-24 degrees C and -2 to 5 degrees C, which represents either similar or weaker seasonality than at the present time. The inferred cold and dry climate suggested by our study contrasts with the warm and wet conditions previously reconstructed using proxy indicators from bulk soil samples in North China. In comparison to the long-term, time-averaged climatic condition reflected by those soil proxies, the stable isotope compositions of fossil more likely recorded climatic conditions at annual or seasonal time-scale. The inferred annual cold/dry climate at Luanchuan Cave suggested by our data may indicate a short climatic cooling event from Greenland Interstadial (GIS) 5 to its following stadial. Mean annual temperature fluctuated by similar to 8 degrees C during this interstadial-stadial cycle. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study investigated the stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of tooth enamel from fossil mammals in North China, revealing a relatively cold and dry climate during the late MIS 3 period. The vegetation mainly consisted of grasses and herbs, indicating an open steppe landscape with sparsely distributed trees. The reconstructed climate suggested colder and drier conditions than present, with similar or weaker seasonality compared to today.