Stalagmite evidence for Early Holocene multidecadal hydroclimate variability in Ethiopia

A multiproxy oxygen and carbon isotope (delta C-13 and delta O-18), growth rate, and trace element stalagmite paleoenvironmental record is presented for the Early Holocene from Ethiopia. The annually laminated stalagmite grew from 10.6 to 10.4 ka and from 9.7 to 9.0 ka with a short hiatus at similar to 9.25 ka. Statistically significant and coherent spectral frequencies in delta C-13 and delta O-18 are observed at 15-25 and 19-23 years, respectively. The observed similar to 1 parts per thousand amplitude variability in stalagmite 5180 is likely forced by nonequilibrium deposition, due to kinetic effects during the progressive degassing of CO2 from the water film during stalagmite formation. These frequencies are similar to the periodicity reported for other Holocene stalagmite records from Ethiopia, suggesting that multidecadal variability in stalagmite delta O-18 is typical. Several processes can lead to this multidecadal variability and operate in different directions. A hydroclimate forcing is likely the primary control on the extent of the partial evaporation of soil and shallow epikarst water and associated isotopic fractionation. The resulting oxygen isotope composition of percolation water is subsequently modulated by karst hydrology. Further isotopic fractionation is possible in-cave during nonequilibrium stalagmite deposition. Combined with possible recharge biases in drip-water delta O-18, these processes can generate multidecadal delta O-18 variability.

Automated summary

This study presents a paleoenvironmental record of the Early Holocene in Ethiopia using multiple proxies including oxygen and carbon isotopes, growth rate, and trace elements in stalagmites. The analysis revealed significant spectral frequencies in delta C-13 and delta O-18, indicating multidecadal variability in stalagmite records. The variability is likely caused by nonequilibrium deposition and hydroclimate forcing, which affect the isotopic composition of percolation water during stalagmite formation.