Publications
2024
Zhang, Junjie; Klose, Jennifer; Scholz, Denis; Marwan, Norbert; Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Katzschmann, Lutz; Kraemer, Dennis; Tsukamoto, Sumiko
Isothermal thermoluminescence dating of speleothem growth – A case study from Bleßberg cave 2, Journal Article
In: Quaternary Geochronology, vol. 85, pp. 101628, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb2-1, chronology, dating, jgu, liag, northumbria, pik, stalagmite, tl dating
@article{zhang2024,
title = {Isothermal thermoluminescence dating of speleothem growth – A case study from Bleßberg cave 2,},
author = {Junjie Zhang and Jennifer Klose and Denis Scholz and Norbert Marwan and Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Lutz Katzschmann and Dennis Kraemer and Sumiko Tsukamoto},
doi = {10.1016/j.quageo.2024.101628},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-09-21},
urldate = {2024-09-21},
journal = {Quaternary Geochronology},
volume = {85},
pages = {101628},
abstract = {Speleothems are a key archive of past climatic and environmental changes. 230Th/U dating is the most commonly used method to determine speleothem ages. However, incorporation of non-radiogenic thorium may hamper 230Th/U dating, and samples older than 600 ka also remain out-of-reach. Calcite exhibits a thermoluminescence (TL) signal at 280 °C with a high characteristic saturation dose, and provides significant potential to date carbonate samples over several million years. Hitherto, the application of TL dating for calcite has mainly been hindered by two factors: 1) a spurious TL signal occurring in the high temperature range, and 2) non-uniform dose rate due to U-series disequilibrium. Here we test an isothermal TL (ITL) dating method on a speleothem sample from Bleßberg cave 2, Germany. We show that the ITL signal measured at 240 °C can completely remove the 280 °C TL peak with a negligible TL contribution from the higher temperature range, thus reducing the influence from the spurious signal. The time-dependent dose rate variation can be simulated using the initial radioactivity of 238U, 234U, 230Th and their decay constants. We use the 230Th/U dating method to provide precise and accurate radiometric ages documenting that the speleothem grew between 425.5 ± 5.4 and 320.5 ± 9.7 ka. The ITL ages (421 ± 23 to 311 ± 23 ka) of four subsamples from the speleothem are consistent with the 230Th/U ages at isochronous sampling positions, showing the general reliability of the ITL dating method. ITL dating provides a pathway to construct chronologies for palaeoclimate reconstructions for speleothems beyond the range of the 230Th/U-method and for samples that are unsuitable for U-series dating methods.},
keywords = {bb2-1, chronology, dating, jgu, liag, northumbria, pik, stalagmite, tl dating},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Speleothems are a key archive of past climatic and environmental changes. 230Th/UU/Th-Datierung Die U/Th-Datierung ist eine sehr präzise radiometrische Altersbestimmung auf Basis der Uran-Thorium-Zerfallsreihe. Das Uran zerfällt mit bekannten Halbwertszeiten (245.500 Jahre) zum Tochterelement Thorium. Stalagmiten bauen bei ihrem Wachstum (fast) nur das wasserlösliche Uran ein, während das schlecht bewegliche Thorium zum größten Teil im Boden und Epikarst über der Höhle verbleibt. Das kann man nutzen, um die Zeit zu berechnen, die seit der Ausfällung der untersuchten Karbonatprobe vergangen ist. Moderne massenspektrometrische Verfahren erlauben Altersbestimmungen mit der U/Th-Methode bis zu 700.000 Jahren vor Heute. dating is the most commonly used method to determine speleothem ages. However, incorporation of non-radiogenic thorium may hamper 230Th/U dating, and samples older than 600 kaka BP Mit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr. also remain out-of-reach. Calcite exhibits a thermoluminescence (TL) signal at 280 °C with a high characteristic saturation dose, and provides significant potential to date carbonate samples over several million years. Hitherto, the application of TL dating for calcite has mainly been hindered by two factors: 1) a spurious TL signal occurring in the high temperature range, and 2) non-uniform dose rate due to U-series disequilibrium. Here we test an isothermal TL (ITL) dating method on a speleothem sample from Bleßberg cave 2, Germany. We show that the ITL signal measured at 240 °C can completely remove the 280 °C TL peak with a negligible TL contribution from the higher temperature range, thus reducing the influence from the spurious signal. The time-dependent dose rate variation can be simulated using the initial radioactivity of 238U, 234U, 230Th and their decay constants. We use the 230Th/U dating method to provide precise and accurate radiometric ages documenting that the speleothem grew between 425.5 ± 5.4 and 320.5 ± 9.7 ka. The ITL ages (421 ± 23 to 311 ± 23 ka) of four subsamples from the speleothem are consistent with the 230Th/U ages at isochronous sampling positions, showing the general reliability of the ITL dating method. ITL dating provides a pathway to construct chronologies for palaeoclimate reconstructions for speleothems beyond the range of the 230Th/U-method and for samples that are unsuitable for U-series dating methods.
Klose, Jennifer
2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, bb2-1, jgu, palaeoclimate, stalagmite
@phdthesis{klose2023phd,
title = {Quantitative multi-proxy climate reconstruction for MIS 3 in Central Europe based on precisely dated speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Germany},
author = {Jennifer Klose},
editor = {Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Klose_Thesis_Jennifer-Klose.pdf},
doi = {10.25358/openscience-10558},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-01},
urldate = {2024-05-01},
abstract = {Speläotheme zeichnen sich als sensitive Klimaarchive aus und haben sich in letzten
Jahrzehnten als solche etabliert. Sie haben das Potential wertvolle Informationen über das
Paläoklima kontinuierlich aufzuzeichnen und können mit den Uran-
Ungleichgewichtsmethoden präzise datiert werden. Das Berechnen von unabhängigen
Altersmodellen kombiniert mit Analysen verschiedener Klimaproxys, wie δ18O und δ13C,
Spurenelementen oder Tropfwassereinschlüssen ermöglicht es, hochaufgelöste
Paläoklimarekonstruktionen zu erstellen.
Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO)-Ereignisse sind kurzfristige Klimaschwankungen über
einige hunderte oder wenige tausende Jahre, welche vor allem während der marinen
Isotopenstufe 3 (MIS 3, ca. 60 - 30 ka BP) auftraten. Obwohl erste Beweise für die
Ereignisse in grönländischen Eisbohrkernen entdeckt wurden, sind sie mittlerweile global
nachweisbar. DO-Ereignisse zeichnen sich durch eine rasche Erwärmung, gefolgt von
gradueller Abkühlung aus, während das MIS 3 generell als eine kältere Periode definiert
ist. Daher wurde die Tatsache, dass bisher kaum zentraleuropäische Speläotheme aus dem
MIS 3 gefunden wurden, mit zu kaltem oder trockenem Klima begründet. Im Rahmen
dieser Arbeit wurden drei MIS 3 Speläotheme aus der Bleßberg Höhle in Deutschland
detailliert untersucht. Durch die Kombination von lösungs-basierter und in-situ
Laserablation 230Th/U-Datierung konnte das komplexe Wachstum der Proben präzise
aufgeschlüsselt werden.
Es konnten mehrere Wachstumsepisoden im MIS 3 identifiziert werden, welche primär
zeitgleich zu DO-Ereignissen in Grönland auftraten. Die Wachstumsphasen wurde daher
als eigenständiger Proxy für günstige Klimabedingungen für Speläothemwachstum
etabliert, d.h. Perioden mit ausreichender Boden- und Vegetationsbedeckung über der
Höhle und der Möglichkeit das Tropfwasser in die Höhle gelangt. Darüber hinaus wurde
eine multi-Proxy Analyse durchgeführt mit dem Ziel möglichst vielfältige Informationen
über das MIS 3 in Mitteleuropa zu erhalten. Ein langfristiger Trend zeigt die generelle
Verschlechterung des Klimas mit Fortschreiten des MIS 3 auf. Eine besonders warme und
kontinuierliche Wachstumsphase trat zeitgleich mit DO14 auf. Außerdem wurden zwei
kurzzeitige Kälteereignisse innerhalb des DO14 aufgezeichnet, welches die hohe
Sensitivität der Speläotheme aus der Bleßberg Höhle verdeutlicht.
Weitere kurzzeitige Klimaereignisse wurden während des spätglazialen Teils der
Speläothem-Proben (ca. 14,5 - 1,7 ka BP) aufgezeichnet und ein hochauflösender multi-
Proxy-Datensatz, der das Holozän (11,7 ka BP - rezent) bis 0,6 ka BP abdeckt, wurde
erstellt.},
keywords = {bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, bb2-1, jgu, palaeoclimate, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}
SpeläothemeSpeläothem Sekundäre Mineralablagerungen in Höhlen, wie Sinter, Stalagmiten, Stalaktiten, usw. zeichnen sich als sensitive Klimaarchive aus und haben sich in letzten
Jahrzehnten als solche etabliert. Sie haben das Potential wertvolle Informationen über das
Paläoklima kontinuierlich aufzuzeichnen und können mit den Uran-
Ungleichgewichtsmethoden präzise datiert werden. Das Berechnen von unabhängigen
AltersmodellenAltersmodell Nach der Datierung eines Stalagmiten werden allen anderen Messungen (z. B. Isotopenverhältnisse), die ursprünglich entlang einer Längen-Achse durchgeführt wurden, ein Alter zugeordnet. kombiniert mit Analysen verschiedener Klimaproxys, wie δ18O und δ13C,
Spurenelementen oder Tropfwassereinschlüssen ermöglicht es, hochaufgelöste
Paläoklimarekonstruktionen zu erstellen.
Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO)-Ereignisse sind kurzfristige Klimaschwankungen über
einige hunderte oder wenige tausende Jahre, welche vor allem während der marinen
Isotopenstufe 3 (MIS 3MIS 3 "MIS" ist die Abkürzung für "marine isotope stage", übersetzt also "Isotopenstadium mariner Sedimente". Da sich beim Wechsel von Warm- zu Kaltzeiten (und umgekehrt) die Isotopenverhältnisse in den Kalkschalen kleiner Einzeller (Foraminiferen) auf dem Meeresboden ändern, werden diese zur Datierung herangezogen und lassen sich zur Eingruppierung verschiedener Klimazustände in der Vergangenheit nutzen. "MIS 3" bedeutet dabei eine kurzzeitige Warmphase (beginnend vor 57 Tausend Jahren) während der letzten Eiszeit., ca. 60 - 30 ka BPka BP Mit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr.) auftraten. Obwohl erste Beweise für die
Ereignisse in grönländischen Eisbohrkernen entdeckt wurden, sind sie mittlerweile global
nachweisbar. DO-Ereignisse zeichnen sich durch eine rasche Erwärmung, gefolgt von
gradueller Abkühlung aus, während das MIS 3 generell als eine kältere Periode definiert
ist. Daher wurde die Tatsache, dass bisher kaum zentraleuropäische Speläotheme aus dem
MIS 3 gefunden wurden, mit zu kaltem oder trockenem Klima begründet. Im Rahmen
dieser Arbeit wurden drei MIS 3 Speläotheme aus der Bleßberg Höhle in Deutschland
detailliert untersucht. Durch die Kombination von lösungs-basierter und in-situ
Laserablation 230Th/U-DatierungDatierung Um einem Stalagmiten oder gar einer einzelnen Wachstumslage im Stalagmiten ein Alter zuordnen zu können, muß eine Datierung durchgeführt werden. Dies erfolgt in der Regel radiometrisch, d. h. über die Messung von Zerfallsprodukten (siehe auch U/Th-Datierung). konnte das komplexe Wachstum der Proben präzise
aufgeschlüsselt werden.
Es konnten mehrere Wachstumsepisoden im MIS 3 identifiziert werden, welche primär
zeitgleich zu DO-Ereignissen in Grönland auftraten. Die Wachstumsphasen wurde daher
als eigenständiger ProxyProxy Umwelt- und Klimainformationen aus der Vergangenheit sind nicht direkt verfügbar, weil niemand da war, der diese messen und aufzeichnen konnte. Daher ist man darauf angewiesen, diese Informationen indirekt aus anderen Informationen abzuleiten, wie z. B. Baumringe, das Verhältnis von Sauerstoffisotopen, Spurenelementen, Mächtigkeit von Sedimentschichten usw. Diese Art von Daten nennt man Proxies, was aus dem englischen stammt und „Stellvertreter“ bedeutet. für günstige Klimabedingungen für Speläothemwachstum
etabliert, d.h. Perioden mit ausreichender Boden- und Vegetationsbedeckung über der
Höhle und der Möglichkeit das Tropfwasser in die Höhle gelangt. Darüber hinaus wurde
eine multi-ProxyProxy Umwelt- und Klimainformationen aus der Vergangenheit sind nicht direkt verfügbar, weil niemand da war, der diese messen und aufzeichnen konnte. Daher ist man darauf angewiesen, diese Informationen indirekt aus anderen Informationen abzuleiten, wie z. B. Baumringe, das Verhältnis von Sauerstoffisotopen, Spurenelementen, Mächtigkeit von Sedimentschichten usw. Diese Art von Daten nennt man Proxies, was aus dem englischen stammt und „Stellvertreter“ bedeutet. Analyse durchgeführt mit dem Ziel möglichst vielfältige Informationen
über das MIS 3 in Mitteleuropa zu erhalten. Ein langfristiger Trend zeigt die generelle
Verschlechterung des Klimas mit Fortschreiten des MIS 3 auf. Eine besonders warme und
kontinuierliche Wachstumsphase trat zeitgleich mit DO14 auf. Außerdem wurden zwei
kurzzeitige Kälteereignisse innerhalb des DO14 aufgezeichnet, welches die hohe
Sensitivität der Speläotheme aus der Bleßberg Höhle verdeutlicht.
Weitere kurzzeitige Klimaereignisse wurden während des spätglazialen Teils der
SpeläothemSpeläothem Sekundäre Mineralablagerungen in Höhlen, wie Sinter, Stalagmiten, Stalaktiten, usw.-Proben (ca. 14,5 - 1,7 ka BP) aufgezeichnet und ein hochauflösender multi-
Proxy-Datensatz, der das HolozänHolozän Der jüngste Abschnitt der geologischen Zeitgeschichte, etwa die letzten 11.700 Jahre. (11,7 ka BP - rezent) bis 0,6 ka BP abdeckt, wurde
erstellt.
Jahrzehnten als solche etabliert. Sie haben das Potential wertvolle Informationen über das
Paläoklima kontinuierlich aufzuzeichnen und können mit den Uran-
Ungleichgewichtsmethoden präzise datiert werden. Das Berechnen von unabhängigen
AltersmodellenAltersmodell Nach der Datierung eines Stalagmiten werden allen anderen Messungen (z. B. Isotopenverhältnisse), die ursprünglich entlang einer Längen-Achse durchgeführt wurden, ein Alter zugeordnet. kombiniert mit Analysen verschiedener Klimaproxys, wie δ18O und δ13C,
Spurenelementen oder Tropfwassereinschlüssen ermöglicht es, hochaufgelöste
Paläoklimarekonstruktionen zu erstellen.
Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO)-Ereignisse sind kurzfristige Klimaschwankungen über
einige hunderte oder wenige tausende Jahre, welche vor allem während der marinen
Isotopenstufe 3 (MIS 3MIS 3 "MIS" ist die Abkürzung für "marine isotope stage", übersetzt also "Isotopenstadium mariner Sedimente". Da sich beim Wechsel von Warm- zu Kaltzeiten (und umgekehrt) die Isotopenverhältnisse in den Kalkschalen kleiner Einzeller (Foraminiferen) auf dem Meeresboden ändern, werden diese zur Datierung herangezogen und lassen sich zur Eingruppierung verschiedener Klimazustände in der Vergangenheit nutzen. "MIS 3" bedeutet dabei eine kurzzeitige Warmphase (beginnend vor 57 Tausend Jahren) während der letzten Eiszeit., ca. 60 - 30 ka BPka BP Mit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr.) auftraten. Obwohl erste Beweise für die
Ereignisse in grönländischen Eisbohrkernen entdeckt wurden, sind sie mittlerweile global
nachweisbar. DO-Ereignisse zeichnen sich durch eine rasche Erwärmung, gefolgt von
gradueller Abkühlung aus, während das MIS 3 generell als eine kältere Periode definiert
ist. Daher wurde die Tatsache, dass bisher kaum zentraleuropäische Speläotheme aus dem
MIS 3 gefunden wurden, mit zu kaltem oder trockenem Klima begründet. Im Rahmen
dieser Arbeit wurden drei MIS 3 Speläotheme aus der Bleßberg Höhle in Deutschland
detailliert untersucht. Durch die Kombination von lösungs-basierter und in-situ
Laserablation 230Th/U-DatierungDatierung Um einem Stalagmiten oder gar einer einzelnen Wachstumslage im Stalagmiten ein Alter zuordnen zu können, muß eine Datierung durchgeführt werden. Dies erfolgt in der Regel radiometrisch, d. h. über die Messung von Zerfallsprodukten (siehe auch U/Th-Datierung). konnte das komplexe Wachstum der Proben präzise
aufgeschlüsselt werden.
Es konnten mehrere Wachstumsepisoden im MIS 3 identifiziert werden, welche primär
zeitgleich zu DO-Ereignissen in Grönland auftraten. Die Wachstumsphasen wurde daher
als eigenständiger ProxyProxy Umwelt- und Klimainformationen aus der Vergangenheit sind nicht direkt verfügbar, weil niemand da war, der diese messen und aufzeichnen konnte. Daher ist man darauf angewiesen, diese Informationen indirekt aus anderen Informationen abzuleiten, wie z. B. Baumringe, das Verhältnis von Sauerstoffisotopen, Spurenelementen, Mächtigkeit von Sedimentschichten usw. Diese Art von Daten nennt man Proxies, was aus dem englischen stammt und „Stellvertreter“ bedeutet. für günstige Klimabedingungen für Speläothemwachstum
etabliert, d.h. Perioden mit ausreichender Boden- und Vegetationsbedeckung über der
Höhle und der Möglichkeit das Tropfwasser in die Höhle gelangt. Darüber hinaus wurde
eine multi-ProxyProxy Umwelt- und Klimainformationen aus der Vergangenheit sind nicht direkt verfügbar, weil niemand da war, der diese messen und aufzeichnen konnte. Daher ist man darauf angewiesen, diese Informationen indirekt aus anderen Informationen abzuleiten, wie z. B. Baumringe, das Verhältnis von Sauerstoffisotopen, Spurenelementen, Mächtigkeit von Sedimentschichten usw. Diese Art von Daten nennt man Proxies, was aus dem englischen stammt und „Stellvertreter“ bedeutet. Analyse durchgeführt mit dem Ziel möglichst vielfältige Informationen
über das MIS 3 in Mitteleuropa zu erhalten. Ein langfristiger Trend zeigt die generelle
Verschlechterung des Klimas mit Fortschreiten des MIS 3 auf. Eine besonders warme und
kontinuierliche Wachstumsphase trat zeitgleich mit DO14 auf. Außerdem wurden zwei
kurzzeitige Kälteereignisse innerhalb des DO14 aufgezeichnet, welches die hohe
Sensitivität der Speläotheme aus der Bleßberg Höhle verdeutlicht.
Weitere kurzzeitige Klimaereignisse wurden während des spätglazialen Teils der
SpeläothemSpeläothem Sekundäre Mineralablagerungen in Höhlen, wie Sinter, Stalagmiten, Stalaktiten, usw.-Proben (ca. 14,5 - 1,7 ka BP) aufgezeichnet und ein hochauflösender multi-
Proxy-Datensatz, der das HolozänHolozän Der jüngste Abschnitt der geologischen Zeitgeschichte, etwa die letzten 11.700 Jahre. (11,7 ka BP - rezent) bis 0,6 ka BP abdeckt, wurde
erstellt.
2023
Klose, J.; Scholz, D.; Weber, M.; Vonhof, H.; Plessen, B.; Breitenbach, S.; Marwan, N.
Poster, 2023, (Summer School on Speleothem Sciences 2023, Sao Paulo).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: abrupt climate change, bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@proceedings{klose2023poster,
title = {Timing of Dansgaard-Oeschger events in Central Europe based on three precisely dated speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Germany},
author = {J. Klose and D. Scholz and M. Weber and H. Vonhof and B. Plessen and S. Breitenbach and N. Marwan},
editor = {Summer School on Speleothem Sciences 2023, Sao Paulo},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/klose_SummerschoolSaoPaulo2023.pdf},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-07},
urldate = {2023-08-07},
abstract = {The last glacial period and especially Marine Isotope stage 3 (MIS 3, ca. 57 - 27 ka) was characterized by various climate oscillations (i.e., rapid increases in temperature, followed by a gradual cooling, the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O) events), which were first discovered in Greenland ice cores. Although their causes are still not fully understood, clear evidence for their supra-regional character was found in various climate records around the globe. However, European speleothem samples, which grew during MIS 3, are limited and mainly restricted to alpine regions, where glacier meltwater enabled speleothem growth, and to south/south-western parts of Europe characterised by a generally warmer climate. This led to the opinion that it was too cold and/or too dry in central Europe for speleothem growth. Here we present three speleothem (flowstone) records from Bleßberg Cave, Germany, which grew during MIS 3.
All flowstones show episodical growth patterns with distinctive, thin growth phases. Potential contamination deriving form detrital material deposited during hiatuses between individual growth phases, open-system behaviour around the hiatuses and the limited thickness of the growth layers are the biggest challenges during sampling for 230Th/U dating. By combination of different sampling techniques (i.e., laser ablation and micro-milling) in addition to the common approach of handheld drilling and due to the relatively high 238U concentration of the samples (approx. 0.4 – 1 µg/g), we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers (< 2 mm) of the Bleßberg flowstones with a very high precision (i.e., with 2σ-age uncertainties of a few hundred years or even lower).
The timing of the growth phases of the Bleßberg flowstones correlates with several D/O events recorded in the Greenland ice cores. This proves that at least some phases of MIS 3 had favourable climate conditions for speleothem growth in Central Europe. In addition, the analysis of the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) for all three flowstones revealed several D/O events, which have not been recorded in any other speleothem from central Europe so far. This will enhance our understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 and specific D/O events in central Europe.},
howpublished = {Poster},
note = {Summer School on Speleothem Sciences 2023, Sao Paulo},
keywords = {abrupt climate change, bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}
The last glacial period and especially Marine IsotopeIsotop Chemische Elemente können aus verschieden aufgebauten Atomen gebildet sein. Die Anzahl Protonen im Atomkern ist zwar dabei gleich, aber die Anzahl der Neutronen kann variieren. Man spricht dann von Isotopen, deren Massen kleine, aber messbare Unterschiede aufweisen. Der Atomkern des Sauerstoffs besteht z. B. aus 8 Protonen und in der Regel aus 8 Neutronen. Es gibt aber auch Sauerstoff, dessen Kerne aus 8 Protonen und 9 oder 10 Neutronen bestehen (neben selteneren, instabilen Sauerstoffisotopen). Um das zu kennzeichnen, gibt man zusätzlich zum chemischen Symbol noch die Massenzahl (Summe aus Protonen und Neutronen) an, also 16O, 17O oder 18O. Die unterschiedlichen Isotope verhalten sich zwar chemisch identisch, physikalisch aber - aufgrund ihres unterschiedlichen Gewichtes - leicht unterschiedlich. Damit stellen sie äusserst wertvolle Marker dar, die uns wichtige Hinweise zur Änderung des Klimas, der Umgebungsvegetation, Bodenaktivität und vielem mehr geben. stage 3 (MIS 3, ca. 57 - 27 ka) was characterized by various climate oscillations (i.e., rapid increases in temperature, followed by a gradual cooling, the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O) events), which were first discovered in Greenland ice cores. Although their causes are still not fully understood, clear evidence for their supra-regional character was found in various climate records around the globe. However, European speleothem samples, which grew during MIS 3, are limited and mainly restricted to alpine regions, where glacier meltwater enabled speleothem growth, and to south/south-western parts of Europe characterised by a generally warmer climate. This led to the opinion that it was too cold and/or too dry in central Europe for speleothem growth. Here we present three speleothem (flowstone) records from Bleßberg Cave, Germany, which grew during MIS 3.
All flowstones show episodical growth patterns with distinctive, thin growth phases. Potential contamination deriving form detrital material deposited during hiatuses between individual growth phases, open-system behaviour around the hiatuses and the limited thickness of the growth layers are the biggest challenges during sampling for 230Th/U dating. By combination of different sampling techniques (i.e., laser ablation and micro-milling) in addition to the common approach of handheld drilling and due to the relatively high 238U concentration of the samples (approx. 0.4 – 1 µg/g), we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers (< 2 mm) of the Bleßberg flowstones with a very high precision (i.e., with 2σ-age uncertainties of a few hundred years or even lower).
The timing of the growth phases of the Bleßberg flowstones correlates with several D/O events recorded in the Greenland ice cores. This proves that at least some phases of MIS 3 had favourable climate conditions for speleothem growth in Central Europe. In addition, the analysis of the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) for all three flowstones revealed several D/O events, which have not been recorded in any other speleothem from central Europe so far. This will enhance our understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 and specific D/O events in central Europe.
All flowstones show episodical growth patterns with distinctive, thin growth phases. Potential contamination deriving form detrital material deposited during hiatuses between individual growth phases, open-system behaviour around the hiatuses and the limited thickness of the growth layers are the biggest challenges during sampling for 230Th/U dating. By combination of different sampling techniques (i.e., laser ablation and micro-milling) in addition to the common approach of handheld drilling and due to the relatively high 238U concentration of the samples (approx. 0.4 – 1 µg/g), we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers (< 2 mm) of the Bleßberg flowstones with a very high precision (i.e., with 2σ-age uncertainties of a few hundred years or even lower).
The timing of the growth phases of the Bleßberg flowstones correlates with several D/O events recorded in the Greenland ice cores. This proves that at least some phases of MIS 3 had favourable climate conditions for speleothem growth in Central Europe. In addition, the analysis of the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) for all three flowstones revealed several D/O events, which have not been recorded in any other speleothem from central Europe so far. This will enhance our understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 and specific D/O events in central Europe.
Klose, J.; Scholz, D.; Weber, M.; Vonhof, H.; Plessen, B.; Breitenbach, S.; Marwan, N.
Timing and progression of Dansgaard-Oeschger events in Central Europe based on three precisely dated speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Germany Proceedings
Poster, 2023, (XXI INQUA Conference, Rome (Italy)).
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: abrupt climate change, bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, jgu, palaeoclimate
@proceedings{klose2023,
title = {Timing and progression of Dansgaard-Oeschger events in Central Europe based on three precisely dated speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Germany},
author = {J. Klose and D. Scholz and M. Weber and H. Vonhof and B. Plessen and S. Breitenbach and N. Marwan},
editor = {XXI INQUA Conference, Rome (Italy)},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-19},
urldate = {2023-07-19},
abstract = {Speleothems can be dated with unprecedented precision using U-series disequilibrium methods and provide numerous climate proxies, such as stable oxygen (δ18O) and carbon isotopes (δ13C) or trace elements, resulting in long, sometimes continuous climate proxy records. Therefore, speleothems have great potential for reconstruction of past climate variability during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and precise determination of the timing and duration of Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O) events. While first discovered in Greenland ice cores, various speleothem records around the globe provided clear evidence for the supra-regional character of the D/O events. However, MIS 3 speleothem records from Central Europe are very limited. Here we present three spleothem (flowstone) MIS 3 records from Bleßberg Cave, Germany.
All flowstones show episodic growth with distinctive, partially very thin (<2 mm) growth phases, interrupted by visible hiatuses consisting of detrital material. Precise and accurate 230Th/U dating of the individual growth phases is challenging due to potential detrital contamination from these layers. Combining different sampling and analytical techniques, we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers with very high precision, i.e., 2σ-age uncertainties of at most a few hundred years.
The timing of the growth phases aligns with several D/O events, which have not been recorded in other Central European speleothems yet. The δ18O and δ13C records of all three flowstones are highly correlated which suggests a dominant process influencing both isotope systems. Comparison with the Sr and Mg records provides evidence for a strong influence of Prior Calcite Precipitation (PCP) in the aquifer above and inside the cave on the stable isotope and trace element signals. In addition, all proxy records are interpreted as evidence for past changes in precipitation and vegetation density and document a clear trend from more humid climate during early MIS 3 (ca. 57 – 50 ka) to less humid conditions during mid and late MIS 3 (ca. 45 – 30 ka).
Our multi-proxy approach thus allows us not only to precisely determine the timing, duration, and progression of several D/O events, but also to deepen our general understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 in Central Europe.},
howpublished = {Poster},
note = {XXI INQUA Conference, Rome (Italy)},
keywords = {abrupt climate change, bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, jgu, palaeoclimate},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}
Speleothems can be dated with unprecedented precision using U-series disequilibrium methods and provide numerous climate proxiesProxy Umwelt- und Klimainformationen aus der Vergangenheit sind nicht direkt verfügbar, weil niemand da war, der diese messen und aufzeichnen konnte. Daher ist man darauf angewiesen, diese Informationen indirekt aus anderen Informationen abzuleiten, wie z. B. Baumringe, das Verhältnis von Sauerstoffisotopen, Spurenelementen, Mächtigkeit von Sedimentschichten usw. Diese Art von Daten nennt man Proxies, was aus dem englischen stammt und „Stellvertreter“ bedeutet., such as stable oxygen (δ18O) and carbon isotopes (δ13C) or trace elements, resulting in long, sometimes continuous climate proxy records. Therefore, speleothems have great potential for reconstruction of past climate variability during Marine Isotope Stage (MISMIS "MIS" ist die Abkürzung für "marine isotope stage", übersetzt also "Isotopenstadium mariner Sedimente". Da sich beim Wechsel von Warm- zu Kaltzeiten (und umgekehrt) die Isotopenverhältnisse in den Kalkschalen kleiner Einzeller (Foraminiferen) auf dem Meeresboden ändern, werden diese zur Datierung herangezogen und lassen sich zur Eingruppierung verschiedener Klimazustände in der Vergangenheit nutzen. Die MIS werden rückwärts nummeriert (also größere Zahl = älter) und ungerade Zahlen stehen für Warmzeiten, gerade für Kaltzeiten.) 3 and precise determination of the timing and duration of Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O) events. While first discovered in Greenland ice cores, various speleothem records around the globe provided clear evidence for the supra-regional character of the D/O events. However, MIS 3 speleothem records from Central Europe are very limited. Here we present three spleothem (flowstone) MIS 3 records from Bleßberg Cave, Germany.
All flowstones show episodic growth with distinctive, partially very thin (<2 mm) growth phases, interrupted by visible hiatuses consisting of detrital material. Precise and accurate 230Th/U dating of the individual growth phases is challenging due to potential detrital contamination from these layers. Combining different sampling and analytical techniques, we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers with very high precision, i.e., 2σ-age uncertainties of at most a few hundred years.
The timing of the growth phases aligns with several D/O events, which have not been recorded in other Central European speleothems yet. The δ18O and δ13C records of all three flowstones are highly correlated which suggests a dominant process influencing both isotope systems. Comparison with the Sr and Mg records provides evidence for a strong influence of Prior Calcite Precipitation (PCP) in the aquifer above and inside the cave on the stable isotope and trace element signals. In addition, all proxy records are interpreted as evidence for past changes in precipitation and vegetation density and document a clear trend from more humid climate during early MIS 3 (ca. 57 – 50 ka) to less humid conditions during mid and late MIS 3 (ca. 45 – 30 ka).
Our multi-proxy approach thus allows us not only to precisely determine the timing, duration, and progression of several D/O events, but also to deepen our general understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 in Central Europe.
All flowstones show episodic growth with distinctive, partially very thin (<2 mm) growth phases, interrupted by visible hiatuses consisting of detrital material. Precise and accurate 230Th/U dating of the individual growth phases is challenging due to potential detrital contamination from these layers. Combining different sampling and analytical techniques, we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers with very high precision, i.e., 2σ-age uncertainties of at most a few hundred years.
The timing of the growth phases aligns with several D/O events, which have not been recorded in other Central European speleothems yet. The δ18O and δ13C records of all three flowstones are highly correlated which suggests a dominant process influencing both isotope systems. Comparison with the Sr and Mg records provides evidence for a strong influence of Prior Calcite Precipitation (PCP) in the aquifer above and inside the cave on the stable isotope and trace element signals. In addition, all proxy records are interpreted as evidence for past changes in precipitation and vegetation density and document a clear trend from more humid climate during early MIS 3 (ca. 57 – 50 ka) to less humid conditions during mid and late MIS 3 (ca. 45 – 30 ka).
Our multi-proxy approach thus allows us not only to precisely determine the timing, duration, and progression of several D/O events, but also to deepen our general understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 in Central Europe.
Zhang, J.; Klose, J.; Sierralta, M.; Tsukamoto, S.; Scholz, D.; Marwan, N.; Breitenbach, S.
Isothermal thermoluminescence (ITL) dating of a speleothem from Bleßberg Cave Presentation
29.06.2023, (17th International Luminescence and Electron Spin Resonance Dating conference (LED2023), Copenhagen (Denmark)).
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: bb2-1, dating, liag, stalagmite, tl dating
@misc{zhang2023,
title = {Isothermal thermoluminescence (ITL) dating of a speleothem from Bleßberg Cave},
author = {J. Zhang and J. Klose and M. Sierralta and S. Tsukamoto and D. Scholz and N. Marwan and S. Breitenbach},
editor = {17th International Luminescence and Electron Spin Resonance Dating conference (LED2023), Copenhagen (Denmark)},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-29},
urldate = {2023-06-29},
abstract = {The calcite thermoluminescence (TL) signal (280 °C peak) saturates at much higher doses (saturation dose up to 5000 Gy) compared to quartz and feldspar, which shows great potential to extend the dating limit. However, spurious TL signal occurred at the high temperature range hindered its application. The conventional multiple-aliquot additive-dose (MAAD) protocol used for TL dating applies extrapolation for equivalent dose (De) estimation, which also has large error. Isothermal TL (ITL) dating with the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol might be a promising way as it reduces the influence of the spurious TL signal, and it applies interpolation to obtain the De. However, this protocol has not been tested on samples with independent age control.
This study tests the ITL SAR dating protocol on a speleothem sample from Bleßberg cave, which has been accurately dated with 230Th/U (ca. 320–425 ka). ITL measurement at 235 °C for 200 °C can remove the 280 °C TL peak completely without TL contribution from higher temperature range. ITL De shows a plateau when the ITL temperature varies between 230 °C and 240 °C. Peak shifting and isothermal annealing tests indicate the 280 °C TL peak has a lifetime of tens of millions years at 10 °C, which is stable enough for the age range of this speleothem sample. The accurate alpha efficiency (α-value) and the U, Th distribution within the sample are measured to estimate the dose rate. The dose rate variation with time due to U-series disequilibrium is corrected for. The ITL ages are compared with the 230Th/U ages to evaluate the performance of the ITL dating protocol.},
note = {17th International Luminescence and Electron Spin Resonance Dating conference (LED2023), Copenhagen (Denmark)},
keywords = {bb2-1, dating, liag, stalagmite, tl dating},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {presentation}
}
The calcite thermoluminescence (TL) signal (280 °C peak) saturates at much higher doses (saturation dose up to 5000 Gy) compared to quartz and feldspar, which shows great potential to extend the dating limit. However, spurious TL signal occurred at the high temperature range hindered its application. The conventional multiple-aliquot additive-dose (MAAD) protocol used for TL dating applies extrapolation for equivalent dose (De) estimation, which also has large error. Isothermal TL (ITL) dating with the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol might be a promising way as it reduces the influence of the spurious TL signal, and it applies interpolation to obtain the De. However, this protocol has not been tested on samples with independent age control.
This study tests the ITL SAR dating protocol on a speleothem sample from Bleßberg cave, which has been accurately dated with 230Th/U (ca. 320–425 ka). ITL measurement at 235 °C for 200 °C can remove the 280 °C TL peak completely without TL contribution from higher temperature range. ITL De shows a plateau when the ITL temperature varies between 230 °C and 240 °C. Peak shifting and isothermal annealing tests indicate the 280 °C TL peak has a lifetime of tens of millions years at 10 °C, which is stable enough for the age range of this speleothem sample. The accurate alpha efficiency (α-value) and the U, Th distribution within the sample are measured to estimate the dose rate. The dose rate variation with time due to U-series disequilibrium is corrected for. The ITL ages are compared with the 230Th/U ages to evaluate the performance of the ITL dating protocol.
This study tests the ITL SAR dating protocol on a speleothem sample from Bleßberg cave, which has been accurately dated with 230Th/U (ca. 320–425 ka). ITL measurement at 235 °C for 200 °C can remove the 280 °C TL peak completely without TL contribution from higher temperature range. ITL De shows a plateau when the ITL temperature varies between 230 °C and 240 °C. Peak shifting and isothermal annealing tests indicate the 280 °C TL peak has a lifetime of tens of millions years at 10 °C, which is stable enough for the age range of this speleothem sample. The accurate alpha efficiency (α-value) and the U, Th distribution within the sample are measured to estimate the dose rate. The dose rate variation with time due to U-series disequilibrium is corrected for. The ITL ages are compared with the 230Th/U ages to evaluate the performance of the ITL dating protocol.
Kühne, Sofia
Spurenelementanalyse eines Speläothems der Marinen Isotopenstadien 9 und 11 aus der Blessberghöhle Bachelor Thesis
Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb2-1, jgu, stalagmite
@bachelorthesis{kuehne2023,
title = {Spurenelementanalyse eines Speläothems der Marinen Isotopenstadien 9 und 11 aus der Blessberghöhle},
author = {Sofia Kühne},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bachelorarbeit_Sofia_Kuehne_2753456.pdf},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
school = {Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz},
abstract = {Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit einem Speläothem aus der Blessberghöhle in Thüringen. Diese Probe hatte jeweils eine Wachstumsphase während des Marinen Isotopenstadiums 11 und während des Marinen Isotopenstadiums 9. Dazwischen scheint es zu einem Wachstumsstopp gekommen zu sein. Die Probe wurde bereits datiert und auf Sauerstoff- und Kohlenstoffisotope untersucht, wobei im Rahmen dieser Arbeit zusätzlich die Spurenelemente gemessen wurden. Durch die Interpretation dieser Daten lassen sich Schlüsse über das Klima ziehen. Allerdings ist die genaue Analyse der Daten komplex, weshalb der Vergleich mit globalen Klimatrends von großer Bedeutung ist.
Für das MIS 11 deuten die Daten auf eine sich verändernde Umwelt in Richtung trockeneres und vegetationsärmeres Klima hin, das aufgrund der abflachenden globalen Temperatur zu dieser Zeit erklärt werden kann. Es lässt sich anhand von einer schnelleren Wachstumsrate auf erhöhten Niederschlag während des Wachstums schließen, im Gegensatz zum MIS 9. Im Bezug auf das MIS 9 sind keine eindeutigen Schlussfolgerungen möglich, doch das stabile Verhalten der Werte lässt darauf schließen, dass das Klima während des Höhepunkts des MIS 9-Wachstums (9e) nur geringe Veränderungen aufwies. Diese sind nicht eindeutig zu interpretieren, da unterschiedliche Argumente für oder gegen Vegetationswachstum und Niederschlagsmengen vorliegen.
Es ist jedoch zu berücksichtigen, dass die Interpretation der vorliegenden Daten Unsicherheiten birgt. Zusätzliche Informationen wie ein Vergleich zu Proben aus der Höhle, die zur gleichen Zeit wuchsen, sowie mehr Wissen über lokale Faktoren, die die Höhlenbedingungen beeinflusst haben und weitere Altersdatierungen könnten zu einer akkurateren Deutung führen. Daher wären weitere Forschungsarbeiten erforderlich, um die aufgestellten Vermutungen zu verifizieren und um ein umfassenderes Bild der vergangenen Gegebenheiten zu erhalten.},
keywords = {bb2-1, jgu, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {bachelorthesis}
}
Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit einem Speläothem aus der Blessberghöhle in Thüringen. Diese Probe hatte jeweils eine Wachstumsphase während des Marinen Isotopenstadiums 11 und während des Marinen Isotopenstadiums 9. Dazwischen scheint es zu einem Wachstumsstopp gekommen zu sein. Die Probe wurde bereits datiert und auf Sauerstoff- und Kohlenstoffisotope untersucht, wobei im Rahmen dieser Arbeit zusätzlich die SpurenelementeSpurenelement Ein Spurenelement ist ein chemisches Element genannt, das nur in geringer Konzentration in einer Probe vorhanden ist. Tropfsteine bestehen fast ausschließlich aus Kalziumkarbonat, also aus den Elementen Kalzium, Kohlenstoff und Sauerstoff. Andere Elemente kommen nur in sehr geringen Konzentrationen vor, sind aber vorhanden. Deren Konzentration hängt oft von den während der Entstehung des Tropfsteins herrschenden Umweltbedingungen ab. gemessen wurden. Durch die Interpretation dieser Daten lassen sich Schlüsse über das Klima ziehen. Allerdings ist die genaue Analyse der Daten komplexKomplexe Systeme Komplexe Systeme bestehen aus sehr vielen Komponenten, die auch miteinander wechselwirken, zeigen unvorhersagbares Verhalten und können trotzdem charakteristische Muster hervorrufen (weshalb sie sich deutlich von rein zufälligen Systemen unterscheiden)., weshalb der Vergleich mit globalen Klimatrends von großer Bedeutung ist.
Für das MIS 11 deuten die Daten auf eine sich verändernde Umwelt in Richtung trockeneres und vegetationsärmeres Klima hin, das aufgrund der abflachenden globalen Temperatur zu dieser Zeit erklärt werden kann. Es lässt sich anhand von einer schnelleren Wachstumsrate auf erhöhten Niederschlag während des Wachstums schließen, im Gegensatz zum MIS 9. Im Bezug auf das MIS 9 sind keine eindeutigen Schlussfolgerungen möglich, doch das stabile Verhalten der Werte lässt darauf schließen, dass das Klima während des Höhepunkts des MIS 9-Wachstums (9e) nur geringe Veränderungen aufwies. Diese sind nicht eindeutig zu interpretieren, da unterschiedliche Argumente für oder gegen Vegetationswachstum und Niederschlagsmengen vorliegen.
Es ist jedoch zu berücksichtigen, dass die Interpretation der vorliegenden Daten Unsicherheiten birgt. Zusätzliche Informationen wie ein Vergleich zu Proben aus der Höhle, die zur gleichen Zeit wuchsen, sowie mehr Wissen über lokale Faktoren, die die Höhlenbedingungen beeinflusst haben und weitere Altersdatierungen könnten zu einer akkurateren Deutung führen. Daher wären weitere Forschungsarbeiten erforderlich, um die aufgestellten Vermutungen zu verifizieren und um ein umfassenderes Bild der vergangenen Gegebenheiten zu erhalten.
Für das MIS 11 deuten die Daten auf eine sich verändernde Umwelt in Richtung trockeneres und vegetationsärmeres Klima hin, das aufgrund der abflachenden globalen Temperatur zu dieser Zeit erklärt werden kann. Es lässt sich anhand von einer schnelleren Wachstumsrate auf erhöhten Niederschlag während des Wachstums schließen, im Gegensatz zum MIS 9. Im Bezug auf das MIS 9 sind keine eindeutigen Schlussfolgerungen möglich, doch das stabile Verhalten der Werte lässt darauf schließen, dass das Klima während des Höhepunkts des MIS 9-Wachstums (9e) nur geringe Veränderungen aufwies. Diese sind nicht eindeutig zu interpretieren, da unterschiedliche Argumente für oder gegen Vegetationswachstum und Niederschlagsmengen vorliegen.
Es ist jedoch zu berücksichtigen, dass die Interpretation der vorliegenden Daten Unsicherheiten birgt. Zusätzliche Informationen wie ein Vergleich zu Proben aus der Höhle, die zur gleichen Zeit wuchsen, sowie mehr Wissen über lokale Faktoren, die die Höhlenbedingungen beeinflusst haben und weitere Altersdatierungen könnten zu einer akkurateren Deutung führen. Daher wären weitere Forschungsarbeiten erforderlich, um die aufgestellten Vermutungen zu verifizieren und um ein umfassenderes Bild der vergangenen Gegebenheiten zu erhalten.
2022
Klose, J.; Weber, M.; Vonhof, H.; Plessen, B.; Breitenbach, S.; Marwan, N.; Scholz, D.
Poster, 2022, (KR9 Konferenz in Innsbruck).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: abrupt climate change, bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@proceedings{klose2022,
title = {Timing of Dansgaard-Oeschger events in Central Europe based on three precisely dated speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Germany},
author = {J. Klose and M. Weber and H. Vonhof and B. Plessen and S. Breitenbach and N. Marwan and D. Scholz},
editor = {KR9 in Innsbruck, 2022},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/klose_KR9-Innsbruck2022.pdf},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-19},
urldate = {2022-07-19},
abstract = {The last glacial period and especially Marine Isotope stage 3 (MIS 3, ca. 57 - 27 ka) was characterized by various climate oscillations (i.e., rapid increases in temperature, followed by a gradual cooling, the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O) events), which were first discovered in Greenland ice cores. Although their causes are still not fully understood, clear evidence for their supra-regional character was found in various climate records around the globe. However, European speleothem samples, which grew during MIS 3, are limited and mainly restricted to alpine regions, where glacier meltwater enabled speleothem growth, and to south/south-western parts of Europe characterised by a generally warmer climate. This led to the opinion that it was too cold and/or too dry in central Europe for speleothem growth. Here we present three speleothem (flowstone) records from Bleßberg Cave, Germany, which grew during MIS 3.
All flowstones show episodical growth patterns with distinctive, thin growth phases. Potential contamination deriving form detrital material deposited during hiatuses between individual growth phases, open-system behaviour around the hiatuses and the limited thickness of the growth layers are the biggest challenges during sampling for 230Th/U dating. By combination of different sampling techniques (i.e., laser ablation and micro-milling) in addition to the common approach of handheld drilling and due to the relatively high 238U concentration of the samples (approx. 0.4 – 1 µg/g), we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers (< 2 mm) of the Bleßberg flowstones with a very high precision (i.e., with 2σ-age uncertainties of a few hundred years or even lower).
The timing of the growth phases of the Bleßberg flowstones correlates with several D/O events recorded in the Greenland ice cores. This proves that at least some phases of MIS 3 had favourable climate conditions for speleothem growth in Central Europe. In addition, the analysis of the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) for all three flowstones revealed several D/O events, which have not been recorded in any other speleothem from central Europe so far. This will enhance our understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 and specific D/O events in central Europe.},
howpublished = {Poster},
note = {KR9 Konferenz in Innsbruck},
keywords = {abrupt climate change, bb-10, bb-15, bb-9, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}
The last glacial period and especially Marine Isotope stage 3 (MIS 3, ca. 57 - 27 ka) was characterized by various climate oscillations (i.e., rapid increases in temperature, followed by a gradual cooling, the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O) events), which were first discovered in Greenland ice cores. Although their causes are still not fully understood, clear evidence for their supra-regional character was found in various climate records around the globe. However, European speleothem samples, which grew during MIS 3, are limited and mainly restricted to alpine regions, where glacier meltwater enabled speleothem growth, and to south/south-western parts of Europe characterised by a generally warmer climate. This led to the opinion that it was too cold and/or too dry in central Europe for speleothem growth. Here we present three speleothem (flowstone) records from Bleßberg Cave, Germany, which grew during MIS 3.
All flowstones show episodical growth patterns with distinctive, thin growth phases. Potential contamination deriving form detrital material deposited during hiatuses between individual growth phases, open-system behaviour around the hiatuses and the limited thickness of the growth layers are the biggest challenges during sampling for 230Th/U dating. By combination of different sampling techniques (i.e., laser ablation and micro-milling) in addition to the common approach of handheld drilling and due to the relatively high 238U concentration of the samples (approx. 0.4 – 1 µg/g), we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers (< 2 mm) of the Bleßberg flowstones with a very high precision (i.e., with 2σ-age uncertainties of a few hundred years or even lower).
The timing of the growth phases of the Bleßberg flowstones correlates with several D/O events recorded in the Greenland ice cores. This proves that at least some phases of MIS 3 had favourable climate conditions for speleothem growth in Central Europe. In addition, the analysis of the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) for all three flowstones revealed several D/O events, which have not been recorded in any other speleothem from central Europe so far. This will enhance our understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 and specific D/O events in central Europe.
All flowstones show episodical growth patterns with distinctive, thin growth phases. Potential contamination deriving form detrital material deposited during hiatuses between individual growth phases, open-system behaviour around the hiatuses and the limited thickness of the growth layers are the biggest challenges during sampling for 230Th/U dating. By combination of different sampling techniques (i.e., laser ablation and micro-milling) in addition to the common approach of handheld drilling and due to the relatively high 238U concentration of the samples (approx. 0.4 – 1 µg/g), we were able to date even the thinnest growth layers (< 2 mm) of the Bleßberg flowstones with a very high precision (i.e., with 2σ-age uncertainties of a few hundred years or even lower).
The timing of the growth phases of the Bleßberg flowstones correlates with several D/O events recorded in the Greenland ice cores. This proves that at least some phases of MIS 3 had favourable climate conditions for speleothem growth in Central Europe. In addition, the analysis of the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) for all three flowstones revealed several D/O events, which have not been recorded in any other speleothem from central Europe so far. This will enhance our understanding of climate variability during MIS 3 and specific D/O events in central Europe.
Marwan, Norbert
Bleßberghöhle – Schatzkammer für die Wissenschaft Presentation
15.06.2022, (VdHK-Symposium: Wissenschaft unter Tage – Höhlenforschung im Dialog, Truckenthal (Germany)).
BibTeX | Tags: abrupt climate change, bacteria, chronology, climate zone shift, karst development, microbiology, morphology, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@misc{marwan2022,
title = {Bleßberghöhle – Schatzkammer für die Wissenschaft},
author = {Norbert Marwan},
editor = {VdHK-Symposium: Wissenschaft unter Tage – Höhlenforschung im Dialog, Truckenthal (Germany)},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-06-15},
urldate = {2022-06-15},
note = {VdHK-Symposium: Wissenschaft unter Tage – Höhlenforschung im Dialog, Truckenthal (Germany)},
keywords = {abrupt climate change, bacteria, chronology, climate zone shift, karst development, microbiology, morphology, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {presentation}
}
Geier, Florian
230Th/U – Datierung eines Speläothems der Marinen Isotopenstadien 9 und 11 aus der Bleßberghöhle in Thüringen Bachelor Thesis
Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb2-1, chronology, dating, jgu, stalagmite
@bachelorthesis{geier2022,
title = {^{230}Th/U – Datierung eines Speläothems der Marinen Isotopenstadien 9 und 11 aus der Bleßberghöhle in Thüringen},
author = {Florian Geier},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bachelorarbeit-Florian-Geier-2744515.pdf},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-06-01},
urldate = {2022-06-01},
school = {Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz},
abstract = {Im Zuge des gegenwärtigen Klimawandels gewinnen Rekonstruktionen des vergangenen Klimas zunehmend an Bedeutung, da durch sie klimatische Entwicklungen besser verstanden werden können. Speläotheme bilden ein terrestrisches Archiv, welche mittels der 230Th/U-Datierung absolut und sehr präzise datiert werden können. Die datierten Wachstumsphasen von Speläothemen liefern unmittelbar Rückschlüsse auf vergangene klimatische Gegebenheiten, da ihr Wachstum von der Tropfwasser- und damit der Niederschlagswasserverfügbarkeit abhängen. Aus diesen Wachstumsphasen lassen sich wärmere und feuchtere Zeiträume abgrenzen (Interglaziale). Der Stalagmit BB2‘1 aus der Bleßberghöhle im südlichen Thüringen wurde mit dieser Methode datiert. Sein Wachstum fand in den Interglazialen Marines Isoptenstadium (MIS) 11e-c und MIS 9e statt. Besonders im MIS 11e wurde viel Wachstum des BB2‘1 verzeichnet. Im Vergleich mit anderen Klimaarchiven können die klimatischen Bedingungen um die Bleßberghöhle in einen globalen Kontext gesetzt werden. Es zeigt sich, dass das Klima um die Bleßberghöhle an globale, klimatische Veränderungen gekoppelt war und sehr früh auf diese reagierte.},
keywords = {bb2-1, chronology, dating, jgu, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {bachelorthesis}
}
Im Zuge des gegenwärtigen Klimawandels gewinnen Rekonstruktionen des vergangenen Klimas zunehmend an Bedeutung, da durch sie klimatische Entwicklungen besser verstanden werden können. Speläotheme bilden ein terrestrisches Archiv, welche mittels der 230Th/U-Datierung absolut und sehr präzise datiert werden können. Die datierten Wachstumsphasen von Speläothemen liefern unmittelbar Rückschlüsse auf vergangene klimatische Gegebenheiten, da ihr Wachstum von der Tropfwasser- und damit der Niederschlagswasserverfügbarkeit abhängen. Aus diesen Wachstumsphasen lassen sich wärmere und feuchtere Zeiträume abgrenzen (Interglaziale). Der Stalagmit BB2‘1 aus der Bleßberghöhle im südlichen Thüringen wurde mit dieser Methode datiert. Sein Wachstum fand in den Interglazialen Marines Isoptenstadium (MIS) 11e-c und MIS 9e statt. Besonders im MIS 11e wurde viel Wachstum des BB2‘1 verzeichnet. Im Vergleich mit anderen Klimaarchiven können die klimatischen Bedingungen um die Bleßberghöhle in einen globalen Kontext gesetzt werden. Es zeigt sich, dass das Klima um die Bleßberghöhle an globale, klimatische Veränderungen gekoppelt war und sehr früh auf diese reagierte.
Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Marwan, Norbert
Die Bleßberghöhle – ein Glücksfall für die Klimaforschung Book Section
In: Thüringer Höhlenverein, e. V. (Ed.): Nächster Halt: Bleßberghöhle, Suhl, 2022.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: abrupt climate change, bb-1, bb-2, bb-3, climate zone shift, first results, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@incollection{breitenbach_bbh2022,
title = {Die Bleßberghöhle – ein Glücksfall für die Klimaforschung},
author = {Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Norbert Marwan},
editor = {Thüringer Höhlenverein, e. V.},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-02-22},
urldate = {2022-02-22},
booktitle = {Nächster Halt: Bleßberghöhle},
address = {Suhl},
abstract = {Höhlen stellen generell für die Wissenschaft ein wertvolles Archiv dar, aus dem vielfältige und interessante Erkenntnisse gewonnen werden können. So gehören sie inzwischen auch zu den bedeutendsten Klimaarchiven auf dem Festland (See- und Meeressedimente stellen andere wichtige Archive dar). Solange die Höhlensedimente und Sinter ungestört bleiben, können hydrologische und klimatische Bedingungen detailliert aufgezeichnet werden. Die Bleßberghöhle ist in diesem Zusammenhang ein ausgesprochener Glücksfall, da sie über viele Jahrtausende komplett verschlossen war und so vor äußeren Störungen bewahrt wurde. Sie ist in vielen Abschnitten mit verschiedensten Sinterformen geschmückt. Für die Rekonstruktion regionaler Klimaänderungen sind vor allem die Stalagmiten geeignet. Die wissenschaftliche Bearbeitung des aus der Bleßberghöhle gesammelten Materials ist ein langwieriger Prozess und noch lange nicht abgeschlossen. Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt können aber bereits erste interessante Aussagen gemacht werden, auf die wir hier nach einem kurzen allgemeinen Einblick in verschiedene Aspekte der Paläoklimaforschung eingehen wollen.},
keywords = {abrupt climate change, bb-1, bb-2, bb-3, climate zone shift, first results, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
Höhlen stellen generell für die Wissenschaft ein wertvolles Archiv dar, aus dem vielfältige und interessante Erkenntnisse gewonnen werden können. So gehören sie inzwischen auch zu den bedeutendsten Klimaarchiven auf dem Festland (See- und Meeressedimente stellen andere wichtige Archive dar). Solange die Höhlensedimente und Sinter ungestört bleiben, können hydrologische und klimatische Bedingungen detailliert aufgezeichnet werden. Die Bleßberghöhle ist in diesem Zusammenhang ein ausgesprochener Glücksfall, da sie über viele Jahrtausende komplett verschlossen war und so vor äußeren Störungen bewahrt wurde. Sie ist in vielen Abschnitten mit verschiedensten Sinterformen geschmückt. Für die Rekonstruktion regionaler Klimaänderungen sind vor allem die Stalagmiten geeignet. Die wissenschaftliche Bearbeitung des aus der Bleßberghöhle gesammelten Materials ist ein langwieriger Prozess und noch lange nicht abgeschlossen. Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt können aber bereits erste interessante Aussagen gemacht werden, auf die wir hier nach einem kurzen allgemeinen Einblick in verschiedene Aspekte der Paläoklimaforschung eingehen wollen.
Bojack, Stephan
Rekonstruktion des MIS 3 anhand von Wachstumsphasen eines präzise datierten Speläothems aus der Bleßberghöhle Bachelor Thesis
Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 2022.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb-15, jgu, palaeoclimate, stalagmite
@bachelorthesis{bojack2022,
title = {Rekonstruktion des MIS 3 anhand von Wachstumsphasen eines präzise datierten Speläothems aus der Bleßberghöhle},
author = {Stephan Bojack},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BSc-Arbeit-S-Bojack.pdf},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
school = {Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz},
keywords = {bb-15, jgu, palaeoclimate, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {bachelorthesis}
}
2021
Klose, Jennifer; Scholz, Denis; Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Plessen, Birgit; Vonhof, Hubert
Determination of phases of warm climate during MIS 3 in Central Europe based on precisely dated speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Germany Proceedings
Poster, 2021, (GeoKarlsruhe 2021: Sustainable Earth – From processes to resources, Karlsruhe).
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: bb-10, bb-9, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, stalagmite
@proceedings{klose2021,
title = {Determination of phases of warm climate during MIS 3 in Central Europe based on precisely dated speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Germany},
author = {Jennifer Klose and Denis Scholz and Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Birgit Plessen and Hubert Vonhof},
editor = {GeoKarlsruhe 2021: Sustainable Earth – From processes to resources},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-09-22},
urldate = {2021-09-22},
abstract = {Speleothems provide a great opportunity for paleoclimate reconstruction because they occur almost worldwide and can be dated very precisely using the U-series disequilibrium method. The most commonly used climate proxies are stable isotope values (δ18O and δ13C) and trace elements. However, these are influenced by a variety of surface and in-cave processes, which results in a non-trivial interpretation of the speleothem proxy signals.
The last glacial period and in particular the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 is, compared to the recent warm phase, the Holocene, characterised by larger climate oscillations. These are detectable in δ18O records from Greenland ice cores and also climate archives in Europe, such as pollen or tree ring records. Unfortunately, little direct proxy evidence is available from central Europe, and the climatic and environmental conditions during MIS 3 remain largely enigmatic. Speleothem records from central Europe during MIS 3 are limited due to cold climate conditions and mainly restricted to the warmer southern or alpine regions.
Here we present the first results of two flowstones from Bleßberg Cave in Germany. Preliminary 230Th/U-ages make these flowstones the most northern continental growth of speleothems during MIS 3 in central Europe. Thus, these samples provide the unique opportunity to reconstruct climate variability during parts of the last glacial period. With the combination of several different proxies, such as stable isotopes, trace elements and the results from cave monitoring, we will be able to obtain detailed insights into environmental conditions in central Europe during MIS 3 and the Late Glacial.},
howpublished = {Poster},
note = {GeoKarlsruhe 2021: Sustainable Earth – From processes to resources, Karlsruhe},
keywords = {bb-10, bb-9, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}
Speleothems provide a great opportunity for paleoclimate reconstruction because they occur almost worldwide and can be dated very precisely using the U-series disequilibrium method. The most commonly used climate proxies are stable isotope values (δ18O and δ13C) and trace elements. However, these are influenced by a variety of surface and in-cave processes, which results in a non-trivial interpretation of the speleothem proxy signals.
The last glacial period and in particular the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 is, compared to the recent warm phase, the Holocene, characterised by larger climate oscillations. These are detectable in δ18O records from Greenland ice cores and also climate archives in Europe, such as pollen or tree ring records. Unfortunately, little direct proxy evidence is available from central Europe, and the climatic and environmental conditions during MIS 3 remain largely enigmatic. Speleothem records from central Europe during MIS 3 are limited due to cold climate conditions and mainly restricted to the warmer southern or alpine regions.
Here we present the first results of two flowstones from Bleßberg Cave in Germany. Preliminary 230Th/U-ages make these flowstones the most northern continental growth of speleothems during MIS 3 in central Europe. Thus, these samples provide the unique opportunity to reconstruct climate variability during parts of the last glacial period. With the combination of several different proxies, such as stable isotopes, trace elements and the results from cave monitoring, we will be able to obtain detailed insights into environmental conditions in central Europe during MIS 3 and the Late Glacial.
The last glacial period and in particular the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 is, compared to the recent warm phase, the Holocene, characterised by larger climate oscillations. These are detectable in δ18O records from Greenland ice cores and also climate archives in Europe, such as pollen or tree ring records. Unfortunately, little direct proxy evidence is available from central Europe, and the climatic and environmental conditions during MIS 3 remain largely enigmatic. Speleothem records from central Europe during MIS 3 are limited due to cold climate conditions and mainly restricted to the warmer southern or alpine regions.
Here we present the first results of two flowstones from Bleßberg Cave in Germany. Preliminary 230Th/U-ages make these flowstones the most northern continental growth of speleothems during MIS 3 in central Europe. Thus, these samples provide the unique opportunity to reconstruct climate variability during parts of the last glacial period. With the combination of several different proxies, such as stable isotopes, trace elements and the results from cave monitoring, we will be able to obtain detailed insights into environmental conditions in central Europe during MIS 3 and the Late Glacial.
2020
Kaufmann, Georg; Romanov, Douchko
Modelling long-term and short-term evolution of karst in vicinity of tunnels Journal Article
In: Journal of Hydrology, vol. 581, pp. 124282, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: fub, karst, karst development, model, morphology
@article{Kaufmann2020,
title = {Modelling long-term and short-term evolution of karst in vicinity of tunnels},
author = {Georg Kaufmann and Douchko Romanov},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124282},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-02-01},
journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
volume = {581},
pages = {124282},
abstract = {Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of rock massifs. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolostone, gypsum, and anhydrite are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures. We model the long-term development of karst features and the evolution of phreatic and epi-phreatic caves below the Schalkau Plateau in the Triassic limestone with a numerical karst evolution model. With hydrological boundary conditions derived from local meteorological data and karst springs, and a simplified model of the local lithology, our model predicts the increase in secondary permeability in the karst aquifer. Enlarged fracture zones develop at locations, where cave systems have been explored. Thus our long-term evolution model can successfully predict karst features in the Schalkau Plateau. Applying the karst evolution model on a short-term period, we assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the Bleßberg Cave and its longer-term stability. Our model results suggest that flow through the cave section beneath the tunnel, which has been filled with concrete and blocks, is blocked and that during flood events the impounded water will accelerate the development of by-passes around the artificial infill.},
keywords = {fub, karst, karst development, model, morphology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of rock massifs. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolostone, gypsum, and anhydrite are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures. We model the long-term development of karst features and the evolution of phreatic and epi-phreatic caves below the Schalkau Plateau in the Triassic limestone with a numerical karst evolution model. With hydrological boundary conditions derived from local meteorological data and karst springs, and a simplified model of the local lithology, our model predicts the increase in secondary permeability in the karst aquifer. Enlarged fracture zones develop at locations, where cave systems have been explored. Thus our long-term evolution model can successfully predict karst features in the Schalkau Plateau. Applying the karst evolution model on a short-term period, we assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the Bleßberg Cave and its longer-term stability. Our model results suggest that flow through the cave section beneath the tunnel, which has been filled with concrete and blocks, is blocked and that during flood events the impounded water will accelerate the development of by-passes around the artificial infill.
2019
Waltgenbach, Sarah
Evaluation of the potential of speleothems for reconstruction of (short-term) phases of extreme climate PhD Thesis
2019.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: bb-3, jgu, palaeoclimate, stalagmite
@phdthesis{waltgenbach2019,
title = {Evaluation of the potential of speleothems for reconstruction of (short-term) phases of extreme climate},
author = {Sarah Waltgenbach},
editor = {Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-24},
urldate = {2019-10-24},
abstract = {Speleothems are secondary carbonate deposits and can be found in caves all over the world. In addition to several proxies (i.e., stable carbon and oxygen isotopes as well as trace elements), which can be measured in high resolution, they can also be precisely dated with the 230Th/U disequilibrium method. The high-resolution multi-proxy records enable the reconstruction of past environmental conditions, such as temperature, precipitation as well as vegetation and soil activity. Cave monitoring data contributes to a better understanding of the site-specific processes, which influence the geochemical composition of a speleothem. Based on these advantages, speleothems are an important paleoclimate archive. The reconstruction of paleoclimate conditions, especially during climate anomalies, would improve the understanding and prediction of future climate changes. During the Holocene, several phases of substantial climate variability have been recorded. These include the 8.2 ka cold event and several centennial scale climate oscillations during the last 2500 years, such as the Roman Warm Period, the Dark Ages Cold Period, the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age.
In this thesis, the potential of speleothems for the reconstruction of such phases with extreme climate conditions is evaluated. For this purpose, six speleothems from three different cave systems in Germany (Bleßberg Cave, Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth cave system) have been studied. The high-resolution stable isotope and trace element measurements enable a multi-proxy comparison of the 8.2 ka event and the climate anomalies of the last 2500 years in different speleothems from different caves. The 8.2 ka cooling event is recorded in the stable oxygen isotope values of three stalagmites from Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth cave system as a pronounced negative excursion and can be divided into a ‘whole event’ and a ‘central event’. The timing and duration of the event differ between the individual records. In the speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system the 8.2 ka event was dated earlier and has a shorter duration than in the stalagmite from Bunker Cave. Whereas the Bunker Cave speleothem also shows a negative peak in the stable carbon isotope values and the Mg content, the stalagmites from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system do not show distinct features in other proxies. Thus, the negative peak in the stable oxygen isotope values during the 8.2 ka event is mainly related to changes in the stable oxygen isotope values of the precipitation above the caves and reflect large-scale changes in the North Atlantic.
Four speleothems from Bunker Cave and the Herbstlabyrinth cave system cover the last 2500 years. Their high-resolution multi-proxy records with near annual resolution enable a reconstruction of the climate conditions during the Late Holocene and all speleothems show evidence for intervals of climate variability during this time. The multi-proxy records of the speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system indicate a higher vegetation productivity because of more humid conditions during the Roman Warm Period and the Dark Ages Cold Period. However, at Bunker Cave, climate conditions during the Dark Ages Cold Period were cold and dry. The contrasting pattern is observed during the Medieval Warm Period, which is characterized by warm and humid conditions at Bunker Cave and dry climate at the Herbstlabyrinth cave system. During the Little Ice Age, climate conditions at both cave sites were cold and dry with a lower vegetation productivity due to less precipitation. A common signal generated by a principal component analysis including the stable isotope as well as Mg data of all four speleothems also indicates differences in temperature and precipitation during some of these cold and warm phases. Thus, despite the short distance between Bunker Cave and the Herbstlabyrinth cave system, the climate conditions during the climate oscillations mentioned above, were not always the same at the two cave sites, suggesting that site-specific processes and effects may have a strong influence on the speleothem stable isotope signals and the speleothem geochemistry.},
keywords = {bb-3, jgu, palaeoclimate, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}
Speleothems are secondary carbonate deposits and can be found in caves all over the world. In addition to several proxies (i.e., stable carbon and oxygen isotopes as well as trace elements), which can be measured in high resolution, they can also be precisely dated with the 230Th/U disequilibrium method. The high-resolution multi-proxy records enable the reconstruction of past environmental conditions, such as temperature, precipitation as well as vegetation and soil activity. Cave monitoring data contributes to a better understanding of the site-specific processes, which influence the geochemical composition of a speleothem. Based on these advantages, speleothems are an important paleoclimate archive. The reconstruction of paleoclimate conditions, especially during climate anomalies, would improve the understanding and prediction of future climate changes. During the Holocene, several phases of substantial climate variability have been recorded. These include the 8.2 ka cold event and several centennial scale climate oscillations during the last 2500 years, such as the Roman Warm Period, the Dark Ages Cold Period, the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age.
In this thesis, the potential of speleothems for the reconstruction of such phases with extreme climate conditions is evaluated. For this purpose, six speleothems from three different cave systems in Germany (Bleßberg Cave, Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth cave system) have been studied. The high-resolution stable isotope and trace element measurements enable a multi-proxy comparison of the 8.2 ka event and the climate anomalies of the last 2500 years in different speleothems from different caves. The 8.2 ka cooling event is recorded in the stable oxygen isotope values of three stalagmites from Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth cave system as a pronounced negative excursion and can be divided into a ‘whole event’ and a ‘central event’. The timing and duration of the event differ between the individual records. In the speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system the 8.2 ka event was dated earlier and has a shorter duration than in the stalagmite from Bunker Cave. Whereas the Bunker Cave speleothem also shows a negative peak in the stable carbon isotope values and the Mg content, the stalagmites from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system do not show distinct features in other proxies. Thus, the negative peak in the stable oxygen isotope values during the 8.2 ka event is mainly related to changes in the stable oxygen isotope values of the precipitation above the caves and reflect large-scale changes in the North Atlantic.
Four speleothems from Bunker Cave and the Herbstlabyrinth cave system cover the last 2500 years. Their high-resolution multi-proxy records with near annual resolution enable a reconstruction of the climate conditions during the Late Holocene and all speleothems show evidence for intervals of climate variability during this time. The multi-proxy records of the speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system indicate a higher vegetation productivity because of more humid conditions during the Roman Warm Period and the Dark Ages Cold Period. However, at Bunker Cave, climate conditions during the Dark Ages Cold Period were cold and dry. The contrasting pattern is observed during the Medieval Warm Period, which is characterized by warm and humid conditions at Bunker Cave and dry climate at the Herbstlabyrinth cave system. During the Little Ice Age, climate conditions at both cave sites were cold and dry with a lower vegetation productivity due to less precipitation. A common signal generated by a principal component analysis including the stable isotope as well as Mg data of all four speleothems also indicates differences in temperature and precipitation during some of these cold and warm phases. Thus, despite the short distance between Bunker Cave and the Herbstlabyrinth cave system, the climate conditions during the climate oscillations mentioned above, were not always the same at the two cave sites, suggesting that site-specific processes and effects may have a strong influence on the speleothem stable isotope signals and the speleothem geochemistry.
In this thesis, the potential of speleothems for the reconstruction of such phases with extreme climate conditions is evaluated. For this purpose, six speleothems from three different cave systems in Germany (Bleßberg Cave, Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth cave system) have been studied. The high-resolution stable isotope and trace element measurements enable a multi-proxy comparison of the 8.2 ka event and the climate anomalies of the last 2500 years in different speleothems from different caves. The 8.2 ka cooling event is recorded in the stable oxygen isotope values of three stalagmites from Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth cave system as a pronounced negative excursion and can be divided into a ‘whole event’ and a ‘central event’. The timing and duration of the event differ between the individual records. In the speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system the 8.2 ka event was dated earlier and has a shorter duration than in the stalagmite from Bunker Cave. Whereas the Bunker Cave speleothem also shows a negative peak in the stable carbon isotope values and the Mg content, the stalagmites from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system do not show distinct features in other proxies. Thus, the negative peak in the stable oxygen isotope values during the 8.2 ka event is mainly related to changes in the stable oxygen isotope values of the precipitation above the caves and reflect large-scale changes in the North Atlantic.
Four speleothems from Bunker Cave and the Herbstlabyrinth cave system cover the last 2500 years. Their high-resolution multi-proxy records with near annual resolution enable a reconstruction of the climate conditions during the Late Holocene and all speleothems show evidence for intervals of climate variability during this time. The multi-proxy records of the speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth cave system indicate a higher vegetation productivity because of more humid conditions during the Roman Warm Period and the Dark Ages Cold Period. However, at Bunker Cave, climate conditions during the Dark Ages Cold Period were cold and dry. The contrasting pattern is observed during the Medieval Warm Period, which is characterized by warm and humid conditions at Bunker Cave and dry climate at the Herbstlabyrinth cave system. During the Little Ice Age, climate conditions at both cave sites were cold and dry with a lower vegetation productivity due to less precipitation. A common signal generated by a principal component analysis including the stable isotope as well as Mg data of all four speleothems also indicates differences in temperature and precipitation during some of these cold and warm phases. Thus, despite the short distance between Bunker Cave and the Herbstlabyrinth cave system, the climate conditions during the climate oscillations mentioned above, were not always the same at the two cave sites, suggesting that site-specific processes and effects may have a strong influence on the speleothem stable isotope signals and the speleothem geochemistry.
Marwan, Norbert; Kraemer, Kai Hauke; Wiesner, Karolin; Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Leonhardt, Jens
Recurrence based entropies Presentation
07.05.2019, (Fourth International Conference on Recent Advances in Nonlinear Mechanics, Łódz (Poland)).
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: bb-1, bb-3, entropy, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@misc{marwan2019lodz,
title = {Recurrence based entropies},
author = {Norbert Marwan and Kai Hauke Kraemer and Karolin Wiesner and Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Jens Leonhardt},
editor = {Fourth International Conference on Recent Advances in Nonlinear Mechanics, Łódz (Poland)},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-05-07},
abstract = {Many dynamical processes are considered to be of complex nature. To get a quantitative idea of the complexity, often the Shannon entropy of the value distribution of a measurement is used. Alternative entropy measures have been suggested using the recurrence plot (RP) approach. A RP is a matrix that represents the recurrences of states in the d-dimensional phase space. The RP can consist of small-scale structures, such as single points, diagonal and vertical lines, which characterize important dynamical properties of the system. Various entropy measures have been defined using different features of the RP or can be related to certain properties of the RP. Because of the different features that are used, some entropy measures represent different aspects of the analysed system and, thus, behave differently. This fact can lead to misunderstandings and difficulties in interpreting and understanding those measures. We discuss definitions, motivation and interpretation of some of those entropy measures, compare their differences and discuss some of the pitfalls when using them. },
note = {Fourth International Conference on Recent Advances in Nonlinear Mechanics, Łódz (Poland)},
keywords = {bb-1, bb-3, entropy, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {presentation}
}
Many dynamical processes are considered to be of complex nature. To get a quantitative idea of the complexity, often the Shannon entropy of the value distribution of a measurement is used. Alternative entropy measures have been suggested using the recurrence plot (RP) approach. A RP is a matrix that represents the recurrences of states in the d-dimensional phase space. The RP can consist of small-scale structures, such as single points, diagonal and vertical lines, which characterize important dynamical properties of the system. Various entropy measures have been defined using different features of the RP or can be related to certain properties of the RP. Because of the different features that are used, some entropy measures represent different aspects of the analysed system and, thus, behave differently. This fact can lead to misunderstandings and difficulties in interpreting and understanding those measures. We discuss definitions, motivation and interpretation of some of those entropy measures, compare their differences and discuss some of the pitfalls when using them.
Marwan, Norbert; Kraemer, Kai Hauke; Wiesner, Karolin; Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Leonhardt, Jens
Recurrence based entropies Proceedings Article
In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, pp. EGU2019-2817, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb-1, bb-3, entropy, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@inproceedings{marwan2019,
title = {Recurrence based entropies},
author = {Norbert Marwan and Kai Hauke Kraemer and Karolin Wiesner and Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Jens Leonhardt},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EGU2019-2817.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-04-08},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {21},
pages = {EGU2019-2817},
abstract = {Dynamical processes in Earth sciences are often considered to be of complex nature. The term complexity is often used for processes that are either unpredictable (e.g. nonlinear dynamics), consist of many different components, or exhibit regime transitions (e.g. tipping points). To measure complexity, the Shannon entropy is often used.
Here we present various entropy measures that have been defined on the base of the recurrence plot. Because of the different features that are used, these entropy measures represent different aspects of the analysed system and, thus, behave differently. In the past, this fact has lead to difficulties in interpreting and understanding those measures. We summarize the definitions, the motivation and interpretation of these entropy measures, compare their differences and discuss some of the pitfalls when using them.
Finally, we illustrate their potential in an application on palaeoclimate time series. Using entropy measures, changes and transitions in the climate dynamics in the past can be identified and interpreted.},
keywords = {bb-1, bb-3, entropy, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Dynamical processes in Earth sciences are often considered to be of complex nature. The term complexity is often used for processes that are either unpredictable (e.g. nonlinear dynamics), consist of many different components, or exhibit regime transitions (e.g. tipping points). To measure complexity, the Shannon entropy is often used.
Here we present various entropy measures that have been defined on the base of the recurrence plot. Because of the different features that are used, these entropy measures represent different aspects of the analysed system and, thus, behave differently. In the past, this fact has lead to difficulties in interpreting and understanding those measures. We summarize the definitions, the motivation and interpretation of these entropy measures, compare their differences and discuss some of the pitfalls when using them.
Finally, we illustrate their potential in an application on palaeoclimate time series. Using entropy measures, changes and transitions in the climate dynamics in the past can be identified and interpreted.
Here we present various entropy measures that have been defined on the base of the recurrence plot. Because of the different features that are used, these entropy measures represent different aspects of the analysed system and, thus, behave differently. In the past, this fact has lead to difficulties in interpreting and understanding those measures. We summarize the definitions, the motivation and interpretation of these entropy measures, compare their differences and discuss some of the pitfalls when using them.
Finally, we illustrate their potential in an application on palaeoclimate time series. Using entropy measures, changes and transitions in the climate dynamics in the past can be identified and interpreted.
Kaufmann, Georg; Romanov, Douchko
Karst and trains: The challenge of railway tunneling Proceedings Article
In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, pp. EGU2019-3554, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: fub, karst, karst development, model, morphology
@inproceedings{kaufmann2019egu,
title = {Karst and trains: The challenge of railway tunneling},
author = {Georg Kaufmann and Douchko Romanov},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EGU2019-3554.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-04-08},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {21},
pages = {EGU2019-3554},
abstract = {Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of landscapes. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and above all anhydrite, are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water and the hydration of anhydrite with the sub-sequent precipitation of gypsum during the drilling pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures.
We report on a high-speed railway tunnel in Germany along the line Berlin-Munich. The Blessberg-Tunnel, about 8,3 km long, mainly traverses Ordovician quarzites and shales, but along its southern end it crosses the Frankonian line, a major fault zone, with Triassic limestones on the southern part of the fault. Here, a substantial active water cave, the Blessberg Cave, has been encountered during tunnel construction.
We attempt to explain the karst features along the Frankonian line, the evolution of active water caves in the Triassic limestones south of the fault, and try to assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the cave and its longer-term stability.},
keywords = {fub, karst, karst development, model, morphology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of landscapes. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and above all anhydrite, are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water and the hydration of anhydrite with the sub-sequent precipitation of gypsum during the drilling pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures.
We report on a high-speed railway tunnel in Germany along the line Berlin-Munich. The Blessberg-Tunnel, about 8,3 km long, mainly traverses Ordovician quarzites and shales, but along its southern end it crosses the Frankonian line, a major fault zone, with Triassic limestones on the southern part of the fault. Here, a substantial active water cave, the Blessberg Cave, has been encountered during tunnel construction.
We attempt to explain the karst features along the Frankonian line, the evolution of active water caves in the Triassic limestones south of the fault, and try to assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the cave and its longer-term stability.
We report on a high-speed railway tunnel in Germany along the line Berlin-Munich. The Blessberg-Tunnel, about 8,3 km long, mainly traverses Ordovician quarzites and shales, but along its southern end it crosses the Frankonian line, a major fault zone, with Triassic limestones on the southern part of the fault. Here, a substantial active water cave, the Blessberg Cave, has been encountered during tunnel construction.
We attempt to explain the karst features along the Frankonian line, the evolution of active water caves in the Triassic limestones south of the fault, and try to assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the cave and its longer-term stability.
Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Plessen, Birgit; Waltgenbach, Sarah; Tjallingii, Rik; Leonhardt, Jens; Jochum, Klaus-Peter; Meyer, Hanno; Goswami, Bedartha; Marwan, Norbert; Scholz, Denis
Holocene interaction of maritime and continental climate in Central Europe: New speleothem evidence from Central Germany Journal Article
In: Global and Planetary Change, vol. 176, pp. 144–161, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb-1, bb-3, climate zone shift, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@article{breitenbach2019,
title = {Holocene interaction of maritime and continental climate in Central Europe: New speleothem evidence from Central Germany},
author = {Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Birgit Plessen and Sarah Waltgenbach and Rik Tjallingii and Jens Leonhardt and Klaus-Peter Jochum and Hanno Meyer and Bedartha Goswami and Norbert Marwan and Denis Scholz},
doi = {10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.03.007},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-00-00},
journal = {Global and Planetary Change},
volume = {176},
pages = {144–161},
abstract = {Central European climate is strongly influenced by North Atlantic (Westerlies) and Siberian High circulation patterns, which govern precipitation and temperature dynamics and induce heterogeneous climatic conditions, with distinct boundaries between climate zones. These climate boundaries are not stationary and shift geographically, depending on long-term atmospheric conditions. So far, little is known about past shifts of these climate boundaries and the local to regional environmental response prior to the instrumental era.
High resolution multi-proxy data (stable oxygen and carbon isotope ratios, S/Ca and Sr/Ca) from two Holocene stalagmites from Bleßberg Cave (Thuringia) are used here to differentiate local and pan-regional environmental and climatic conditions Central Germany through the Holocene. Carbon isotope and S/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios inform us on local Holocene environmental changes in and around the cave, while δ18O (when combined with independent records) serves as proxy for (pan-)regional atmospheric conditions.
The stable carbon isotope record suggests repeated changes in vegetation density (open vs. dense forest), and increasing forest cover in the late Holocene. Concurrently, decreasing S/Ca values indicate more effective sulfur retention in better developed soils, with a stabilization in the mid-Holocene. This goes in hand with changes in effective summer infiltration, reflected in the Sr/Ca profile. Highest Sr/Ca values between 4 ka and 1 ka BP indicate intensified prior calcite precipitation resulting from reduced effective moisture supply.
The region of Bleßberg Cave is sensitive to shifts of the boundary between maritime (Cfb) and continental (Dfb) climate and ideally suited to reconstruct past meridional shifts of this divide. We combined the Bleßberg Cave δ18O time series with δ18O data from Bunker Cave (western Germany) and a North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) record from lake SS1220 (SW Greenland) to reconstruct the mean position of the Cfb-Dfb climate boundary. We further estimate the dynamic interplay of the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Siberian High and their influence on Central European climate. Repeated shifts of the Cfb-Dfb boundary over the last 4000 years might explain previously observed discrepancies between proxy records from Europe. Detailed correlation analyses reveal multi-centennial scale alternations of maritime and continental climate and, concurrently, waning and waxing influences of Siberian High and NAO on Central Europe.},
keywords = {bb-1, bb-3, climate zone shift, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Central European climate is strongly influenced by North Atlantic (Westerlies) and Siberian High circulation patterns, which govern precipitation and temperature dynamics and induce heterogeneous climatic conditions, with distinct boundaries between climate zones. These climate boundaries are not stationary and shift geographically, depending on long-term atmospheric conditions. So far, little is known about past shifts of these climate boundaries and the local to regional environmental response prior to the instrumental era.
High resolution multi-proxy data (stable oxygen and carbon isotope ratios, S/Ca and Sr/Ca) from two Holocene stalagmites from Bleßberg Cave (Thuringia) are used here to differentiate local and pan-regional environmental and climatic conditions Central Germany through the Holocene. Carbon isotope and S/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios inform us on local Holocene environmental changes in and around the cave, while δ18O (when combined with independent records) serves as proxy for (pan-)regional atmospheric conditions.
The stable carbon isotope record suggests repeated changes in vegetation density (open vs. dense forest), and increasing forest cover in the late Holocene. Concurrently, decreasing S/Ca values indicate more effective sulfur retention in better developed soils, with a stabilization in the mid-Holocene. This goes in hand with changes in effective summer infiltration, reflected in the Sr/Ca profile. Highest Sr/Ca values between 4 ka and 1 ka BP indicate intensified prior calcite precipitation resulting from reduced effective moisture supply.
The region of Bleßberg Cave is sensitive to shifts of the boundary between maritime (Cfb) and continental (Dfb) climate and ideally suited to reconstruct past meridional shifts of this divide. We combined the Bleßberg Cave δ18O time series with δ18O data from Bunker Cave (western Germany) and a North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) record from lake SS1220 (SW Greenland) to reconstruct the mean position of the Cfb-Dfb climate boundary. We further estimate the dynamic interplay of the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Siberian High and their influence on Central European climate. Repeated shifts of the Cfb-Dfb boundary over the last 4000 years might explain previously observed discrepancies between proxy records from Europe. Detailed correlation analyses reveal multi-centennial scale alternations of maritime and continental climate and, concurrently, waning and waxing influences of Siberian High and NAO on Central Europe.
High resolution multi-proxy data (stable oxygen and carbon isotope ratios, S/Ca and Sr/Ca) from two Holocene stalagmites from Bleßberg Cave (Thuringia) are used here to differentiate local and pan-regional environmental and climatic conditions Central Germany through the Holocene. Carbon isotope and S/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios inform us on local Holocene environmental changes in and around the cave, while δ18O (when combined with independent records) serves as proxy for (pan-)regional atmospheric conditions.
The stable carbon isotope record suggests repeated changes in vegetation density (open vs. dense forest), and increasing forest cover in the late Holocene. Concurrently, decreasing S/Ca values indicate more effective sulfur retention in better developed soils, with a stabilization in the mid-Holocene. This goes in hand with changes in effective summer infiltration, reflected in the Sr/Ca profile. Highest Sr/Ca values between 4 ka and 1 ka BP indicate intensified prior calcite precipitation resulting from reduced effective moisture supply.
The region of Bleßberg Cave is sensitive to shifts of the boundary between maritime (Cfb) and continental (Dfb) climate and ideally suited to reconstruct past meridional shifts of this divide. We combined the Bleßberg Cave δ18O time series with δ18O data from Bunker Cave (western Germany) and a North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) record from lake SS1220 (SW Greenland) to reconstruct the mean position of the Cfb-Dfb climate boundary. We further estimate the dynamic interplay of the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Siberian High and their influence on Central European climate. Repeated shifts of the Cfb-Dfb boundary over the last 4000 years might explain previously observed discrepancies between proxy records from Europe. Detailed correlation analyses reveal multi-centennial scale alternations of maritime and continental climate and, concurrently, waning and waxing influences of Siberian High and NAO on Central Europe.
2018
Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Plessen, Birgit; Waltgenbach, Sarah; Tjallingii, Rik; Leonhardt, Jens; Jochum, Klaus-Peter; Meyer, Hanno; Marwan, Norbert; Scholz, Denis
Tracing past shifts of the boundary between maritime and continental climate over Central Europe Proceedings Article
In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, pp. EGU2018-9046, 2018.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb-1, bb-3, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@inproceedings{breitenbach2018,
title = {Tracing past shifts of the boundary between maritime and continental climate over Central Europe},
author = {Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Birgit Plessen and Sarah Waltgenbach and Rik Tjallingii and Jens Leonhardt and Klaus-Peter Jochum and Hanno Meyer and Norbert Marwan and Denis Scholz},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EGU2018-9046.pdf},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-04-01},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {20},
pages = {EGU2018-9046},
abstract = { European climate is characterized by heterogeneous climate conditions, with distinct boundaries between zones that can be classified according to the Köppen classification (Peel et al. 2007), and detected using climate network techniques (Rheinwalt et al. 2016). These boundaries are not stationary, but shift geographically, depending on large scale atmospheric conditions. Central European climate is strongly influenced by intricately linked North Atlantic Oscillation and Siberian High (SH), which govern precipitation and temperature over Europe. Shifts of these climatic boundaries in response to global warming and circulation changes might lead to more frequent extreme weather patterns like heat waves, with significant repercussions for society (Cohen et al. 2014). Speleothem-based palaeoclimate reconstructions enable us to understand underlying forcing mechanisms and speed of climatic reorganizations. Here we present a first reconstruction of multi-centennial shifts of the boundary between western European maritime Cfb climate and continental Dfb climate through the last ca. 5,000 years using speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Thuringia, Central Europe. Thanks to its location near the Cfb-Dfb climatic boundary, Bleßberg Cave is ideally suited to reconstruct past W-E shifts of this divide longitudinally crossing Central Europe. We compare a decadally resolved stalagmite δ18O record with data from Bunker Cave (Mischel et al. 2017), western Germany, and an NAO reconstruction from Greenland (Olsen et al. 2012). Over the last 5,000 years, the boundary between Cfb and Dfb climate shifted repeatedly. When the Cfb-Dfb border was east (west) of Bleßberg (Bunker) Cave maritime (continental) climate prevailed at both sites. Discrepancies between investigated proxy records are found when the boundary is located between the two caves. Comparison with the Greenland NAO record shows that a westerly shifted boundary is often associated with a strong SH and a negative NAO. An easterly shift, in contrast, is found to be linked with weak a SH and a positive NAO.},
keywords = {bb-1, bb-3, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
European climate is characterized by heterogeneous climate conditions, with distinct boundaries between zones that can be classified according to the Köppen classification (Peel et al. 2007), and detected using climate network techniques (Rheinwalt et al. 2016). These boundaries are not stationary, but shift geographically, depending on large scale atmospheric conditions. Central European climate is strongly influenced by intricately linked North Atlantic Oscillation and Siberian High (SH), which govern precipitation and temperature over Europe. Shifts of these climatic boundaries in response to global warming and circulation changes might lead to more frequent extreme weather patterns like heat waves, with significant repercussions for society (Cohen et al. 2014). Speleothem-based palaeoclimate reconstructions enable us to understand underlying forcing mechanisms and speed of climatic reorganizations. Here we present a first reconstruction of multi-centennial shifts of the boundary between western European maritime Cfb climate and continental Dfb climate through the last ca. 5,000 years using speleothems from Bleßberg Cave, Thuringia, Central Europe. Thanks to its location near the Cfb-Dfb climatic boundary, Bleßberg Cave is ideally suited to reconstruct past W-E shifts of this divide longitudinally crossing Central Europe. We compare a decadally resolved stalagmite δ18O record with data from Bunker Cave (Mischel et al. 2017), western Germany, and an NAO reconstruction from Greenland (Olsen et al. 2012). Over the last 5,000 years, the boundary between Cfb and Dfb climate shifted repeatedly. When the Cfb-Dfb border was east (west) of Bleßberg (Bunker) Cave maritime (continental) climate prevailed at both sites. Discrepancies between investigated proxy records are found when the boundary is located between the two caves. Comparison with the Greenland NAO record shows that a westerly shifted boundary is often associated with a strong SH and a negative NAO. An easterly shift, in contrast, is found to be linked with weak a SH and a positive NAO.
2016
Wenz, Sarah; Scholz, Denis; Spötl, Christoph; Plessen, Birgit; Mischel, Simon; Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Jochum, Klaus-Peter; Fohlmeister, Jens
Timing and duration of climate variability during the 8.2 ka event reconstructed from four speleothems from Germany Proceedings Article
In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, pp. EGU2016-12731, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb-3, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, stalagmite
@inproceedings{wenz2016,
title = {Timing and duration of climate variability during the 8.2 ka event reconstructed from four speleothems from Germany},
author = {Sarah Wenz and Denis Scholz and Christoph Spötl and Birgit Plessen and Simon Mischel and Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Klaus-Peter Jochum and Jens Fohlmeister },
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EGU2016-12731.pdf},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-04-01},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {18},
pages = {EGU2016-12731},
abstract = {The most prominent climate anomaly of the Holocene is the 8.2 ka event, which reflects the impact of a dramatic freshwater influx into the North Atlantic during an interglacial climate state. Thus, it can be considered as a possible analogue for future climate change. Due to the short-lived nature of the event (160.5 ± 5.5 years; Thomas et al., 2007), a detailed investigation requires archives of both high temporal resolution and accurate chronology.
We present high-resolution stable oxygen and carbon isotope (ca. 3-4 years) as well as sub-annually resolved trace element records of the 8.2 ka event from stalagmites (BB-3, Bu4, HLK2 and TV1) from three cave systems in Germany (Blessberg Cave, Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth). The location of these caves in central European is well suited in order to detect changes in temperature and precipitation in relation to changes in the North Atlantic region (Fohlmeister et al., 2012). The 8.2 ka event is clearly recorded as a pronounced negative excursion in the δ18O values of all four speleothems. While stalagmites BB-3 from Blessberg Cave and Bu4 from Bunker Cave also show a negative excursion in the δ13C values during the event, the two speleothems from Herbstlabyrinth show no distinctive features in their δ13C values. The timing, duration and structure of the event differ between the individual records. In BB-3, the event occurs earlier (ca. 8.4 ka) and has a relatively short duration of ca. 90 years. In Bu4, the event occurs later (ca. 8.1 ka) and shows a relatively long duration of more than 200 years. In the two speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth, the event is replicated and has a timing between 8.3 and 8.1 ka and a duration of ca. 150 years. These differences may at least in part be related to the dating uncertainties of 100-200 years (95 % confidence limits).
},
keywords = {bb-3, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The most prominent climate anomaly of the Holocene is the 8.2 ka event, which reflects the impact of a dramatic freshwater influx into the North Atlantic during an interglacial climate state. Thus, it can be considered as a possible analogue for future climate change. Due to the short-lived nature of the event (160.5 ± 5.5 years; Thomas et al., 2007), a detailed investigation requires archives of both high temporal resolution and accurate chronology.
We present high-resolution stable oxygen and carbon isotope (ca. 3-4 years) as well as sub-annually resolved trace element records of the 8.2 ka event from stalagmites (BB-3, Bu4, HLK2 and TV1) from three cave systems in Germany (Blessberg Cave, Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth). The location of these caves in central European is well suited in order to detect changes in temperature and precipitation in relation to changes in the North Atlantic region (Fohlmeister et al., 2012). The 8.2 ka event is clearly recorded as a pronounced negative excursion in the δ18O values of all four speleothems. While stalagmites BB-3 from Blessberg Cave and Bu4 from Bunker Cave also show a negative excursion in the δ13C values during the event, the two speleothems from Herbstlabyrinth show no distinctive features in their δ13C values. The timing, duration and structure of the event differ between the individual records. In BB-3, the event occurs earlier (ca. 8.4 ka) and has a relatively short duration of ca. 90 years. In Bu4, the event occurs later (ca. 8.1 ka) and shows a relatively long duration of more than 200 years. In the two speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth, the event is replicated and has a timing between 8.3 and 8.1 ka and a duration of ca. 150 years. These differences may at least in part be related to the dating uncertainties of 100-200 years (95 % confidence limits).
We present high-resolution stable oxygen and carbon isotope (ca. 3-4 years) as well as sub-annually resolved trace element records of the 8.2 ka event from stalagmites (BB-3, Bu4, HLK2 and TV1) from three cave systems in Germany (Blessberg Cave, Bunker Cave and Herbstlabyrinth). The location of these caves in central European is well suited in order to detect changes in temperature and precipitation in relation to changes in the North Atlantic region (Fohlmeister et al., 2012). The 8.2 ka event is clearly recorded as a pronounced negative excursion in the δ18O values of all four speleothems. While stalagmites BB-3 from Blessberg Cave and Bu4 from Bunker Cave also show a negative excursion in the δ13C values during the event, the two speleothems from Herbstlabyrinth show no distinctive features in their δ13C values. The timing, duration and structure of the event differ between the individual records. In BB-3, the event occurs earlier (ca. 8.4 ka) and has a relatively short duration of ca. 90 years. In Bu4, the event occurs later (ca. 8.1 ka) and shows a relatively long duration of more than 200 years. In the two speleothems from the Herbstlabyrinth, the event is replicated and has a timing between 8.3 and 8.1 ka and a duration of ca. 150 years. These differences may at least in part be related to the dating uncertainties of 100-200 years (95 % confidence limits).
Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Plessen, Birgit; Wenz, Sarah; Leonhardt, Jens; Tjallingii, Rik; Scholz, Denis; Jochum, Klaus-Peter; Marwan, Norbert
A multi-proxy reconstruction of Holocene climate change from Blessberg Cave, Germany Proceedings Article
In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, pp. EGU2016-14213, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bb-1, bb-2, bb-3, climate zone shift, first results, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@inproceedings{breitenbach2016,
title = {A multi-proxy reconstruction of Holocene climate change from Blessberg Cave, Germany},
author = {Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Birgit Plessen and Sarah Wenz and Jens Leonhardt and Rik Tjallingii and Denis Scholz and Klaus-Peter Jochum and Norbert Marwan},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Breitenbach_poster_EGU_2016.pdf},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-04-01},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {18},
pages = {EGU2016-14213},
abstract = {Although Holocene climate dynamics were relatively stable compared to glacial conditions, climatic changes had significant impact on ecosystems and human society on various timescales (Mayewski et al. 2004, Donges et al. 2015, Tan et al. 2015). Precious few high-resolution records on Holocene temperature and precipitation conditions in Central Europe are available (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012).
Here we present a speleothem-based reconstruction of past climate dynamics from Blessberg Cave, Thuringia, central Germany. Three calcitic stalagmites were recovered when the cave was discovered during tunneling operations in 2008. Samples BB-1, -2 and -3 were precisely dated by the 230Th/U-method, with errors between 10 and 160 years (2σ). The combined record covers large parts of the Holocene (10 – 0.4 ka BP). δ13C and δ18O were analysed at 100 μm resolution. To gain additional insights in infiltration conditions, Sr/Ca and S/Ca were measured on BB-1 and BB-3 using an Röntgenanalytik Eagle XXL μXRF scanner.
Differences to other central European records (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012) suggest complex interaction between multiple factors influencing speleothem δ18O in Blessberg Cave. Furthermore, no clear influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on our proxies is found. However, a link across the N Atlantic realm is indicated by a centennial-scale correlation between Blessberg δ18O values and minerogenic input into lake SS1220 in Greenland over the last 5 ka (Olsen et al. 2012). In addition, recurrence analysis indicates an imprint of Atlantic Bond events on Blessberg δ18O values (Marwan et al. 2014), corroborating the suggested link with high northern latitudes. Larger runoff into the Greenland lake seems to be associated with lower δ18O, higher δ13C and S/Ca ratios, as well as lower Sr/Ca ratios in Blessberg Cave speleothems. This might be linked to lower local temperature and/or changes in precipitation seasonality. Opposing millennial scale trends with lowering S/Ca ratios and δ13C values but increasing Sr/Ca ratios calls for more than one controlling factor. Most likely, δ13C decreased through the Holocene due to afforestation, which in turn might have increased sulphate retention in the thickening soil cover (Frisia et al. 2005) and limited sulphur flux into the cave. Alternatively, marine sulfur flux could have diminished with winter wind intensities. However, additional data is required to clarify this hypothesis. A positive Sr/Ca trend through the Holocene might result from increasing prior calcite precipitation induced by a negative moisture balance in summer.},
keywords = {bb-1, bb-2, bb-3, climate zone shift, first results, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Although Holocene climate dynamics were relatively stable compared to glacial conditions, climatic changes had significant impact on ecosystems and human society on various timescales (Mayewski et al. 2004, Donges et al. 2015, Tan et al. 2015). Precious few high-resolution records on Holocene temperature and precipitation conditions in Central Europe are available (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012).
Here we present a speleothem-based reconstruction of past climate dynamics from Blessberg Cave, Thuringia, central Germany. Three calcitic stalagmites were recovered when the cave was discovered during tunneling operations in 2008. Samples BB-1, -2 and -3 were precisely dated by the 230Th/U-method, with errors between 10 and 160 years (2σ). The combined record covers large parts of the Holocene (10 – 0.4 ka BP). δ13C and δ18O were analysed at 100 μm resolution. To gain additional insights in infiltration conditions, Sr/Ca and S/Ca were measured on BB-1 and BB-3 using an Röntgenanalytik Eagle XXL μXRF scanner.
Differences to other central European records (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012) suggest complex interaction between multiple factors influencing speleothem δ18O in Blessberg Cave. Furthermore, no clear influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on our proxies is found. However, a link across the N Atlantic realm is indicated by a centennial-scale correlation between Blessberg δ18O values and minerogenic input into lake SS1220 in Greenland over the last 5 ka (Olsen et al. 2012). In addition, recurrence analysis indicates an imprint of Atlantic Bond events on Blessberg δ18O values (Marwan et al. 2014), corroborating the suggested link with high northern latitudes. Larger runoff into the Greenland lake seems to be associated with lower δ18O, higher δ13C and S/Ca ratios, as well as lower Sr/Ca ratios in Blessberg Cave speleothems. This might be linked to lower local temperature and/or changes in precipitation seasonality. Opposing millennial scale trends with lowering S/Ca ratios and δ13C values but increasing Sr/Ca ratios calls for more than one controlling factor. Most likely, δ13C decreased through the Holocene due to afforestation, which in turn might have increased sulphate retention in the thickening soil cover (Frisia et al. 2005) and limited sulphur flux into the cave. Alternatively, marine sulfur flux could have diminished with winter wind intensities. However, additional data is required to clarify this hypothesis. A positive Sr/Ca trend through the Holocene might result from increasing prior calcite precipitation induced by a negative moisture balance in summer.
Here we present a speleothem-based reconstruction of past climate dynamics from Blessberg Cave, Thuringia, central Germany. Three calcitic stalagmites were recovered when the cave was discovered during tunneling operations in 2008. Samples BB-1, -2 and -3 were precisely dated by the 230Th/U-method, with errors between 10 and 160 years (2σ). The combined record covers large parts of the Holocene (10 – 0.4 ka BP). δ13C and δ18O were analysed at 100 μm resolution. To gain additional insights in infiltration conditions, Sr/Ca and S/Ca were measured on BB-1 and BB-3 using an Röntgenanalytik Eagle XXL μXRF scanner.
Differences to other central European records (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012) suggest complex interaction between multiple factors influencing speleothem δ18O in Blessberg Cave. Furthermore, no clear influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on our proxies is found. However, a link across the N Atlantic realm is indicated by a centennial-scale correlation between Blessberg δ18O values and minerogenic input into lake SS1220 in Greenland over the last 5 ka (Olsen et al. 2012). In addition, recurrence analysis indicates an imprint of Atlantic Bond events on Blessberg δ18O values (Marwan et al. 2014), corroborating the suggested link with high northern latitudes. Larger runoff into the Greenland lake seems to be associated with lower δ18O, higher δ13C and S/Ca ratios, as well as lower Sr/Ca ratios in Blessberg Cave speleothems. This might be linked to lower local temperature and/or changes in precipitation seasonality. Opposing millennial scale trends with lowering S/Ca ratios and δ13C values but increasing Sr/Ca ratios calls for more than one controlling factor. Most likely, δ13C decreased through the Holocene due to afforestation, which in turn might have increased sulphate retention in the thickening soil cover (Frisia et al. 2005) and limited sulphur flux into the cave. Alternatively, marine sulfur flux could have diminished with winter wind intensities. However, additional data is required to clarify this hypothesis. A positive Sr/Ca trend through the Holocene might result from increasing prior calcite precipitation induced by a negative moisture balance in summer.
2015
Sierralta, Melanie; Katzschmann, Lutz; Nikonow, Wilhelm; Rammlmair, Dieter
Insights in Bleßberg cave: Speleothem chronology and geochemical research Proceedings Article
In: 75. Jahrestagung der Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft in Hannover, 2015.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: bb2-1, chronology, liag, stalagmite
@inproceedings{sierralta2015,
title = {Insights in Bleßberg cave: Speleothem chronology and geochemical research},
author = {Melanie Sierralta and Lutz Katzschmann and Wilhelm Nikonow and Dieter Rammlmair},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-03-23},
booktitle = {75. Jahrestagung der Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft in Hannover},
abstract = {During construction works on the railway network between Ebensfeld and Erfurt a karst cave was found in the Bleßberg tunnel. The so called „Bleßberg Cave“ developed in limestone of the Lower Muschelkalk. The investigations by the Geological Survey of Thuringia (TLUG), the mining agency of Thuringia, and the incorporated society of cave explorer in Thuringia revealed impressing objects (stalagmites, stalactites, sinter, excentriques, cave lake, cave creek), which were partly sampled; furthermore the extent of the cave was measured. The more than 1000 m long cave had no natural entrance. Based on interdisciplinary studies on the sampled material information about the development and age of the cave will be obtained. Speleothem represent an impressive and unique archive for climate and palaeoenvironmental changes. The growth of stalagmites can be linked to warm climate phases of past. In these warm stages, the growth of stalagmites depends on the precipitation and the water supply; thus palaeoenvironmental conditions are preserved. The aim of this study is to decode the environmental condi- tions using high resolution techniques. Selected stalagmites and sinters were radiometrically dated by 230Th/U and analysed for their stable isotopic compositions. Furthermore, micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyses were performed to evaluate trace element dis- tribution and identify growth phases of the speleothem. Most elements revealed the layered texture of the specimen while distribution of Al recorded the fractures. Some visibly identified hiatuses could be associated with changes in chemistry (Si, Fe). The determined 230Th/U ages on several speleothem samples range between 6 ka and 360 ka. In combination with high res- olution stable isotope investigation they provide insights into climatic changes from MIS 11 to the Holocene.},
keywords = {bb2-1, chronology, liag, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
During construction works on the railway network between Ebensfeld and Erfurt a karst cave was found in the Bleßberg tunnel. The so called „Bleßberg Cave“ developed in limestone of the Lower Muschelkalk. The investigations by the Geological Survey of Thuringia (TLUG), the mining agency of Thuringia, and the incorporated society of cave explorer in Thuringia revealed impressing objects (stalagmites, stalactites, sinter, excentriques, cave lake, cave creek), which were partly sampled; furthermore the extent of the cave was measured. The more than 1000 m long cave had no natural entrance. Based on interdisciplinary studies on the sampled material information about the development and age of the cave will be obtained. Speleothem represent an impressive and unique archive for climate and palaeoenvironmental changes. The growth of stalagmites can be linked to warm climate phases of past. In these warm stages, the growth of stalagmites depends on the precipitation and the water supply; thus palaeoenvironmental conditions are preserved. The aim of this study is to decode the environmental condi- tions using high resolution techniques. Selected stalagmites and sinters were radiometrically dated by 230Th/U and analysed for their stable isotopic compositions. Furthermore, micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyses were performed to evaluate trace element dis- tribution and identify growth phases of the speleothem. Most elements revealed the layered texture of the specimen while distribution of Al recorded the fractures. Some visibly identified hiatuses could be associated with changes in chemistry (Si, Fe). The determined 230Th/U ages on several speleothem samples range between 6 ka and 360 ka. In combination with high res- olution stable isotope investigation they provide insights into climatic changes from MIS 11 to the Holocene.
2014
Marwan, Norbert; Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Plessen, Birgit; Scholz, Denis; Leonhardt, Jens
Recurrence properties as signatures for abrupt climate change Proceedings Article
In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, pp. EGU2014-8893, 2014.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: abrupt climate change, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite
@inproceedings{marwan2014,
title = {Recurrence properties as signatures for abrupt climate change},
author = {Norbert Marwan and Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Birgit Plessen and Denis Scholz and Jens Leonhardt
},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EGU2014-8893.pdf},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-04-01},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {16},
pages = {EGU2014-8893},
abstract = { The study of recurrence properties of dynamical systems has been shown to be very successful in characterising typical dynamical behaviour, finding regime transitions, or detecting couplings and synchronisations, even for short, noisy, and nonstationary data, as typical in Earth Sciences. Recurrence plots and their quantifications are powerful techniques for the investigation of recurrence and increasingly attract attention in recent years. We demonstrate the potential of the newly introduced extension of recurrence plot analysis by complex network measures for the detection of abrupt dynamical changes. This method is applied on a Holocene palaeoclimate data set from Central Europe derived from a stalagmite from Blessberg Cave, Thuringia, Germany. The stalagmite δ18O proxy record covers the middle to late Holocene (6000-400 years BP). Dating uncertainties are considered by an ensemble approach derived from the COPRA framework. Characteristic changes in the recurrence properties reflecting regular dynamics coincide well with the occurrence of the Bond events 1, 2, and 3. During Bond events the Central European climate variability appears more regular. The analysis presented here examplifies the potency of quantitative recurrence methods in detecting climatic events, which otherwise remain hidden in the raw proxy time series. },
keywords = {abrupt climate change, gfz, jgu, northumbria, palaeoclimate, pik, stalagmite},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The study of recurrence properties of dynamical systems has been shown to be very successful in characterising typical dynamical behaviour, finding regime transitions, or detecting couplings and synchronisations, even for short, noisy, and nonstationary data, as typical in Earth Sciences. Recurrence plots and their quantifications are powerful techniques for the investigation of recurrence and increasingly attract attention in recent years. We demonstrate the potential of the newly introduced extension of recurrence plot analysis by complex network measures for the detection of abrupt dynamical changes. This method is applied on a Holocene palaeoclimate data set from Central Europe derived from a stalagmite from Blessberg Cave, Thuringia, Germany. The stalagmite δ18O proxy record covers the middle to late Holocene (6000-400 years BPka BP Mit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr.). Dating uncertainties are considered by an ensemble approach derived from the COPRA framework. Characteristic changes in the recurrence properties reflecting regular dynamics coincide well with the occurrence of the Bond events 1, 2, and 3. During Bond events the Central European climate variability appears more regular. The analysis presented here examplifies the potency of quantitative recurrence methods in detecting climatic events, which otherwise remain hidden in the raw proxy time series.
2013
Keiner, Robert; Frosch, Torsten; Hanf, Stefan; Rusznyak, Anna; Akob, Denise M; Küsel, Kirsten; Popp, Jürgen
In: Analytical Chemistry, vol. 85, no. 18, pp. 8708–8714, 2013.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bacteria, microbiology, unijena
@article{Keiner2013,
title = {Raman Spectroscopy—An Innovative and Versatile Tool To Follow the Respirational Activity and Carbonate Biomineralization of Important Cave Bacteria},
author = {Robert Keiner and Torsten Frosch and Stefan Hanf and Anna Rusznyak and Denise M Akob and Kirsten Küsel and Jürgen Popp},
doi = {10.1021/ac401699d},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-09-01},
urldate = {2013-09-01},
journal = {Analytical Chemistry},
volume = {85},
number = {18},
pages = {8708–8714},
abstract = {Raman gas spectrometry is introduced as a unique tool for the investigation of the respiratory activity that is indicative for growth of bacteria involved in biomineralization. Growth of these bacteria cannot be monitored using conventional turbidity-based optical density measurements due to concomitant mineral formation in the medium. The respiratory activity of carbonate-precipitating Arthrobacter sulfonivorans, isolated from the recently discovered Herrenberg Cave, was investigated during its lifecycle by means of innovative cavity-enhanced Raman gas analysis. This method allowed rapid and nonconsumptive online quantification of CO2 and O2 in situ in the headspace of the bacterial culture. Carbon dioxide production rates of A. sulfonivorans showed two maxima due to its pleomorphic growth lifecycle. In contrast, only one maximum was observed in control organism Pseudomonas fluorescens with a one-stage lifecycle. Further insight into the biomineralization process over time was provided by a combination of Raman macro- and microspectroscopy. With the help of this spatially resolved chemical imaging of the different types of calcium carbonate minerals, it was elucidated that the surface of the A. sulfonivorans bacterial cells served as nuclei for biomineralization of initially spherical vaterite precipitates. These vaterite biominerals continued growing as chemically stable rock-forming calcite crystals with rough edges. Thus, the utilization of innovative Raman multigas spectroscopy, combined with Raman mineral analysis, provided novel insights into microbial-mediated biomineralization and, therefore, provides a powerful methodology in the field of environmental sciences.},
keywords = {bacteria, microbiology, unijena},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Raman gas spectrometry is introduced as a unique tool for the investigation of the respiratory activity that is indicative for growth of bacteria involved in biomineralization. Growth of these bacteria cannot be monitored using conventional turbidity-based optical density measurements due to concomitant mineral formation in the medium. The respiratory activity of carbonate-precipitating Arthrobacter sulfonivorans, isolated from the recently discovered Herrenberg Cave, was investigated during its lifecycle by means of innovative cavity-enhanced Raman gas analysis. This method allowed rapid and nonconsumptive online quantification of CO2 and O2 in situ in the headspace of the bacterial culture. Carbon dioxide production rates of A. sulfonivorans showed two maxima due to its pleomorphic growth lifecycle. In contrast, only one maximum was observed in control organism Pseudomonas fluorescens with a one-stage lifecycle. Further insight into the biomineralization process over time was provided by a combination of Raman macro- and microspectroscopy. With the help of this spatially resolved chemical imaging of the different types of calcium carbonate minerals, it was elucidated that the surface of the A. sulfonivorans bacterial cells served as nuclei for biomineralization of initially spherical vaterite precipitates. These vaterite biominerals continued growing as chemically stable rock-forming calcite crystals with rough edges. Thus, the utilization of innovative Raman multigas spectroscopy, combined with Raman mineral analysis, provided novel insights into microbial-mediated biomineralization and, therefore, provides a powerful methodology in the field of environmental sciences.
2012
Rusznyák, Anna; Akob, Denise M; Nietzsche, Sándor; Eusterhues, Karin; Totsche, Kai Uwe; Neu, Thomas R; Frosch, Torsten; Popp, Jürgen; Keiner, Robert; Geletneky, Jörn; Katzschmann, Lutz; Schulze, Ernst-Detlef; Küsel, Kirsten
Calcite Biomineralization by Bacterial Isolates from the Recently Discovered Pristine Karstic Herrenberg Cave Journal Article
In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 78, no. 4, pp. 1157–1167, 2012.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bacteria, microbiology, unijena
@article{Rusznyak2012,
title = {Calcite Biomineralization by Bacterial Isolates from the Recently Discovered Pristine Karstic Herrenberg Cave},
author = {Anna Rusznyák and Denise M Akob and Sándor Nietzsche and Karin Eusterhues and Kai Uwe Totsche and Thomas R Neu and Torsten Frosch and Jürgen Popp and Robert Keiner and Jörn Geletneky and Lutz Katzschmann and Ernst-Detlef Schulze and Kirsten Küsel},
doi = {10.1128/AEM.06568-11},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-02-01},
urldate = {2012-02-01},
journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology},
volume = {78},
number = {4},
pages = {1157–1167},
abstract = {Karstic caves represent one of the most important subterranean carbon storages on Earth and provide windows into the subsurface. The recent discovery of the Herrenberg Cave, Germany, gave us the opportunity to investigate the diversity and potential role of bacteria in carbonate mineral formation. Calcite was the only mineral observed by Raman spectroscopy to precipitate as stalactites from seepage water. Bacterial cells were found on the surface and interior of stalactites by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities inhabiting stalactites, representing more than 70% of total 16S rRNA gene clones. Proteobacteria formed 22 to 34% of the detected communities in fluvial sediments, and a large fraction of these bacteria were also metabolically active. A total of 9 isolates, belonging to the genera Arthrobacter , Flavobacterium , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Serratia , and Stenotrophomonas , grew on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium. Two cultures with the most intense precipitate formation, Arthrobacter sulfonivorans and Rhodococcus globerulus , grew as aggregates, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and formed mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. R. globerulus formed idiomorphous crystals with rhombohedral morphology, whereas A. sulfonivorans formed xenomorphous globular crystals, evidence for taxon-specific crystal morphologies. The results of this study highlighted the importance of combining various techniques in order to understand the geomicrobiology of karstic caves, but further studies are needed to determine whether the mineralogical biosignatures found in nutrient-rich media can also be found in oligotrophic caves.},
keywords = {bacteria, microbiology, unijena},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Karstic caves represent one of the most important subterranean carbon storages on Earth and provide windows into the subsurface. The recent discovery of the Herrenberg Cave, Germany, gave us the opportunity to investigate the diversity and potential role of bacteria in carbonate mineral formation. Calcite was the only mineral observed by Raman spectroscopy to precipitate as stalactites from seepage water. Bacterial cells were found on the surface and interior of stalactites by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities inhabiting stalactites, representing more than 70% of total 16S rRNA gene clones. Proteobacteria formed 22 to 34% of the detected communities in fluvialfluvial Durch fließendes Wasser verursacht; zum Beispiel: "Fluviale Sedimente" = durch fließendes Wasser abgelagertes Material. sediments, and a large fraction of these bacteria were also metabolically active. A total of 9 isolates, belonging to the genera Arthrobacter , Flavobacterium , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Serratia , and Stenotrophomonas , grew on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium. Two cultures with the most intense precipitate formation, Arthrobacter sulfonivorans and Rhodococcus globerulus , grew as aggregates, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and formed mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. R. globerulus formed idiomorphous crystals with rhombohedral morphology, whereas A. sulfonivorans formed xenomorphous globular crystals, evidence for taxon-specific crystal morphologies. The results of this study highlighted the importance of combining various techniques in order to understand the geomicrobiology of karstic caves, but further studies are needed to determine whether the mineralogical biosignatures found in nutrient-rich media can also be found in oligotrophic caves.
2009
Benedikt, J.; Spöndlin, D.; Kind, B.
Investigation of Karst Phenomena and Measures in the Blessberg Tunnel Proceedings Article
In: ISRM Regional Symposium - EUROCK 2009, Cavtat, Croatia, 2009.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: morphology, tectonics
@inproceedings{benedikt2010,
title = { Investigation of Karst Phenomena and Measures in the Blessberg Tunnel},
author = { J. Benedikt and D. Spöndlin and B. Kind},
url = {https://onepetro.org/ISRMEUROCK/proceedings/EUROCK09/All-EUROCK09/ISRM-EUROCK-2009-010/38501},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-10-29},
booktitle = {ISRM Regional Symposium - EUROCK 2009, Cavtat, Croatia},
abstract = {The 8,341–m–long Blessberg Tunnel is part of Deutsche Bahn's 190-km–long high-speed railway line between Nuremberg and Erfurt. The southern section of the Tunnel is situated in mainly karstified Muschelkalk rock strata over a length of some 430 m, with the overburden from the tunnel crown to the surface ranging from 6 m to 70 m. In the course of the conceptual design, a comprehensive exploratory programme was carried out for this tunnel section, including 7 core drillings as well as geophysical investigations (geoelectrics, refraction seismics and reflection seismics). During excavation of the top heading, large karst cavities with widths of up to ten metres were encountered. The karst cavities were found to be part of an approx. 500–m–long cave. Further huge karst cavities were encountered with an overburden of about 8 m above the tunnel crown.},
keywords = {morphology, tectonics},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The 8,341–m–long Blessberg Tunnel is part of Deutsche Bahn's 190-km–long high-speed railway line between Nuremberg and Erfurt. The southern section of the Tunnel is situated in mainly karstified Muschelkalk rock strata over a length of some 430 m, with the overburden from the tunnel crown to the surface ranging from 6 m to 70 m. In the course of the conceptual design, a comprehensive exploratory programme was carried out for this tunnel section, including 7 core drillings as well as geophysical investigations (geoelectrics, refraction seismics and reflection seismics). During excavation of the top heading, large karst cavities with widths of up to ten metres were encountered. The karst cavities were found to be part of an approx. 500–m–long cave. Further huge karst cavities were encountered with an overburden of about 8 m above the tunnel crown.