Klimazonenverschiebung in Mitteleuropa – Science@Bleßberghöhle

Marwan, Norbert

Bleßberghöhle – Schatzkammer für die Wissenschaft Vortrag

15.06.2022, (VdHK-Symposium: Wissenschaft unter Tage – Höhlenforschung im Dialog, Truckenthal (Germany)).

Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M.; Marwan, Norbert

Die Bleßberghöhle – ein Glücksfall für die Klimaforschung Buchabschnitt

In: Thüringer Höhlenverein, e. V. (Hrsg.): Nächster Halt: Bleßberghöhle, Suhl, 2022.

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 Artikel

In: Global and Planetary Change, Bd. 176, S. 144–161, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

@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 = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

Schließen

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.

Schließen

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, S. EGU2016-14213, 2016.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

@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 = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

Schließen

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.

Schließen

Die drei Stalagmiten BB-1 bis BB-3 wurden von GFZ Potsdam, Ruhr-Uni Bochum, PIK Potsdam, Uni Mainz und Northumbria University geochemisch untersucht.

Die Datierung (U/Th) wurde an der Uni Mainz vorgenommen. Stalagmit BB-1 ist vor 5.600 bis 600 Jahren, BB-2 vor 6.200 bis 3.700 und BB-3 (obwohl der kürzeste) vor 11.200 bis 5.300 Jahren gewachsen. Am GFZ wurden im BB-1 in über 1.000 Proben Kohlenstoff- und Sauerstoffisotope (δ¹³C und δ¹⁸O) gemessen, im BB-2 und BB-3 jeweils etwa 400 bzw. 540 Proben. Parallel dazu wurde die Verteilung verschiedener Elemente (u.a. Sr/Ca und S/Ca) röntgenanalytisch gemessen. Die Altersmodellierung und statistische Auswertungen erfolgten an Ruhr-Uni Bochum, PIK Potsdam und Northumbria University.

In den Altersmodellen der Stalagmiten BB-1 und BB-3 sind abrupte Wechsel von langsamen zu schnellem Wachstum bei etwa 5.900 v. Chr. und von schnellem zu einem eher langsamen Wachstum bei etwa 2.600 v. Chr. zu erkennen.

Altersmodelle der Stalagmiten BB-1 und BB-3. Deutlich sind Änderungen der Wachstumsgeschwindigkeiten bei etwa 6.200 v. Chr. und zwischen 5.900 und 2.600 v. Chr. zu erkennen, wofür Klimaänderungen verantwortlich sind.

Die zeitlichen Änderungen der Isotopenverhältnisse wurden mit Paläoklimadaten aus der Bunkerhöhle in Nordrhein-Westfalen und aus Grönland verglichen.

Isotopenverhältnisse in Stalagmiten BB-1 und BB-3 (kombiniert). Die längerfristigen Trends spiegeln vermutlich eine Änderung des solaren Einflusses wider. Die kurzzeitige Klima-Abkühlung um 6.200 v. Chr. ist deutlich in den Isotopenverhältnissen zu erkennen. Der abrupte Abfall der δ¹⁸O-Werte um 900 bis 1.200 AD fällt mit der mittelalterlichen Warmperiode zusammen.

Dieser Vergleich erlaubt eine Abschätzung der räumlichen Verteilung des Einflusses des maritimen, feuchten und warmen Atlantik-Klimas in Mitteleuropa. Die Bleßberghöhle befindet sich an der Grenze zwischen dem Einfluss des Atlantik-Klimas und dem kontinentalen, trockeneren und kälteren Klima aus dem Osten. Aus dem Wechsel zwischen stärkerer Ähnlichkeit und größeren Unterschieden im regionalen Klima an der Bleßberghöhle und der Bunkerhöhle läßt sich festzustellen, wann die Klimazonengrenze östlich oder westlich von der Bleßberghöhle lag, wann also das atlantische, feuchtere und wärmere Klima und wann das kältere und trockenere Kontinentalklima über der Bleßberghöhle vorherrschte. Diese Analyse konnte bis etwa 4.000 Jahre zurück durchgeführt werden (also etwa 2050 v. Chr.). Vor dieser Zeit können aufgrund fehlender Daten aus Grönland bislang keine Aussagen bezüglich der Lage der Klimazonengrenze getroffen werden, aber vermutlich lag um diese Zeit die Bleßberghöhle wohl im Einflussbereich des atlantischen Klimas. Um 1850 v. Chr. wechselte es dann zum kontinentalen Klima (in der späten Aunjetitzer Kultur, bekannt durch die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra). Zwischen 950 bis 850 v. Chr. wurde der atlantische Einfluss wieder dominanter (gegen Ende der Urnenfelderkultur).

Verlagerung der Klimazonengrenze (gestrichelt) nach Osten mit hypothetischem Verlauf (gepunktet) zur Zeit der Urnenfelderkultur (BU – Bunkerhöhle, BBH – Bleßberghöhle).