Heterogenous late Holocene climate in the Eastern Mediterranean - the
Kocain Cave record from SW Turkey
Abstract
Palaeoclimate variability must be constrained to predict the nature and
impacts of future climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean. Here, we
present a high-resolution multiproxy dataset from Kocain Cave, the first
of its kind from SW Turkey. Regional fluctuations in effective-moisture
are recorded by variations in magnesium, strontium, phosphorous and
carbon isotopes, with oxygen isotopes reacting to changes in
precipitation amount and temperature. Important are: a double-peak of
arid conditions at 1150 and 800 BCE, a wet period 330-460 CE followed by
a rapid shift to dry conditions 460-830 CE, and a distinct dry/wet
Medieval Climate Anomaly/Little Ice Age pattern. There are large
discrepancies between Turkish records and the Kocain record, which
shares more similarities with other Eastern Mediterranean coastal
records. Heterogeneity of regional climate and palaeoclimate proxy
records are emphasised.