Speleothems Reveal 500,000-Year History of Siberian Permafrost

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1228729
• Publication Date: 2013-02-22T05:05:15Z
• Authors: A. Vaks; O. S. Gutareva; S. F. M. Breitenbach; E. Avirmed; A. J. Mason; A. L. Thomas; A. V. Osinzev; A. M. Kononov; G. M. Henderson
• Keywords: Speleothem

Soils in permafrost regions contain twice as much carbon the atmosphere, and has an important influence on natural built environment at high northern latitudes. The response of to warming climate is uncertain occurs time scales longer than those assessed by direct observation. We dated periods speleothem growth a north-south transect caves Siberia reconstruct history past states. Speleothem restricted full interglacial conditions all studied caves. In northernmost cave (at 60°N), no occurred since Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 11. Growth that indicates global climates only slightly warmer today are sufficient thaw extensive permafrost.