Periodic input of dust over the Eastern Carpathians during the Holocene linked with Saharan desertification and human impact

• DOI: 10.5194/cp-13-897-2017
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18T12:23:23Z
• Authors: Jack Longman; Daniel Veres; Vasile Ersek; Ulrich Salzmann; Katalin Hubay; Marc Bormann; Volker Wennrich; Frank Schäbitz
• Keywords: Mineral dust; Desertification; Deposition; Paleoclimatology; Westerlies

Abstract. Reconstructions of dust flux have been used to produce valuable global records changes in atmospheric circulation and aridity. These studies highlighted the importance marine terrestrial biogeochemistry nutrient cycling. By investigating a 10 800-year-long paleoclimate archive from Eastern Carpathians (Romania) we present first peat record changing deposition over Holocene for Carpathian–Balkan region. Using qualitative (X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanning) quantitative inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer(ICP-OES) measurements lithogenic (K, Si, Ti) elements, identify periods major between 9500–9200, 8400–8100, 7720–7250, 6350–5950, 5450–5050, 4130–3770, 3450–2850, 2000–1450, 800–620, 60 cal yr BP present. In addition, testate amoeba assemblages preserved within infer local palaeohydroclimatic conditions. Our highlights several discrepancies eastern western European depositional impact highly complex hydrological regimes Carpathian Since 6100 BP, find that geochemical indicators become uncoupled hydrology. This coincides with appearance millennial-scale cycles input composition dust. We suggest this is indicative shift provenance local–regional (likely loess-related) distal (Saharan) sources, which coincide end African Humid Period onset Saharan desertification.