TY - JOUR

T1 - Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic variations around Lake Van (Eastern Turkey) recorded by sedimentary source specific biomarkers 250–130 ka (MIS7 and MIS6)

AU - Guillemont, Typhaine

AU - Stockhecke, Monika

AU - Bechtel, Achim

AU - Ladd, S.N.

AU - Nelson, D.B.

AU - Schubert, Carsten J

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - Paleoclimatic changes during MIS7 and MIS6 remain poorly described in the Near East. We quantified source-specific biomarkers in Lake Van sediments during the interglacial/glacial cycle MIS7/MIS6. Long-chain n-alkanes produced by land-derived vegetation, as well as long-chain alkenones and sterols (namely brassicasterol and dinosterol) produced by aquatic algae were investigated. Stable hydrogen isotopic measurements (δ 2H) on n-C 29 alkanes were used as a proxy for aridity and revealed three wetter periods interrupted by two drier intervals during MIS7. In contrast, during the MIS6 glaciation, a generally drier climate was predominant. During the warmer and wetter periods of MIS7, a higher input of aquatic organic matter to Lake Van sediments was recorded by higher concentrations of long-chain alkenones, dinosterol and brassicasterol. Long-chain alkane abundances do not show a pattern related to aridity and were observed in higher concentrations in wetter as well as drier periods. Generally, in the Eastern Mediterranean, a wetter interglacial interrupted by drier episodes followed by a dry glacial period was the common feature observed during the MIS7/MIS6 interglacial/glacial cycle. However, in comparison to the last interglacial/glacial cycle the extreme dry glacial period registered around Lake Van from MIS5d to MIS2 was apparently unique and not equaled by a similar event within the last 250 ka.

AB - Paleoclimatic changes during MIS7 and MIS6 remain poorly described in the Near East. We quantified source-specific biomarkers in Lake Van sediments during the interglacial/glacial cycle MIS7/MIS6. Long-chain n-alkanes produced by land-derived vegetation, as well as long-chain alkenones and sterols (namely brassicasterol and dinosterol) produced by aquatic algae were investigated. Stable hydrogen isotopic measurements (δ 2H) on n-C 29 alkanes were used as a proxy for aridity and revealed three wetter periods interrupted by two drier intervals during MIS7. In contrast, during the MIS6 glaciation, a generally drier climate was predominant. During the warmer and wetter periods of MIS7, a higher input of aquatic organic matter to Lake Van sediments was recorded by higher concentrations of long-chain alkenones, dinosterol and brassicasterol. Long-chain alkane abundances do not show a pattern related to aridity and were observed in higher concentrations in wetter as well as drier periods. Generally, in the Eastern Mediterranean, a wetter interglacial interrupted by drier episodes followed by a dry glacial period was the common feature observed during the MIS7/MIS6 interglacial/glacial cycle. However, in comparison to the last interglacial/glacial cycle the extreme dry glacial period registered around Lake Van from MIS5d to MIS2 was apparently unique and not equaled by a similar event within the last 250 ka.

U2 - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.105997

DO - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.105997

M3 - Article

VL - 225.2019

JO - Quaternary Science Reviews

JF - Quaternary Science Reviews

SN - 0277-3791

IS - 1 December

M1 - 105997

ER -