In:
Climate of the Past, Copernicus GmbH, Vol. 14, No. 6 ( 2018-06-21), p. 871-886
Abstract:
Abstract. We determined the specific biomass burning biomarker levoglucosan in an ice
core from the TALos Dome Ice CorE drilling project (TALDICE) during the mid-
to late Holocene (6000–750 BP). The levoglucosan record is characterized by
a long-term increase with higher rates starting at ∼ 4000 BP and peaks
between 2500 and 1500 BP. The anomalous increase in levoglucosan centered at
∼ 2000 BP is consistent with other Antarctic biomass burning records.
Multiple atmospheric phenomena affect the coastal Antarctic Talos Dome
drilling site, where the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) is the most prominent as
the Southern Annular Mode Index (SAMA) correlates with stable
isotopes in precipitation throughout the most recent 1000 years of the ice
core. If this connection remains throughout the mid- to late Holocene, then
our results demonstrate that changes in biomass burning, rather than changes
in atmospheric transport, are the major influence on the TALDICE levoglucosan
record. Comparisons with charcoal syntheses help evaluate fire sources,
showing a greater contribution from southern South American fires than from
Australian biomass burning. The levoglucosan peak centered at
∼ 2000 BP occurs during a cool period throughout the
Southern Hemisphere, yet during a time of increased fire activity in both
northern and southern Patagonia. This peak in biomass burning is influenced
by increased vegetation in southern South America from a preceding humid
period, in which the vegetation desiccated during the following cool, dry
period. The Talos Dome ice core record from 6000 to ∼ 750 BP
currently does not provide clear evidence that the fire record may be
strongly affected by anthropogenic activities during the mid- to late Holocene,
although we cannot exclude at least a partial influence.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1814-9332
DOI:
10.5194/cp-14-871-2018
DOI:
10.5194/cp-14-871-2018-supplement
Language:
English
Publisher:
Copernicus GmbH
Publication Date:
2018
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2217985-9
