Articles | Volume 11, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-11-1785-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-11-1785-2015
Research article
 | 
21 Dec 2015
Research article |  | 21 Dec 2015

Reconstruction of MIS 5 climate in the central Levant using a stalagmite from Kanaan Cave, Lebanon

C. Nehme, S. Verheyden, S. R. Noble, A. R. Farrant, D. Sahy, J. Hellstrom, J. J. Delannoy, and P. Claeys

Abstract. Lying at the transition between the temperate Mediterranean domain and subtropical deserts, the Levant is a key area to study the palaeoclimatic response over glacial–interglacial cycles. This paper presents a precisely dated last interglacial (MIS 5) stalagmite (129–84 ka) from the Kanaan Cave, Lebanon. Variations in growth rate and isotopic records indicate a warm humid phase at the onset of the last interglacial at ~ 129 ka that lasted until ~ 125 ka. A gradual shift in speleothem isotopic composition (125–122 ka) is driven mainly by the δ18O source effect of the eastern Mediterranean surface waters during sapropel 5 (S5). The onset of glacial inception began after ~ 122 ka, interrupted by a short wet pulse during the sapropel 4 (S4) event. Low growth rates and enriched oxygen and carbon values until ~ 84 ka indicate a transition to drier conditions during Northern Hemisphere glaciation.

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Short summary
The Levant is a key area to study palaeoclimatic responses over G-IG cycles. A precisely dated MIS 5 stalagmite (129–84ka) from Kanaan Cave, Lebanon, with growth rate and isotopic records variations indicate a warm humid phase at the last interglacial (~129-125ka). A shift in δ18O values (125-122ka) is driven by the source effect of the eastern Med. during sapropel 5 (S5). Low growth rates and high δ18O-δ13C values (~122-84ka) mark the onset of glacial inception and transition to drier phase.