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A chironomid-based reconstruction of summer temperatures in NW Iceland since AD 1650

A chironomid-based reconstruction of summer temperatures in NW Iceland since AD 1650
A chironomid-based reconstruction of summer temperatures in NW Iceland since AD 1650
Few studies currently exist that aim to validate a proxy chironomid-temperature reconstruction with instrumental temperature measurements. We used a reconstruction from a chironomid percentage abundance data set to produce quantitative summer temperature estimates since AD 1650 for NW Iceland through a transfer function approach, and validated the record against instrumental temperature measurements from Stykkishólmur in western Iceland. The core was dated through Pb-210, Cs-137 and tephra analyses (Hekla 1693) which produced a well-constrained dating model across the whole study period. Little catchment disturbance, as shown through geochemical (Itrax) and loss-on-ignition data, throughout the period further reinforce the premise that the chironomids were responding to temperature and not other catchment or within-lake variables. Particularly cold phases were identified between AD 1683–1710, AD 1765–1780 and AD 1890–1917, with relative drops in summer temperatures in the order of 1.5–2°C. The timing of these cold phases agree well with other evidence of cooler temperatures, notably increased extent of Little Ice Age (LIA) glaciers. Our evidence suggests that the magnitude of summer temperature cooling (1.5–2°C) was enough to force LIA Icelandic glaciers into their maximum Holocene extent, which is in accordance with previous modelling experiments for an Icelandic ice cap (Langjökull).
iceland, chironomid, little ice age (lia), summer temperature, lake sediment
0033-5894
451-460
Langdon, P.G.
95b97671-f9fe-4884-aca6-9aa3cd1a6d7f
Caseldine, C.J.
5ee86ca4-a6d2-4c5b-88ae-068b294a54af
Croudace, I.W.
24deb068-d096-485e-8a23-a32b7a68afaf
Jarvis, S.
caca9d70-b960-4301-82eb-cecf41832a16
Wastegard, S.
9bc9af32-2036-4d18-9ca1-2bb4560daef9
Crowford, T.C.
49ac4a66-c89a-4fd4-9842-c471bd0f7d27
Langdon, P.G.
95b97671-f9fe-4884-aca6-9aa3cd1a6d7f
Caseldine, C.J.
5ee86ca4-a6d2-4c5b-88ae-068b294a54af
Croudace, I.W.
24deb068-d096-485e-8a23-a32b7a68afaf
Jarvis, S.
caca9d70-b960-4301-82eb-cecf41832a16
Wastegard, S.
9bc9af32-2036-4d18-9ca1-2bb4560daef9
Crowford, T.C.
49ac4a66-c89a-4fd4-9842-c471bd0f7d27

Langdon, P.G., Caseldine, C.J., Croudace, I.W., Jarvis, S., Wastegard, S. and Crowford, T.C. (2011) A chironomid-based reconstruction of summer temperatures in NW Iceland since AD 1650. Quaternary Research, 75 (3), 451-460. (doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2010.11.007).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Few studies currently exist that aim to validate a proxy chironomid-temperature reconstruction with instrumental temperature measurements. We used a reconstruction from a chironomid percentage abundance data set to produce quantitative summer temperature estimates since AD 1650 for NW Iceland through a transfer function approach, and validated the record against instrumental temperature measurements from Stykkishólmur in western Iceland. The core was dated through Pb-210, Cs-137 and tephra analyses (Hekla 1693) which produced a well-constrained dating model across the whole study period. Little catchment disturbance, as shown through geochemical (Itrax) and loss-on-ignition data, throughout the period further reinforce the premise that the chironomids were responding to temperature and not other catchment or within-lake variables. Particularly cold phases were identified between AD 1683–1710, AD 1765–1780 and AD 1890–1917, with relative drops in summer temperatures in the order of 1.5–2°C. The timing of these cold phases agree well with other evidence of cooler temperatures, notably increased extent of Little Ice Age (LIA) glaciers. Our evidence suggests that the magnitude of summer temperature cooling (1.5–2°C) was enough to force LIA Icelandic glaciers into their maximum Holocene extent, which is in accordance with previous modelling experiments for an Icelandic ice cap (Langjökull).

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More information

Published date: 2011
Keywords: iceland, chironomid, little ice age (lia), summer temperature, lake sediment
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science, Environmental Processes & Change

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 177651
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/177651
ISSN: 0033-5894
PURE UUID: 9b3d0f03-4812-402f-ae6f-49a9220c3b5c
ORCID for P.G. Langdon: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2724-2643

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Date deposited: 18 Mar 2011 11:20
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:57

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Contributors

Author: P.G. Langdon ORCID iD
Author: C.J. Caseldine
Author: I.W. Croudace
Author: S. Jarvis
Author: S. Wastegard
Author: T.C. Crowford

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