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Eastern Mediterranean sapropel S1 interruption: an expression of the onset of climatic deterioration around 7ka BP

Eastern Mediterranean sapropel S1 interruption: an expression of the onset of climatic deterioration around 7ka BP
Eastern Mediterranean sapropel S1 interruption: an expression of the onset of climatic deterioration around 7ka BP
We discuss the palaeoclimatic interpretation of unprecedented high-resolution micropalaeontological studies of short-term (2 to 4 centuries) interruptions within early Holocene organic-rich layer (sapropel) S1 from the eastern Mediterranean. Results for cores from the Adriatic and Aegean seas that contain ‘double' S1 sapropels indicate that these interruptions, which are centred roughly around 7000 years 14Cnc BP, are genuine and related to climatic deterioration. This interpretation is endorsed by a coeval dry event recorded in terrestrial records and indications of climatic deterioration affecting human migration patterns and early societies in Egypt. The presence of sapropel interruptions in the two major source areas of deep water for the entire eastern Mediterranean likely implies that similar intervals may be found throughout the basin, provided that sedimentation rates and sampling resolutions allow the detection of events with a duration of only several centuries. Moreover, our results show that the ‘sapropel mode' of circulation comprises a delicate balance between reduced ventilation and enhanced productivity, which is easily disturbed through surface water cooling triggering a short time of improved deep water ventilation.
palaeoceanography, Mediterranean Sea, Holocene, sapropel interruption, climate change, planktonic foraminifera
0025-3227
337-343
De Rijk, S.
b6fc7c3a-2d43-468d-9caf-e07d810a0af7
Hayes, A.
30278d2b-909a-4e93-bc24-c7df206715b3
Rohling, E.J.
a2a27ef2-fcce-4c71-907b-e692b5ecc685
De Rijk, S.
b6fc7c3a-2d43-468d-9caf-e07d810a0af7
Hayes, A.
30278d2b-909a-4e93-bc24-c7df206715b3
Rohling, E.J.
a2a27ef2-fcce-4c71-907b-e692b5ecc685

De Rijk, S., Hayes, A. and Rohling, E.J. (1999) Eastern Mediterranean sapropel S1 interruption: an expression of the onset of climatic deterioration around 7ka BP. Marine Geology, 153 (1-4), 337-343. (doi:10.1016/S0025-3227(98)00075-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We discuss the palaeoclimatic interpretation of unprecedented high-resolution micropalaeontological studies of short-term (2 to 4 centuries) interruptions within early Holocene organic-rich layer (sapropel) S1 from the eastern Mediterranean. Results for cores from the Adriatic and Aegean seas that contain ‘double' S1 sapropels indicate that these interruptions, which are centred roughly around 7000 years 14Cnc BP, are genuine and related to climatic deterioration. This interpretation is endorsed by a coeval dry event recorded in terrestrial records and indications of climatic deterioration affecting human migration patterns and early societies in Egypt. The presence of sapropel interruptions in the two major source areas of deep water for the entire eastern Mediterranean likely implies that similar intervals may be found throughout the basin, provided that sedimentation rates and sampling resolutions allow the detection of events with a duration of only several centuries. Moreover, our results show that the ‘sapropel mode' of circulation comprises a delicate balance between reduced ventilation and enhanced productivity, which is easily disturbed through surface water cooling triggering a short time of improved deep water ventilation.

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Published date: 1999
Keywords: palaeoceanography, Mediterranean Sea, Holocene, sapropel interruption, climate change, planktonic foraminifera

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 28819
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/28819
ISSN: 0025-3227
PURE UUID: 8ebe00fa-7cfa-4f6a-abaa-d37b9bc2eb47
ORCID for E.J. Rohling: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5349-2158

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Date deposited: 05 May 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:46

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Contributors

Author: S. De Rijk
Author: A. Hayes
Author: E.J. Rohling ORCID iD

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