Abstract

We present a new decadally-resolved oxygen isotope speleothem (NIR-2) record (d18O) from Kuna Ba Cave located in Northern Iraq (35 05'37.7" N, 45 38'47.1" E) that spans the last 2000 years. This study aims to investigate the long term hydroclimatic variability in this water-restricted region of the Middle East by evaluating how climate change is manifested in the isotopic variability of a speleothem over the past millennium. Age control for the NIR-2 speleothem is based upon 8 U-Th dates from the last 2000 years. The age dates indicate continuous growth through the Common Era, with an average growth rate of 0.2 mm/year. At the cave location, the isotopic composition of precipitation is found to be primarily influenced by the temperature and the seasonality of precipitation. Therefore, the δ18Oc of the speleothem is not interpreted solely in terms of rainfall amount, but rather as a proxy for the seasonality of …

Date

January 1, 1970

Authors

Justin M Reuter, LD Stott, D Khider

Journal

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts

Volume

2012

Pages

PP21B-1992