Speleothem (Cave Deposit)

Retrieved 3 May 2005 from http://www.niwa.co.nz/pubs/wa/12-2/speleo

Reconstructing past environmental changes using Speleothems - By: Darren King, Paul Williams, Jim Salinger

Growth rings in stalagmites can tell us about past climates.

Speleothems – more commonly known as stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones – are limestone deposits that form when calcite (CaCO3) is released from water droplets that have percolated through rock into a cave. Most speleothems are clear or white in colour, although, depending on the surface above the cave through which the rainwater must percolate, speleothems can be orange-red, rusty-brown, grey-black and even green.

Like trees, speleothems form growth rings, and these may be laid down over hundreds or even thousands of years. The rate at which these growth rings form depends upon the amount and rate of rainwater entering the cave, the amount of acidity and minerals in the rainwater, and the temperature and humidity conditions within the cave. In dry periods, growth rings may not appear at all, and if we have optimum conditions they may grow a lot. Importantly, these growth rings also retain various isotopes such as oxygen 18 (18O) and carbon 13 (13C) which vary with changes in temperature and rainfall.

NIWA climate scientists, in association with Professor Paul Williams (University of Auckland), are examining isotope records from New Zealand stalagmites. The information will be used to reconstruct and interpret past temperature and rainfall in different regions of New Zealand. We expect the temperature reconstructions to improve our understanding of recent warming trends in the Southern Hemisphere and to tell us if we lead or lag Northern Hemisphere climate change and variability.

Dates from individual speleothems in our study range between 10 and 160 years apart, but combining several speleothems can yield resolutions of approximately 5 years. While some continuous speleothem records extend back into the late Pleistocene (over 160 thousand years ago) most of the records span the Holocene (up to 25 thousand years ago).

A significant achievement from the Waitomo master chronology is the moderate-to-strong positive correlation of speleothem delta 18O with the historical temperature record. This indicates that as the temperature warms delta 18O becomes less negative, and vice versa. The master chronology also provides excellent evidence of low-frequency periodicity (500–1500-year cycles) in the variability of temperatures, with embedded high-frequency swings in mean annual temperatures. We are still completing master speleothem chronologies for the other regions sampled.

The next stage in this project is to develop a reliable way to translate the isotope chronologies into temperature and rainfall chronologies. This will allow us to superimpose annual-to-century-scale climate information from tree rings onto the millennial-scale baseline record provided from speleothems. The speleothem chronologies will be verified against annually resolved New Zealand tree-ring chronologies. Both will be validated against the instrumental record for the last 150 years. The records will be made available for the calibration and verification of hindcast computer models of climate variability and change.

Darren King and Jim Salinger are based at NIWA in Auckland. Paul Williams is from the University of Auckland’s School of Geography and Environmental Science.

Data:

Between the years of 1854 and 1987 scientists in Scotland, Italy, and China recorded measurements of local stalagmite growth (micrometers). Your task is to determine a if a relationship exists between stalagmite annual growth and mean global temperature.

Length of Stalagmite (µm)- three locations
Year / Scotland / Italy / China / Temp anomaly / Temp Kelvin / Temp Celsius
1987 / 26.63 / 111.1 / 47.5 / -0.117 / 291.366 / 17.216
1986 / 23.91 / 120.4 / 55.63 / -0.0637 / 291.4193 / 17.2693
1985 / 23.37 / 76.7 / 62.5 / -0.1567 / 291.3263 / 17.1763
1984 / 22.83 / 135.3 / 83.13 / 0.0972 / 291.5802 / 17.4302
1983 / 21.74 / 70.2 / 68.75 / -0.1522 / 291.3308 / 17.1808
1982 / 22.82 / 132 / 57.5 / -0.0265 / 291.4565 / 17.3065
1981 / 23.37 / 92.9 / 63.13 / -0.1087 / 291.3743 / 17.2243
1980 / 16.3 / 78.3 / 46.25 / -0.2479 / 291.2351 / 17.0851
1979 / 44.57 / 53.9 / 38.13 / -0.2598 / 291.2232 / 17.0732
1978 / 59.78 / 83.1 / 43.75 / -0.1034 / 291.3796 / 17.2296
1977 / 56.53 / 62 / 34.38 / -0.2148 / 291.2682 / 17.1182
1976 / 67.38 / 78.2 / 21.88 / -0.19 / 291.293 / 17.143
1975 / 71.74 / 99.4 / 64.38 / 0.0733 / 291.5563 / 17.4063
1974 / 60.87 / 96.3 / 43.75 / -0.063 / 291.42 / 17.27
1973 / 72.82 / 91.4 / 54.38 / 0.0099 / 291.4929 / 17.3429
1972 / 60.87 / 109.2 / 56.25 / 0.0288 / 291.5118 / 17.3618
1971 / 53.26 / 141.9 / 45 / 0.0449 / 291.5279 / 17.3779
1970 / 55.43 / 128.7 / 64.38 / 0.1017 / 291.5847 / 17.4347
1969 / 59.79 / 86.6 / 60 / -0.021 / 291.462 / 17.312
1968 / 80.43 / 78.1 / 86.25 / 0.14 / 291.623 / 17.473
1967 / 78.26 / 111 / 65 / 0.1298 / 291.6128 / 17.4628
1966 / 72.83 / 66.9 / 83.75 / 0.0728 / 291.5558 / 17.4058
1965 / 65.21 / 112.7 / 97.5 / 0.237 / 291.72 / 17.57
1964 / 61.96 / 114 / 100 / 0.2412 / 291.7242 / 17.5742
1963 / 54.35 / 84.8 / 96.25 / 0.1181 / 291.6011 / 17.4511
1962 / 54.34 / 91.4 / 90 / 0.1085 / 291.5915 / 17.4415
1961 / 68.5 / 93 / 68.75 / 0.0644 / 291.5474 / 17.3974
1960 / 70.6 / 78.1 / 66.88 / 0.0213 / 291.5043 / 17.3543
1959 / 63.05 / 53.9 / 76.25 / -0.029 / 291.454 / 17.304
1958 / 54.34 / 65.3 / 69.38 / -0.0564 / 291.4266 / 17.2766
1957 / 57.61 / 89.7 / 56.88 / -0.0335 / 291.4495 / 17.2995
1956 / 59.78 / 120.6 / 33.13 / -0.0463 / 291.4367 / 17.2867
1955 / 60.86 / 65.3 / 50.63 / -0.1189 / 291.3641 / 17.2141
1954 / 68.48 / 94.5 / 63.75 / 0.0462 / 291.5292 / 17.3792
1953 / 67.39 / 89.7 / 51.25 / -0.0266 / 291.4564 / 17.3064
1952 / 52.18 / 66.9 / 74.38 / -0.0367 / 291.4463 / 17.2963
1951 / 68.47 / 71.7 / 69.38 / 0.0077 / 291.4907 / 17.3407
1950 / 83.7 / 75 / 70.63 / 0.0723 / 291.5553 / 17.4053
1949 / 61.96 / 75 / 76.88 / 0.0291 / 291.5121 / 17.3621
1948 / 58.69 / 57.1 / 86.88 / 0.0131 / 291.4961 / 17.3461
1947 / 63.04 / 60.3 / 93.75 / 0.067 / 291.55 / 17.4
1946 / 66.3 / 79.8 / 91.25 / 0.1209 / 291.6039 / 17.4539
1945 / 57.18 / 88.2 / 62.5 / -0.014 / 291.469 / 17.319
1944 / 64.13 / 79.8 / 45 / -0.0928 / 291.3902 / 17.2402
1943 / 53.26 / 102.8 / 51.25 / -0.0363 / 291.4467 / 17.2967
1942 / 77.17 / 53.7 / 55 / -0.0783 / 291.4047 / 17.2547
1941 / 55.44 / 66.8 / 46.25 / -0.152 / 291.331 / 17.181
1940 / 79.34 / 50.5 / 61.25 / -0.0522 / 291.4308 / 17.2808
1939 / 58.7 / 62 / 60 / -0.0932 / 291.3898 / 17.2398
1938 / 58.69 / 93 / 55 / -0.0291 / 291.4539 / 17.3039
1937 / 66.3 / 61.9 / 77.5 / 0.0095 / 291.4925 / 17.3425
1936 / 55.43 / 101.1 / 65 / 0.0275 / 291.5105 / 17.3605
1935 / 64.13 / 63.6 / 58.75 / -0.0766 / 291.4064 / 17.2564
1934 / 51.09 / 101.1 / 62.5 / 0.0021 / 291.4851 / 17.3351
1933 / 43.48 / 127.1 / 53.75 / 0.0107 / 291.4937 / 17.3437
1932 / 30.43 / 154.1 / 72.5 / 0.1271 / 291.6101 / 17.4601
1931 / 35.87 / 123 / 73.75 / 0.0637 / 291.5467 / 17.3967
1930 / 36.96 / 152.6 / 66.25 / 0.1163 / 291.5993 / 17.4493
1929 / 36.95 / 59.4 / 60 / -0.1717 / 291.3113 / 17.1613
1928 / 30.44 / 93.2 / 38.75 / -0.1936 / 291.2894 / 17.1394
1927 / 27.17 / 59.4 / 61.25 / -0.1981 / 291.2849 / 17.1349
1926 / 26.09 / 83.3 / 57.5 / -0.1517 / 291.3313 / 17.1813
1925 / 20.65 / 70.7 / 67.5 / -0.16 / 291.323 / 17.173
1924 / 22.83 / 103.1 / 48.75 / -0.1462 / 291.3368 / 17.1868
1923 / 15.76 / 94.6 / 50 / -0.1875 / 291.2955 / 17.1455
1922 / 16.84 / 119.9 / 56.25 / -0.0854 / 291.3976 / 17.2476
1921 / 15.77 / 54 / 53.75 / -0.284 / 291.199 / 17.049
1920 / 16.84 / 49.5 / 72.5 / -0.2092 / 291.2738 / 17.1238
1919 / 17.39 / 56.4 / 60 / -0.244 / 291.239 / 17.089
1918 / 12.5 / 63.6 / 52.5 / -0.2735 / 291.2095 / 17.0595
1917 / 15.22 / 65 / 42.5 / -0.3053 / 291.1777 / 17.0277
1916 / 17.93 / 36.8 / 37.5 / -0.3975 / 291.0855 / 16.9355
1915 / 19.02 / 50.8 / 36.25 / -0.3604 / 291.1226 / 16.9726
1914 / 16.31 / 28.3 / 30 / -0.46 / 291.023 / 16.873
1913 / 15.21 / 45.1 / 42.5 / -0.3609 / 291.1221 / 16.9721
1912 / 19.02 / 108.8 / 47.5 / -0.1483 / 291.3347 / 17.1847
1911 / 21.2 / 124.3 / 33.75 / -0.1594 / 291.3236 / 17.1736
1910 / 20.66 / 98.9 / 36.25 / -0.2209 / 291.2621 / 17.1121
1909 / 20.65 / 52.3 / 46.25 / -0.3062 / 291.1768 / 17.0268
1908 / 24.45 / 100.4 / 37.5 / -0.1987 / 291.2843 / 17.1343
1907 / 20.11 / 79.2 / 42.5 / -0.2497 / 291.2333 / 17.0833
1906 / 19.02 / 62.1 / 38.75 / -0.3177 / 291.1653 / 17.0153
1905 / 16.85 / 83.3 / 57.5 / -0.1819 / 291.3011 / 17.1511
1904 / 17.4 / 65 / 45 / -0.287 / 291.196 / 17.046
1903 / 18.47 / 72.2 / 53.75 / -0.2243 / 291.2587 / 17.1087
1902 / 20.66 / 93.2 / 52.5 / -0.1642 / 291.3188 / 17.1688
1901 / 12.5 / 50.8 / 63.75 / -0.2589 / 291.2241 / 17.0741
1900 / 15.22 / 91.9 / 28.75 / -0.2917 / 291.1913 / 17.0413
1899 / 21.73 / 77.6 / 35 / -0.2824 / 291.2006 / 17.0506
1898 / 24.46 / 52.4 / 57.5 / -0.2432 / 291.2398 / 17.0898
1897 / 22.83 / 67.7 / 50 / -0.2394 / 291.2436 / 17.0936
1896 / 45.65 / 98.9 / 31.25 / -0.1614 / 291.3216 / 17.1716
1895 / 37 / 66.4 / 33.75 / -0.2692 / 291.2138 / 17.0638
1894 / 31.5 / 98.9 / 32.5 / -0.2021 / 291.2809 / 17.1309
1893 / 34.8 / 87.6 / 38.75 / -0.195 / 291.288 / 17.138
1892 / 35.9 / 104.5 / 36.25 / -0.1554 / 291.3276 / 17.1776
1891 / 56.5 / 63.6 / 41.25 / -0.1797 / 291.3033 / 17.1533
1890 / 44.5 / 84.8 / 58.75 / -0.0817 / 291.4013 / 17.2513
1889 / 41.4 / 70.6 / 43.75 / -0.1985 / 291.2845 / 17.1345
1888 / 51 / 96.1 / 67.5 / 0.0102 / 291.4932 / 17.3432
1887 / 38.1 / 56.6 / 47.5 / -0.2316 / 291.2514 / 17.1014
1886 / 35.9 / 51 / 66.25 / -0.1706 / 291.3124 / 17.1624
1885 / 27.1 / 53.7 / 33.75 / -0.3371 / 291.1459 / 16.9959
1884 / 29.4 / 48 / 60 / -0.2282 / 291.2548 / 17.1048
1883 / 33.7 / 67.9 / 62.5 / -0.1474 / 291.3356 / 17.1856
1882 / 39.1 / 73.5 / 65 / -0.103 / 291.38 / 17.23
1881 / 51.1 / 56.6 / 51.25 / -0.1723 / 291.3107 / 17.1607
1880 / 46.7 / 53.7 / 48.75 / -0.2059 / 291.2771 / 17.1271
1879 / 43.5 / 65.3 / 32.5 / -0.2566 / 291.2264 / 17.0764
1878 / 42.4 / 46.9 / 52.5 / -0.2222 / 291.2608 / 17.1108
1877 / 34.7 / 41.8 / 46.25 / -0.2896 / 291.1934 / 17.0434
1876 / 48.9 / 62.6 / 50 / -0.1683 / 291.3147 / 17.1647
1875 / 25 / 88.7 / 27.5 / -0.2742 / 291.2088 / 17.0588
1874 / 39.2 / 80.9 / 31.25 / -0.2328 / 291.2502 / 17.1002
1873 / 34.8 / 53 / 27.5 / -0.3418 / 291.1412 / 16.9912
1872 / 38 / 52 / 23.75 / -0.3508 / 291.1322 / 16.9822
1871 / 29.3 / 49 / 15 / -0.4268 / 291.0562 / 16.9062
1870 / 30.5 / 26 / 22.5 / -0.4535 / 291.0295 / 16.8795
1869 / 26.1 / 33 / 23.75 / -0.4428 / 291.0402 / 16.8902
1868 / 38 / 17 / 38.75 / -0.3815 / 291.1015 / 16.9515
1867 / 31.6 / 21 / 37.5 / -0.3968 / 291.0862 / 16.9362
1866 / 10.8 / 19 / 33.75 / -0.4872 / 290.9958 / 16.8458
1865 / 28.3 / 18 / 56.25 / -0.3322 / 291.1508 / 17.0008
1864 / 23.9 / 17 / 45 / -0.3997 / 291.0833 / 16.9333
1863 / 26.1 / 15 / 35 / -0.4427 / 291.0403 / 16.8903
1862 / 30.4 / 25 / 41.25 / -0.3728 / 291.1102 / 16.9602
1861 / 27.2 / 15 / 35 / -0.4391 / 291.0439 / 16.8939
1860 / 32.6 / 27.4 / 38.75 / -0.3701 / 291.1129 / 16.9629
1859 / 35.9 / 22.6 / 48.75 / -0.328 / 291.155 / 17.005
1858 / 38 / 28 / 48.75 / -0.3061 / 291.1769 / 17.0269
1857 / 32.7 / 22 / 53.75 / -0.3178 / 291.1652 / 17.0152
1856 / 35.8 / 23.5 / 50 / -0.3203 / 291.1627 / 17.0127
1855 / 42.4 / 26.5 / 48.75 / -0.2959 / 291.1871 / 17.0371
1854 / 46.8 / 25 / 50 / -0.2801 / 291.2029 / 17.0529

ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/speleothem/nhtemp-smith2006.txt

Questions:

1.  You will need to generate three graphs:

a.  Year vs. Length of all three locations

b.  Year vs. Temperature

c.  Temperature vs. growth of all three locations

***include a trend line and r2 for all graphs!!!

2.  Determine the relationship between length and temperature and include any other notable relationships between the variables.

3.  What conclusions can be made about the climate through stalagmite growth and temperature? (hint: think temperature and precipitation). Use 3 pieces of evidences from your research to support your ideas.

4.  How can present day data such as this be use by paleoclimatologists to reconstruct past climates?

5.  What are the limitations of this source of information?

Resources:

·  http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/speleothem.html