Stable isotopes in Sphagnum fuscum peat as late-Holocene climate proxies in northeastern European Russia

Paeivi Kaislahti Tillman , Steffen Holzkamper, Thorbjørn Joest Andersen, Gustaf Hugelius, Peter Kuhry, Pirita Oksanen

7 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

The environment of the northern taiga to tundra transition is highly sensitive to climate fluctuations. In this study from northeastern European Russia, stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios (δ13C, δ18O) in α-cellulose of Sphagnum fuscum stems subsampled from hummocks and peat plateau profiles have been used as climate proxies. The entire isotope time series, dated by lead (210Pb), caesium (137Cs) and AMS-radiocarbon (14C) dating, spans the past 2500 years. Plant macrofossil analyses were used as an aid in single species selection, but are also helpful in identifying past surface moisture conditions. The most significant relationships were found between the recent δ13C record and summer (July-August) temperatures (R2 = 0.58, p < 0.01), and the recent δ18O record and winter (October-May) precipitation anomalies in the tundra region (R2 = 0.36, p < 0.01). The study demonstrates that stable isotopes preserved in northern peat deposits are useful indicators for summer temperature and winter precipitation at decadal to millennial timescales.

Original languageEnglish
JournalHolocene
Volume23
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)1381-1390
Number of pages10
ISSN0959-6836
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013

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