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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Ashalim Cave, Israel Plio-Pleistocene Speleothem Stable Isotope Data

browse graphicPaleoclimatology - Speleothem
This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Cave. The data include parameters of speleothems with a geographic location of Israel, Middle East. The time period coverage is from 3100000 to 115500 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.
  • Cite as: Vaks, A.; Woodhead, J.; Bar-Matthews, M.; Ayalon, A.; Cliff, R.A.; Zilberman, T.; Matthews, A.; Frumkin, A. (2014-03-28): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Ashalim Cave, Israel Plio-Pleistocene Speleothem Stable Isotope Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/ya3v-sx92. Accessed [date].
  • Please refer to Credit tab for full citation information.
noaa-cave-16403
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Data Center Contact
NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology
828-271-4800
paleo@noaa.gov
Coverage Description Date Range: 3100000 cal yr BP to 115500 cal yr BP;
Time Period -3098050 to -113550
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 34.7396
East: 34.7396
South: 30.9434
North: 30.9434
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Pliocene–Pleistocene climate of the northern margin of Saharan-Arabian Desert recorded in speleothems from the Negev Desert, Israel
    • Associated Reference published 2013
      A. Vaks, J. Woodhead, M. Bar-Matthews, A. Ayalon, R.A. Cliff, T. Zilberman, A. Matthews, A. Frumkin, 2013: Pliocene–Pleistocene climate of the northern margin of Saharan-Arabian Desert recorded in speleothems from the Negev Desert, Israel. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 368, 88-100, 10.1016/j.epsl.2013.02.027
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2014-03-28
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency Data update frequency not available
Supplemental Information
STUDY NOTES: Stable isotope (d18O and d13C) data from speleothems collected in Ashalim Cave, Negev Desert, Israel.
ABSTRACT SUPPLIED BY ORIGINATOR: The Middle-Late Pliocene climate was 2-3°C warmer than today, but with similar levels of atmospheric CO2. This period reflects climate conditions expected in the near future, and is therefore an important target for current data-modeling studies. This study reconstructs the Pliocene-Quaternary evolution of arid conditions on the northern margin of the Saharan-Arabian desert, using radiometrically (U-Pb) dated periods of speleothem deposition from three caves of the Negev Desert, Israel. Speleothem growth started between ~3.75 and ~3 Ma, at the end of the first significant tectonic uplift of the western shoulder of the Dead Sea Rift. Major speleothem deposition, indicating wet conditions, occurred during the Pliocene around ~3.1 Ma, with subsequent aridity during the last 3 Myr, punctuated by short wet episodes - the Pleistocene Negev Humid Periods (NHP). The oldest dated NHP occurred between ~1.7 and ~1.25 Ma, and other short humid episodes continued intermittently later. Speleothem d18O values (-6.9 per mil to -11.2 per mil) show that the humid episodes were associated with periods of low global ice volume and warm temperatures. After correction for rainfall d18O changes associated with ice volume and temperature effects, the observed relative constancy of speleothem d18O values from Pliocene to Late Pleistocene indicates rainfall was from a common source, most probably the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The humid Pliocene conditions could be generated by more southerly position of the Mediterranean coast (allowing the access of Mediterranean precipitation to the Negev), as well as by warmer Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures, that weakened the Azores High Pressure Cell. Maximum amounts of precipitation were 500-600 mm/a during the Pliocene and >300 mm/a during Pleistocene NHP. The Pliocene and the earliest Pleistocene NHP are associated with formation of lakes in the Negev. Low 87Sr/86Sr ratios of ~0.7078 in the Pliocene speleothems are indicative of low dust supply, low water residence time in the vadose zone and relatively high weathering rates of the cave host rock. Increase of 87Sr/86Sr ratios to 0.7082-0.7083 in the Pleistocene suggest an increased supply of desert dust, high water residence time in the vadose zone and reduced host rock weathering.
Purpose Records of past temperature, precipitation, and other aspects of climate derived from mineral deposits found in caves. Parameter keywords describe what was measured in this dataset. Additional summary information can be found in the abstracts of papers listed in the dataset citations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Vaks, A.; Woodhead, J.; Bar-Matthews, M.; Ayalon, A.; Cliff, R.A.; Zilberman, T.; Matthews, A.; Frumkin, A. (2014-03-28): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Ashalim Cave, Israel Plio-Pleistocene Speleothem Stable Isotope Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/ya3v-sx92. Accessed [date].
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Cited Authors
  • Vaks, A.
  • Woodhead, J.
  • Bar-Matthews, M.
  • Ayalon, A.
  • Cliff, R.A.
  • Zilberman, T.
  • Matthews, A.
  • Frumkin, A.
Originators
  • Vaks, A.
  • Woodhead, J.
  • Bar-Matthews, M.
  • Ayalon, A.
  • Cliff, R.A.
  • Zilberman, T.
  • Matthews, A.
  • Frumkin, A.
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Land Records > Cave Deposits
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Speleothems
  • Earth Science > Paleoclimate > Land Records > Cave Deposits
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems > carbon isotopes
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems > oxygen isotopes
  • hydrology
Paleoenvironmental Standard Terms (PaST) Thesaurus
  • What: sample identification; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: delta 18O; Material: calcium carbonate
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: age at sample end; Material: null
  • What: age at sample start; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: delta 13C; Material: calcium carbonate
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords
  • Continent > Asia > Western Asia > Middle East > Israel > Ashalim Cave > LATITUDE 30.9434 > LONGITUDE 34.7396
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Vaks, A.; Woodhead, J.; Bar-Matthews, M.; Ayalon, A.; Cliff, R.A.; Zilberman, T.; Matthews, A.; Frumkin, A. (2014-03-28): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Ashalim Cave, Israel Plio-Pleistocene Speleothem Stable Isotope Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/ya3v-sx92. Accessed [date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • None
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Last Modified: 2024-03-19
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