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NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Bunker Cave, Germany 11,000 Year Stalagmite Stable Isotope and Mg/Ca 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 Germany, Western Europe. The time period coverage is from 10723 to -57 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: Fohlmeister, J.; Schröder-Ritzrau, A.; Scholz, D.; Spötl, C.; Riechelmann, D.F.C.; Mudelsee, M.; Wackerbarth, A.; Gerdes, A.; Riechelmann, S.; Immenhauser, A.; Richter, D.K.; Mangini, A. (2016-10-04): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Bunker Cave, Germany 11,000 Year Stalagmite Stable Isotope and Mg/Ca Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/s829-3m55. Accessed [date].
  • Please refer to Credit tab for full citation information.
noaa-cave-20589
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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: 10723 cal yr BP to -57 cal yr BP;
Time Period -8773 to 2007
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 7.6647
East: 7.6647
South: 51.3675
North: 51.3675
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Bunker Cave stalagmites: an archive for central European Holocene climate variability
    • Associated Reference published 2012
      Fohlmeister, J., A. Schröder-Ritzrau, D. Scholz, C. Spötl, D.F.C. Riechelmann, M. Mudelsee, A. Wackerbarth, A. Gerdes, S. Riechelmann, A. Immenhauser, D.K. Richter, and A. Mangini, 2012: Bunker Cave stalagmites: an archive for central European Holocene climate variability. Climate of the Past, 8, 1751-1764, 10.5194/cp-8-1751-2012
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2016-10-04
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: Four stalagmites from Bunker cave - in total covering the last about 11 ka - were investigated. Each stalagmite was 230Th dated. Stable oxgen and carbon isotopes as well as Mg/Ca were measured at high resolution. Using a stacking program a stable oxygen isotope stack of the four stalagmites was generated.
ABSTRACT SUPPLIED BY ORIGINATOR: Holocene climate was characterised by variability on multi-centennial to multi-decadal time scales. In central Europe, these fluctuations were most pronounced during winter. Here we present a record of past winter climate variability for the last 10.8 ka based on four speleothems from Bunker Cave, western Germany. Due to its central European location, the cave site is particularly well suited to record changes in precipitation and temperature in response to changes in the North Atlantic realm. We present high-resolution records of d18O, d13C values and Mg/Ca ratios. Changes in the Mg/Ca ratio are attributed to past meteoric precipitation variability. The stable C isotope composition of the speleothems most likely reflects changes in vegetation and precipitation, and variations in the d18O signal are interpreted as variations in meteoric precipitation and temperature. We found cold and dry periods between 8 and 7 ka, 6.5 and 5.5 ka, 4 and 3 ka as well as between 0.7 and 0.2 ka. The proxy signals in the Bunker Cave stalagmites compare well with other isotope records and, thus, seem representative for central European Holocene climate variability. The prominent 8.2 ka event and the Little Ice Age cold events are both recorded in the Bunker Cave record. However, these events show a contrasting relationship between climate and d18O, which is explained by different causes underlying the two climate anomalies. Whereas the Little Ice Age is attributed to a pronounced negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation, the 8.2 ka event was triggered by cooler conditions in the North Atlantic due to a slowdown of the thermohaline circulation.
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: Fohlmeister, J.; Schröder-Ritzrau, A.; Scholz, D.; Spötl, C.; Riechelmann, D.F.C.; Mudelsee, M.; Wackerbarth, A.; Gerdes, A.; Riechelmann, S.; Immenhauser, A.; Richter, D.K.; Mangini, A. (2016-10-04): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Bunker Cave, Germany 11,000 Year Stalagmite Stable Isotope and Mg/Ca Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/s829-3m55. 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
  • Fohlmeister, J.
  • Schröder-Ritzrau, A.
  • Scholz, D.
  • Spötl, C.
  • Riechelmann, D.F.C.
  • Mudelsee, M.
  • Wackerbarth, A.
  • Gerdes, A.
  • Riechelmann, S.
  • Immenhauser, A.
  • Richter, D.K.
  • Mangini, A.
Originators
  • Fohlmeister, J.
  • Schröder-Ritzrau, A.
  • Scholz, D.
  • Spötl, C.
  • Riechelmann, D.F.C.
  • Mudelsee, M.
  • Wackerbarth, A.
  • Gerdes, A.
  • Riechelmann, S.
  • Immenhauser, A.
  • Richter, D.K.
  • Mangini, 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 > trace metals
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems > carbon isotopes
  • earth science > paleoclimate > speleothems > oxygen isotopes
Paleoenvironmental Standard Terms (PaST) Thesaurus
  • What: delta 18O; Material: calcium carbonate
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: depth; Material: null
  • What: delta 18O; Material: calcium carbonate
  • What: delta 13C; Material: calcium carbonate
  • What: magnesium/calcium; 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 > Europe > Western Europe > Germany > Bunker Cave > LATITUDE 51.3675 > LONGITUDE 7.6647
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Fohlmeister, J.; Schröder-Ritzrau, A.; Scholz, D.; Spötl, C.; Riechelmann, D.F.C.; Mudelsee, M.; Wackerbarth, A.; Gerdes, A.; Riechelmann, S.; Immenhauser, A.; Richter, D.K.; Mangini, A. (2016-10-04): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Bunker Cave, Germany 11,000 Year Stalagmite Stable Isotope and Mg/Ca Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/s829-3m55. 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.
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Last Modified: 2023-11-27
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