2003/05/01 by Vera Markgraf, J. Platt Bradbury, Antje Schwalb +7 · 9 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Climatology #Ecology #Geography #Geological formations and processes #Geology #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Holocene #Holocene climatic optimum #Isotope Analysis in Ecology #Latitude #Oceanography #Paleontology #Physical geography #Pollen #Quaternary
paper · doi:10.1191/0959683603hl648rp
openalex publication_date 2003/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Multiproxy palaeoenvironmental and palaeolimnological analyses of two Holocene-age sediment cores from the margin of Lago Cardiel, a 76 m deep, closed-basin lake in southern Patagonia (latitude 49°S), provide information on lake-level changes that can be related to regional palaeoclimate scenarios. Sedimentol ogic (magnetic susceptibility, organic and inorganic carbon content) and environmental indicators (pollen, dia toms, ostracodes and stable isotopes on ostracodes) show lake levels markedly higher than today during the early Holocene, following a rapid lake-level rise after a desiccation phase prior to 11000 BP. After about 6000 BP, lake levels were generally lower, but underwent repeated fluctuations. These inferred changes support the previously proposed view that the southern westerly stormtracks were focused (zonal) north of latitude 50°S during the early Holocene, allowing for Antarctic cold fronts to bring easterly moisture to southern Patagonia, whereas during the late Holocene the stormtracks shifted seasonally, with an overall more meridional behaviour, resulting in less and more variable moisture at these latitudes.