engleski

Stable isotope records from Modrič Cave (Croatia)

In order to reconstruct palaeoenvironmental settings on the eastern Adriatic coast during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, stable isotope analyses of carbonate speleothems, rain and drip water in Modric Cave were conducted. The cave entrance is located only 120 m from the coast at the altitude of 32 m a.s.l. and due to its position on the SW slope of Dinaric mountain range, Mediterranean climatic influence is dominant. Two stalagmites (22.6 and 20.6 cm long) were collected from the channel with 20-25 m of overlaying bedrock and sparely bush vegetation and terra rossa soil on the surface. According to their overlapped ages, stable isotopes ratios and distinctive hiati, several significant palaeoenvironmental changes could be revealed. Shifts of δ 13C and δ 18O toward more positive values were followed by non-depositional phases. In northern Europe such situation would be interpreted as warming and possible flooding of the cave. On the other hand, in southern regions like in SE Spain, SE Italian Alps (Grotta Savi) and Israel (Soreq Cave), positive shifts indicate cooling and predominance of marine influence within isotope signals. We presume that the latter effect could be recorded in eastern Adriatic speleothems, but it is yet to be confirmed.

stable isotopes; carbonate speleothems; palaeoenvironmet; palaeoclimate; eastern Adriatic; Croatia

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