engleski

Cave-based palaeoenvironmental research within the REQUENCRIM project

Apart from coastal, lacustrine and riverine environments, REQUENCRIM project includes caves, i.e. speleothem-based researches. Within the crystal lattice, spelean carbonate comprises series of stable and unstable isotopes routinely used for the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental conditions. As the isotope composition of the speleothem depends on the cave drip water content, which itself reflects soil and atmospheric settings, thorough sampling and monitoring of the three caves and their surrounding have been conducted. Each cave is located in different environmental and climate zone: Grgosova peć Cave (239 m a.s.l.) in NW Croatia with continental climate - Cfb, Lokvarka Cave (760 m a.s.l.) in W Croatia having boreal climate - Df, and coastal Modrič Cave (32 m a.s.l.) in S Croatia with submediterranean climate - Cfa. Two speleothems were collected from the deep interior of each cave. In order to record drip intensity, drip-loggers were mounted on the sites of collected stalagmites, coupled with water containers. Concurrently with drip water, rain/snow has been collected on monthly basis above each cave, and microclimate elements (air temperature and relative humidity) have been monitored during the 1-year period. Stable isotopes ratios (13C/12C and 18O/16O) of radiometric dated (U-Th, 14C) speleothems will be analysed in order to determine isotopic variations in the past, which reflects temperature fluctuations and vegetation changes above the caves, both governed by the air mass distribution and climate changes. Contemporary air masses’ dominance in studied regions and their isotopic signature in meteoric and cave water will be determined by the water samples analyses. Our results overlapped with accomplishments of the other REQUENCRIM teams will provide further insight into regional Quaternary environmental variations, which will surely contribute to the existing knowledge in broader European context.

caves; speleothems; stable isotopes; palaeoenvironment; REQUENCRIM project

nije evidentirano