Spatio-temporal characteristics of the 8.2 and 4.2 ka BP climate events in the East Asian summer monsoon region recorded by stalagmite δ18O data

Fan B, Yang B, Wang F, Ljungqvist FC, Bräuning A (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Science China-Earth Sciences Springer Verlag (Germany)

DOI: 10.1007/s11430-025-1621-5

Abstract

The 8.2 and 4.2 ka BP abrupt climate events had significant impacts on Earth’s climate system. However, the spatio-temporal pattern of these events remains ambiguous in the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) region. In this study, we collected thirteen previously published stalagmite δ18O sequences from the EASM region to assess spatial and temporal patterns of the 8.2 and 4.2 ka BP events during the ∼8.7–7.7 ka BP and ∼4.7–3.7 ka BP periods, respectively. Our results reveal that high-resolution stalagmite δ18O sequences from nearby locations exhibit strong consistency during the Holocene, thus capturing regional patterns of climate variability. Sensitivity experiments indicate that the temporal resolution and geographical location significantly affect the ability of the stalagmite δ18O sequences to record the 8.2 and 4.2 ka BP events. High-resolution stalagmite δ18O records from both northern and southern China show a distinct positive δ18O excursion corresponding with the 8.2 ka BP event, beginning at 8.23 ka BP and ending at 8.08 ka BP, thus lasting ∼150 yr, with an explained variance reaching ∼55% on centennial timescales. In contrast, there are significant north-south differences in the δ18O signal during the period ∼4.26–3.97 ka BP, with a shift from negative to positive δ18O values in northern China and a contrasting pattern in southern China. The application of the Monte Carlo empirical orthogonal function (MCEOF) method effectively reproduces the pronounced positive δ18O excursion during the period ∼8.7–7.7 ka BP and exhibits fluctuations based on the long-term increase in δ18O during the period ∼4.7–3.7 ka BP. The positive δ18O excursion during the 4.2 ka BP event is primarily contributed by stalagmites from southern China, in particular the Dongge and Heshang Caves. Our study highlights the importance of using multiple high-resolution climate records to assess abrupt events both in space and time.

Authors with CRIS profile

Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)

Involved external institutions

Stockholm University / Stockholms universitet SE Sweden (SE) Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) / 中国科学院西北生态环境资源研究院 CN China (CN) Nanjing University CN China (CN) Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) de l'Université du Québec CA Canada (CA)

How to cite

APA:

Fan, B., Yang, B., Wang, F., Ljungqvist, F.C., & Bräuning, A. (2025). Spatio-temporal characteristics of the 8.2 and 4.2 ka BP climate events in the East Asian summer monsoon region recorded by stalagmite δ18O data. Science China-Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-025-1621-5

MLA:

Fan, Beixi, et al. "Spatio-temporal characteristics of the 8.2 and 4.2 ka BP climate events in the East Asian summer monsoon region recorded by stalagmite δ18O data." Science China-Earth Sciences (2025).

BibTeX: Download