Proposed changes in seasonality of climate during the Lateglacial and Holocene at Lake Zeribar, Iran

• Published in: Holocene (Sevenoaks) Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 747 - 755
• Main Authors: Stevens, L. R., Wright, H. E., Ito, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.09.2001; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Iran, Zeribar L; Lateglacial; Iran; pollen; climate; Near East; Oxygen isotopes; carbon isotopes; Holocene
• ISSN: 0959-6836; 1477-0911
• DOI: 10.1191/09596830195762

Calcareous sediments spanning the last 13 ka from Lake Zeribar, western Iran, were sampled for stable-isotope analysis as a means of augmenting earlier climatic interpretations based on pollen and macrofossils. The Lateglacial period was cold and dry, supporting semi-desert vegetation and highly concentrated lake water. Low evaporation rates due to the cold resulted in long residence times and high lake stands. Durinig the early Holocene, the upland vegetation changed to a pistachio-oak savanna as low temperatures and aridity ameliorated. Lake level dropped in response to increased evapotranspiration. The low oxygen-isotope values of lacustrine calcite during this period are interpreted as a relative increase in the contributioni of winiter moisture rather than overall changes in effective moisture. A gradual increase in oak pollen at ∼7 ka BP signalled the increase in effective moisture to levels similar to those of today. At the same time the δ18O values increased. reflecting a greater percentage of 18O-enriched spring rains. Modern values and seasonal distribution of precipitation were established by 6 ka BP. A short-lived return to winter-only precipitation occuiTed at ∼4.5 ka BP and resulted in a temporary increase in aridity. The covariance among δ13C, carbonate deposition and δ18O values suggests that lake productivity is linked to these seasonal climatic changes.