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Biomass effects on stalagmite growth and isotope ratios: A 20th century analogue from Wiltshire, England

Baldini, J.U.L.; McDermott, F; Baker, A.; Baldini, L.M.; Mattey, D.P.; Railsback, L.B.

Authors

J.U.L. Baldini

F McDermott

A. Baker

L.M. Baldini

D.P. Mattey

L.B. Railsback



Contributors

Abstract

Increases in calcite deposition rates combined with decreases in δ13C and δ18O in three modern stalagmites from Brown's Folly Mine, Wiltshire, England, are correlative with a well-documented re-vegetation above the mine. Increased soil PCO2 resulted in greater amounts of dissolved CaCO3 in the drip waters, which consequently increased annual calcite deposition rates. The absence of deposition prior to 1916 (28 years after the mine was closed) indicates that vegetation had not yet sufficiently developed to allow higher PCO2 values to form in the soil. Lower δ13C values through time may reflect the increased input of isotopically light biogenic carbon to the total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). δ18O decreased synchronously with δ13C, reflecting the increased importance of isotopically light winter recharge due to greater biomass-induced summer evapotranspiration. This is the first empirical demonstration that vegetation density can control stalagmite growth rates, δ13C, and δ18O, contributing critical insights into the interpretation of these climate proxies in ancient stalagmites.

Citation

Baldini, J., McDermott, F., Baker, A., Baldini, L., Mattey, D., & Railsback, L. (2005). Biomass effects on stalagmite growth and isotope ratios: A 20th century analogue from Wiltshire, England. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 240(2), 486-494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2005.09.022

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2005-12
Deposit Date Feb 14, 2007
Journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Print ISSN 0012-821X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 240
Issue 2
Pages 486-494
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2005.09.022
Keywords stalagmite; carbon isotopes; oxygen isotopes; fractionation;vegetation; growth rate; CALCITE DEPOSITS; HOLOCENE CLIMATE; UNITED-STATES; SPELEOTHEM; CAVE;RESOLUTION; PALEOCLIMATE; RECORD; RECONSTRUCTION; PRECIPITATION