Speleothem microstratigraphy: some clues for paleoclimate series reconstruction at centennial to decadal scales

Abstract

Carbonate stalagmites have an enormous potential for high-resolution paleoclimate series reconstruction, as they can be accurately dated by radiometric methods and concurrently they can yield multi-proxy records of past climate conditions. Reliable series however requires a precise characterization of the speleothem internal micro-stratigraphy. For this task, a new methodological approach is herein presented, in which the micro-stratigraphy of stalagmites is studied under the perspective of the "architectural element analysis", a powerful method widely used by sedimentologists for categorizing internal stratigraphic heterogeneity in sedimentary deposits. Keywords:Paleoclimate reconstruction, Speleothem, Stalagmite, Stratigraphy