The 2002-2003 El Niño recorded in Australian cave drip waters: Implications for reconstructing rainfall histories using stalagmites
Abstract
A 30-month study of drip hydrochemistry from Kooringa Cave, eastern Australia, revealed a clear geochemical response to the 2002-2003 El Niño. Through the drought, drip discharge fell to base flow, drip Ca2+ concentrations fell by half and drip Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca increased in a co-varying pattern. Calcite Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca predicted from drip waters displayed a marked increase through, and just beyond, the period of greatest moisture deficit. The results suggest that stalagmites from shallow caves in drought-sensitive eastern Australia potentially preserve a valuable record of El Niño-La Niña history.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1029/2004GL020859
- Bibcode:
- 2004GeoRL..3122202M
- Keywords:
-
- Global Change: Climate dynamics (3309);
- Hydrology: Chemistry of fresh water;
- Hydrology: Drought;
- Hydrology: Groundwater hydrology;
- Hydrology: Hydroclimatology