Local hydroclimate alters interpretation of speleothem δ18O records

Abstract

Oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O) are the most commonly utilized speleothem proxy and have provided many foundational records of paleoclimate. Thus, understanding processes affecting speleothem δ¹⁸O is crucial. Yet, prior calcite precipitation (PCP), a process driven by local hydrology, is a widely ignored control of speleothem δ¹⁸O. Here we investigate the effects of PCP on a stalagmite δ¹⁸O record from central Vietnam, spanning 45 – 4 ka. We employ a geochemical model that utilizes speleothem Mg/Ca and cave monitoring data to correct the δ¹⁸O record for PCP effects. The resulting record exhibits improved agreement with regional speleothem δ¹⁸O records and climate model simulations, suggesting that the corrected record more accurately reflects precipitation δ¹⁸O (δ¹⁸O_p). Without considering PCP, our interpretations of the δ¹⁸O record would have been misleading. To avoid misinterpretations of speleothem δ¹⁸O, our results emphasize the necessity of considering PCP as a significant driver of speleothem δ¹⁸O.

This study finds that in-cave processes affect speleothem oxygen isotope records. Correcting for these processes improves agreement with other regional records and climate models, providing a more accurate reflection of past hydroclimate change.