Changes in solar activity and Holocene climatic shifts derived from C-14 wiggle-match dated peat deposits

D. Mauquoy; B. Van Geel; Maarten Blaauw; A. Speranza; J. Van Der Plicht

doi:10.1191/0959683604h1688rp

Changes in solar activity and Holocene climatic shifts derived from C-14 wiggle-match dated peat deposits

D. Mauquoy, B. Van Geel, Maarten Blaauw, A. Speranza, J. Van Der Plicht

Environmental Change and Resilience

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

87 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Closely spaced sequences of accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) C-14 dates of peat deposits display century-scale wiggles which can be fitted to the radiocarbon calibration curve. By wiggle-matching such sequences, high-precision calendar age chronologies can be generated which show that changes in mire surface wetness during the Bronze Age/Iron Age transition (c. 850 cal. BC) and the 'Little Ice Age' (Wolf, Sporer, Maunder and Dalton Minima) occurred during periods of suddenly increasing atmospheric concentration of C-14. Replicate evidence from peat-based proxy climate indicators in northwest Europe suggest these changes in climate may have been driven by temporary declines of solar activity. Carbon-accumulation rates of two raised peat bogs in the UK and Denmark record low values during the 'Little Ice Age' which reflects reduced primary productivity of the peat-forming vegetation during these periods of climatic deterioration.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	45-52
Number of pages	8
Journal	The Holocene
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683604h1688rp
Publication status	Published - 2004

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1191/0959683604h1688rp

Cite this

@article{a2d9f9174aa647d18fb597e0fab79bcf,

title = "Changes in solar activity and Holocene climatic shifts derived from C-14 wiggle-match dated peat deposits",

abstract = "Closely spaced sequences of accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) C-14 dates of peat deposits display century-scale wiggles which can be fitted to the radiocarbon calibration curve. By wiggle-matching such sequences, high-precision calendar age chronologies can be generated which show that changes in mire surface wetness during the Bronze Age/Iron Age transition (c. 850 cal. BC) and the 'Little Ice Age' (Wolf, Sporer, Maunder and Dalton Minima) occurred during periods of suddenly increasing atmospheric concentration of C-14. Replicate evidence from peat-based proxy climate indicators in northwest Europe suggest these changes in climate may have been driven by temporary declines of solar activity. Carbon-accumulation rates of two raised peat bogs in the UK and Denmark record low values during the 'Little Ice Age' which reflects reduced primary productivity of the peat-forming vegetation during these periods of climatic deterioration.",

author = "D. Mauquoy and {Van Geel}, B. and Maarten Blaauw and A. Speranza and {Van Der Plicht}, J.",

year = "2004",

doi = "10.1191/0959683604h1688rp",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

pages = "45--52",

journal = "The Holocene",

issn = "0959-6836",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Changes in solar activity and Holocene climatic shifts derived from C-14 wiggle-match dated peat deposits

AU - Mauquoy, D.

AU - Van Geel, B.

AU - Blaauw, Maarten

AU - Speranza, A.

AU - Van Der Plicht, J.

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - Closely spaced sequences of accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) C-14 dates of peat deposits display century-scale wiggles which can be fitted to the radiocarbon calibration curve. By wiggle-matching such sequences, high-precision calendar age chronologies can be generated which show that changes in mire surface wetness during the Bronze Age/Iron Age transition (c. 850 cal. BC) and the 'Little Ice Age' (Wolf, Sporer, Maunder and Dalton Minima) occurred during periods of suddenly increasing atmospheric concentration of C-14. Replicate evidence from peat-based proxy climate indicators in northwest Europe suggest these changes in climate may have been driven by temporary declines of solar activity. Carbon-accumulation rates of two raised peat bogs in the UK and Denmark record low values during the 'Little Ice Age' which reflects reduced primary productivity of the peat-forming vegetation during these periods of climatic deterioration.

AB - Closely spaced sequences of accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) C-14 dates of peat deposits display century-scale wiggles which can be fitted to the radiocarbon calibration curve. By wiggle-matching such sequences, high-precision calendar age chronologies can be generated which show that changes in mire surface wetness during the Bronze Age/Iron Age transition (c. 850 cal. BC) and the 'Little Ice Age' (Wolf, Sporer, Maunder and Dalton Minima) occurred during periods of suddenly increasing atmospheric concentration of C-14. Replicate evidence from peat-based proxy climate indicators in northwest Europe suggest these changes in climate may have been driven by temporary declines of solar activity. Carbon-accumulation rates of two raised peat bogs in the UK and Denmark record low values during the 'Little Ice Age' which reflects reduced primary productivity of the peat-forming vegetation during these periods of climatic deterioration.

U2 - 10.1191/0959683604h1688rp

DO - 10.1191/0959683604h1688rp

M3 - Article

SN - 0959-6836

VL - 14

SP - 45

EP - 52

JO - The Holocene

JF - The Holocene

ER -

Changes in solar activity and Holocene climatic shifts derived from C-14 wiggle-match dated peat deposits

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this