Late Holocene hydroclimate of the western Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)

Chemical composition, magnetic susceptibility and texture of sediments in a swamp from the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve provide information about late Holocene hydrological variations on the western margin of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Periods of lower than average amounts of K-bearing clastics during 2580-2050, 1100-825 and 700-160 cal a BP represent drought intervals. Magnetic minerals were better preserved during these arid intervals, as the swamp was not perennially anoxic. Hydroclimate was unstable during 2580-2050 cal a BP, as several storm-surge events occurred within an overall arid interval. The drought of 1100-825 cal a BP was contemporary with the Terminal Classic Period and the drought of 700-160 cal a BP was characterized by the lowest erosion as well as highest abundance of authigenic carbonate. Comparison with other climate proxy records from the region suggests that droughts had different geographic coverage. We attribute the different geographic coverage of droughts to variable strengths of polar continental air masses as well as dynamics of the Caribbean Low Level Jet and tropical cyclones that brought precipitation into different parts of the peninsula.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Priyadarsi, D. Roy, Torrescano Valle, Nuria Doctora autor/a 8666, Islebe, Gerald A. Doctor autor/a 2046, Gutiérrez Ayala, Luz Verónica autor/a 13140
Format: Texto biblioteca
Language:eng
Subjects:Paleoclimatología, Sedimentos, Composición química, Cuaternario, Artfrosur,
Online Access:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jqs.2988/abstract
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