Chemical, isotopic, and mineralogical proxy data for aeolian input into the Lake Baikal system during the last 150 ka

The proposed study sheds light on the source areas of detrital components in Lake Baikal and provides new data for an evaluation of the detrital input mechanisms in response to changing North Atlantic Oscillations and monsoonal activities. We will focus on sudden cold events (Heinrich-events/stadials) and warm events (interstadials) during the last 150 ka. We interpret the following sediment data for reconstructing the aeolian input into the lake Baikal basin: (i) the Sm-Nd isotopes, (ii) the grain-size distribution of the size fraction greater than 2µm, and (iii) the distribution of trace elements in feldspar, pyroxene, apatite, garnet, and zircon. The results will contribute to a better understanding of the local and regional atmospheric circulation and provide new constraints for reconstructing the atmospheric records in Central Asia for critical time-intervals characterised by different climatic modes. The Baikal data, tracing changing atmospheric patterns and flow regimes, shall be compared with climatic records from Central Europe. This project is an innovative contribution to the ongoing EU project "CONTINENT".

DFG Programme Infrastructure Priority Programmes

Subproject of SPP 1006:  International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)