Calibration of Speleothem Luminescene Excitation-Emission Wavelength Variations and the Development of High Res Records of Holocene Climate Change for NW Europe

PROJECT DETAILS ONLY - NO DATA. Fibre-optic spectrophotometry permits the non-destructive analysis of speleothem luminescence wavelength with a temporal resolution of 1-10 years. This luminescence derives from the overlying soil organic waste matter: humification rate is climatically controlled in temperate latitudes. A pilot study demonstrates a correlation between the luminescence emission wavelength and mean annual rainfall over the last 70 years, and for the last 3000 years a remarkable 80-100 cyclicity in luminescence is observed, as well as longer term luminescence trends and the presence of short lived, severe events. This project aims to (1) provide a calibration of stalagmite luminescence over the last 100 years from sites contrasting climate, before (2) providing high resolution records of Holocene climate change from multiple samples.