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Ströbel, P.* ; Henning, T.* ; Bliedtner, M.* ; Mosher, S.G.* ; Rahimova, H. ; Haberzettl, T.* ; Kirsten, K.L.* ; Lehndorff, E.* ; Power, M.J.* ; Zech, M.* ; Zech, R.*

Holocene fire dynamics and their climatic controls on the southern Cape coast of South Africa - A 7.2 ka multi-proxy record from the peatland Vankervelsvlei.

Quat. Sci. Rev. 325:108464 (2024)
Verlagsversion Forschungsdaten Forschungsdaten DOI
Open Access Gold (Paid Option)
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
Fire is a natural phenomenon along South Africa's southern Cape coast, but identifying its climatic drivers has been a subject of considerable debate. This study investigates the hydroclimatic and fire dynamics from a 9.6 m sediment core from Vankervelsvlei covering the past 7.2 ka. The fen is located near the southern Cape coast within the year-round rainfall zone of South Africa. A reconstruction of hydroclimatic variability through time applies oxygen isotopes from hemicellulose-derived sugars and hydrogen isotopes from leaf wax-derived n-alkanes. Coupling both isotopes enables a reconstruction of the atmospheric source and seasonality of precipitation as well as estimating local relative humidity. Past trends in fire activity are inferred from macro-charcoal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analyses, the latter serving as fire biomarkers. Results indicate high fire activity at Vankervelsvlei accompanied by generally moist conditions and a year-round rainfall regime linked to both Westerly-derived winter precipitation and Easterly- and locally-derived summer precipitation from 7.2+0.2/−0.2 to 4.5+0.3/−0.3 cal ka BP. From 4.5+0.3/−0.3 to 1.5+0.4/−0.2 cal ka BP, a shift to a Westerly-derived winter rainfall regime is identified. This variation features alongside reduced fire activity and persistent drought conditions as Easterly- and locally-derived summer precipitation decreased. From 1.5+0.4/−0.2 cal ka BP until present day, macro-charcoal and PAH accumulation rates show high fire activity. Paleoclimate evidence from the last two millennia suggests a variable climate with an overall increase in total moisture availability as contributions from both Westerly-derived winter precipitation and Easterly- and locally-derived summer precipitation support the year-round rainfall regime present today. Results from Vankervelsvlei support previous evidence from regional paleo-reconstructions, refining our understanding of the interplay between hydroclimatic variability and fire activity along South Africa's southern Cape coast. Our study discusses the role of large-scale climate modes, specifically the intensity of El Niño, as a potential driver of short-term hydroclimatic variability, which in turn drives fuel availability and fire activity at Vankervelsvlei during the Holocene.
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Publikationstyp Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Korrespondenzautor
Schlagwörter Charcoal ; Paleoclimate ; Paleofire ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; Precipitation ; Relative Humidity ; Stable Isotopes; Polycyclic Aromatic-hydrocarbons; Fine-particle Emissions; Molecular Tracers; Isotopic Composition; Organic Aerosols; Leaf Water; Sea-level; Chemical Characterization; Paleoenvironmental Change; Fireplace Combustion
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0277-3791
e-ISSN 0277-3791
Zeitschrift Quaternary Science Reviews
Quellenangaben Band: 325, Heft: , Seiten: , Artikelnummer: 108464 Supplement: ,
Verlag Elsevier
Verlagsort The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford Ox5 1gb, England
Nichtpatentliteratur Publikationen
Begutachtungsstatus Peer reviewed
Institut(e) Research Unit Environmental Simulation (EUS)
Förderungen German Research Foundation (DFG)