The δ18O and δ13C records in an aragonite stalagmite from Furong Cave, Chongqing, China: A-2000-year record of monsoonal climate

A 7-cm long aragonite stalagmite, FR0510-1, from Furong Cave, Chongqing, was dated by 210Pb and 230Th methods, revealing a-2000-year record of climate history under the influence of the East Asian Monsoon. The FR0510-1 record resembles Dongge Cave DA record on 10-100-year scales, but quite different from the Wanxiang Cave WX42B record, indicating that while stalagmite δ18O record represents local/regional moisture change, spatial variability of the monsoonal rainfall over eastern China must take into account. During the past 2000years, climate in Chongqing was relatively wet in the intervals of 50 BC-AD 250, AD 1150-1450 and AD 1600-1950, and relatively dry during the periods of AD 250-1150 and AD 1450-1600. Dry conditions were prevailing over the Medieval Warm Period, whereas wet climates were dominant during the most time of the Little Ice Age in Chongqing area. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.