A review of hydroclimate variability in Türkiye during the Late Glacial and Holocene and its global linkages
Journal
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Journal Volume
696
Start Page
113886
ISSN
0031-0182
Date Issued
2026-08
Author(s)
Kolbüken, Mesut
Abstract
Here, we synthesize stable isotope records from lakes and caves across Türkiye and evaluate their links to climate variability in the North Atlantic and subtropical regions since the Late Glacial. These isotope records reflect teleconnections to shifts in North Atlantic oceanic and atmospheric circulation, and several clearly capture the transition from the Bølling–Allerød to the Younger Dryas. The isotope records generally indicate wetter conditions during the early Holocene, yet provide limited evidence for a distinct Holocene Climatic Optimum comparable to that recognized in other archives of the eastern Mediterranean, suggesting a stronger influence of North Atlantic circulation patterns on hydroclimate variability in Türkiye. From the mid-Holocene onward, the records show progressive drying, consistent with eastern Mediterranean aridification and likely linked to a more positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation and a northward migration of the westerlies. Only a few records preserve sufficient temporal resolution to identify rapid Holocene climate events, and their expression varies among sites. Despite chronological limitations, uneven spatial coverage, and local discrepancies among individual records, the isotope archives from Türkiye provide important insights into regional hydroclimate variability and its connection to Mediterranean–North Atlantic climate dynamics.
Subjects
Eastern Mediterranean
Holocene
Late Glacial
Paleoclimate
Stable Isotope
Türkiye
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article