Kimbrough, Alena K.Alena K.KimbroughGagan, Michael K.Michael K.GaganDunbar, Gavin B.Gavin B.DunbarHantoro, Wahyoe S.Wahyoe S.HantoroCHUAN-CHOU SHENHu, Hsun MingHsun MingHuCheng, HaiHaiChengEdwards, R. LawrenceR. LawrenceEdwardsRifai, HamdiHamdiRifaiSuwargadi, Bambang W.Bambang W.Suwargadi2023-07-132023-07-132023-12-012662-4435https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/633593Speleothem δ18O is widely used as a proxy for rainfall amount in the tropics on glacial-interglacial to interannual scales. However, uncertainties in the interpretation of this renowned proxy pose a vexing problem in tropical paleoclimatology. Here, we present paired multi-proxy geochemical measurements for stalagmites from southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia, and confirm changes in rainfall amount across ice age terminations. Collectively, the stalagmites span two glacial-interglacial transitions from ~380,000 to 330,000 and 230,000 to 170,000 years ago. Mg/Ca in the slow-growing stalagmites is affected by water moving through the karst and prior calcite precipitation, making it a good proxy for changes in local rainfall. When paired, Mg/Ca and δ18O corroborate prominent shifts from drier glacials to wetter interglacials in the core of the Australasian monsoon domain. These shifts in rainfall occur 4,000-7,000 years later than glacial-interglacial increases in global temperature and the associated response of Sulawesi vegetation, determined by speleothem δ13C.[SDGs]SDG13[SDGs]SDG14journal article10.1038/s43247-023-00873-82-s2.0-85161797735https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85161797735