Stalagmite luminescence and peat humification records of palaeomoisture for the last 2500 years

Recent research has suggested that both raised and blanket bogs can provide proxy climate signals from variations in peat humification. In particular, oceanic margin sites have provided sensitive records that demonstrate cent ury scale variations in humification. However, previous research has not co mpared records of peat humification with other terrestrial palaeoclimate pr oxies. Here, two records of climate change from an oceanic marginal site in NW Scotland are analysed. One, from a blanket bog, is derived from peat hu mification and covers the period 2100-100 BP. A second, from two stalagmite s in a cave overlain by the bog, is derived from stalagmite luminescence wa velength variations for the samples deposited over 2500-0 BP. Both peat hum ification and stalagmite luminescence records demonstrate 90-100 year oscil lations in bog wetness, that are attributed to variations in rainfall inten sity or totals over this time period. It is argued that this is probably ge nerated by a southward shift of the path of northern hemisphere depression tracks, possibly linked to variations in solar output. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.