A late Holocene climate record from a stalagmite, Cold Air Cave, Northern Province, South Africa

Stable isotope analyses of a uranium-series-dated stalagmite from South Afr ica provide a record of climate changes for the periods 4400-4000 years and similar to 800 years ago to recent, interrupted by a prolonged growth hiat us. Generally enriched stable oxygen isotope values, interpreted here to in dicate more humid conditions, occurred around 800 years ago. Subsequently a marked depletion in oxygen and carbon isotope values occurred about 600 ye ars ago, reflecting, we believe, shifts toward drier, cooler conditions as the regional indication of the Little Ice Age. This period with depleted, y et oscillating isotope values, is replaced by a period with enriched isotop es until recent times. The record is notable for sharp shifts in isotopic v alues, on the scale of decades, which reflect rapid oscillations in local c limate conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.