Calibration of the U37K′ index of long-chain alkenones with the in-situ water temperature in Lake Qinghai in the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Long-chain alkenones (LCAs) can potentially be used as indicators to understand past variations in lacustrine environments. Previous research has suggested that the relationship between the temperature and the unsaturation index of LCAs should be calibrated individually, because of the possible variations in the alkenone-producing algal species in the lacustrine environment. In this work, we have calibrated U37K′ of water filter samples against the in-situ water temperature in Lake Qinghai, Tibetan Plateau. There are significant relationships between U37K′ and the water temperature, a non-linear relationship was derived. Because the U37K′ values did not respond sensitively at lower temperatures, we suggested that a quadratic regression (U37K′=0. 0011×T2-0. 0201×T+0. 1959, n=15, r2=0. 74) was appropriate than linear regression to represent the relationship between the in-situ temperatures and U37K′. Meanwhile, the U37K correlation relationship was not more significant than U37K′ index in our study. Because of the C37:4 effects by salinity change, we suggest U37K is not as robust as the U37K′ index as a temperature proxy, at least for the salt lake in the Tibetan Plateau. The calibration of the U37K′ index in this work has provided a new understanding of historic climatic changes in the Tibetan Plateau. © 2012 The Author(s).