Rapid climate shifts in the southern African interior throughout the mid to late Holocene

Abstract

A detailed climate proxy record based on δ18O, δ13C, and grey index of a well-dated stalagmite from Cold Air Cave in the Makapansgat Valley of north-eastern South Africa suggests that regional precipitation, temperatures and vegetation oscillated markedly and rapidly over the last Ο6500 years on centennial and multi-decadal scales. The mid-Holocene prior to 5200 years ago was humid and warm. A fundamental transition occurred 3200 years ago, leading to drier and cooler conditions that culminated at 1750 AD. Comparisons with ice core records suggest synchronous changes implicating rapid global teleconnections.