δ18O and δ13C in calcite of freshwater carbonate deposits as indicators of climatic and hydrological changes in the Late-Glacial and Holocene in Belarus

In order to reconstruct the isotopic composition of Quaternary underground waters as well as temperature and hydrological changes in the Late Glacial and Holocene, four pairs of delta(18)O and delta(13)C curves were derived from the authigenic calcite of freshwater carbonates in Belarus. delta(18)O data were compared to those from the GISP 2 Greenland ice core. Common trends were revealed in the correlated datasets: a positive spike (a warming) in the Allerod and much lower values in the Younger Dryas; their increase towards the Preboreal; very high delta(18)O at the end of the Preboreal; very low values at the end of the Boreal (similar to 8200-8400 BP); consistent increase towards the Atlantic; and peaks at similar to 8000 and 6900 BP. Episodes of rapid delta(13)C increase at the beginning of the Preboreal (near 10,000 BP) and in the middle of the Boreal, are regarded as the effects of the synchronous fall of the lake levels (climate aridification) in the region. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.