A multi-proxy record of climate variability during the Loch Lomond Stadial (GS-1) at Old Buckenham Mere, East England, UK

Abstract

Northwest Europe experienced high-amplitude climate change at the onset and end of the Younger Dryas (YD; ca 12 800–11 600 cal a BP), a crucial period to develop our understanding of natural climate dynamics. European palaeoclimatological records generally suggest a bipartite structure of the YD, potentially due to a northward retreat of the polar front around 12 100 cal a BP. However, several recent studies have shown more complex climate dynamics during the YD. Here we present new high-resolution palaeotemperature records for the YD (Loch Lomond Stadial; LLS) at Old Buckenham Mere. We show cooling of ca 3°C at the onset of the LLS followed by an early LLS phase with relatively cool summer temperatures (ca 11.5°C). The mid LLS experienced milder temperatures of ca 13°C and was potentially characterised by wetter conditions. Summer temperatures initially decreased to values of ca 10°C at the onset of the late LLS, before a gradual increase. Temperatures abruptly increase by ca 3°C at the onset of the Holocene. This study is the first to show the occurrence of a tripartite LLS climate evolution in East England and fills an existing knowledge gap in our understanding of YD climate dynamics.