Paleoclimatic implications of the Tatra Mountains in Central Europe during MIS 9–6 based on multiproxy speleothem records

This study presents a synthesis of recent paleoenvironmental studies conducted in the Tatra Mountains and the Low Tatras. The results of petrographic studies, stalagmite oxygen and carbon isotope data, and trace element variability of previously published speleothem data, together with new material, were presented in the context of other European paleoclimatic records. These results provide novel insights into crucial issues concerning the potential role of the Tatra massif as an orographic barrier. Our study highlights the unique potential of high-elevation speleothems as a valuable archive for investigating the influence of high mountain ranges on atmospheric circulation and movement, which could contribute to climate change. Simultaneously, the differences identified in the speleothem proxy on the northern slopes of the Tatras and those located in the Low Tatra Mountains reflect the relatively high importance of the entire Carpathians and other orogenic belts, such as the Alps, in differentiating the climate and, consequently, speleothem records.