Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic region

<p>Spring onset is an important phenological observation that is sensitive to modern climate change and can be traced back in geological time. The Late Glacial (<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 14 500–11 700 cal yr BP) spring onset and growing season (growing degree...

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Main Authors: L. Amon, F. Wagner-Cremer, J. Vassiljev, S. Veski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022-09-01
Series:Climate of the Past
Online Access:https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/18/2143/2022/cp-18-2143-2022.pdf
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author L. Amon
F. Wagner-Cremer
J. Vassiljev
S. Veski
author_facet L. Amon
F. Wagner-Cremer
J. Vassiljev
S. Veski
author_sort L. Amon
collection DOAJ
description <p>Spring onset is an important phenological observation that is sensitive to modern climate change and can be traced back in geological time. The Late Glacial (<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 14 500–11 700 cal yr BP) spring onset and growing season (growing degree days) dynamics in the eastern Baltic region were reconstructed using the micro-phenological approach based on the dwarf birch (<i>Betula nana</i>) subfossil leaf cuticles. The presented study sites, Lake Lielais Svetinu (eastern Latvia) and Lake Kosilase (central Estonia), are located <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 200 km apart in the region affected by the south-eastern sector of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. During the Late Glacial period the region and its biota were influenced by the retreating glacier and the different stages of the Baltic Ice Lake. The plant macrofossil data confirm that the study sites were in different vegetation zones (arctic-to-boreal) during the Late Glacial period. The dynamics of the estimated length of the growing season and spring onset, combined with the regional collection of plant macrofossil records, suggest the importance of local settings to species migration. During the Late Glacial warming period (Bølling–Allerød), a notable spring warming and longer growing season was calculated based on micro-phenology, but the treeline did not extend beyond central Estonia. The comparison of pollen- and chironomid-inferred past temperature estimations with spring onset, growing degree days, and plant macrofossil data shows coherent patterns during the cooler Older Dryas and warmer Bølling–Allerød periods, while suggesting more complicated climate dynamics and possible warmer episodes during the Younger Dryas cold reversal.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-af0d66ae2e8e4939a8acbc54536175f02022-12-22T04:30:36ZengCopernicus PublicationsClimate of the Past1814-93241814-93322022-09-01182143215310.5194/cp-18-2143-2022Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic regionL. Amon0F. Wagner-Cremer1J. Vassiljev2S. Veski3Department of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, 19086, EstoniaDepartment of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, the NetherlandsDepartment of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, 19086, EstoniaDepartment of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, 19086, Estonia<p>Spring onset is an important phenological observation that is sensitive to modern climate change and can be traced back in geological time. The Late Glacial (<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 14 500–11 700 cal yr BP) spring onset and growing season (growing degree days) dynamics in the eastern Baltic region were reconstructed using the micro-phenological approach based on the dwarf birch (<i>Betula nana</i>) subfossil leaf cuticles. The presented study sites, Lake Lielais Svetinu (eastern Latvia) and Lake Kosilase (central Estonia), are located <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 200 km apart in the region affected by the south-eastern sector of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. During the Late Glacial period the region and its biota were influenced by the retreating glacier and the different stages of the Baltic Ice Lake. The plant macrofossil data confirm that the study sites were in different vegetation zones (arctic-to-boreal) during the Late Glacial period. The dynamics of the estimated length of the growing season and spring onset, combined with the regional collection of plant macrofossil records, suggest the importance of local settings to species migration. During the Late Glacial warming period (Bølling–Allerød), a notable spring warming and longer growing season was calculated based on micro-phenology, but the treeline did not extend beyond central Estonia. The comparison of pollen- and chironomid-inferred past temperature estimations with spring onset, growing degree days, and plant macrofossil data shows coherent patterns during the cooler Older Dryas and warmer Bølling–Allerød periods, while suggesting more complicated climate dynamics and possible warmer episodes during the Younger Dryas cold reversal.</p>https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/18/2143/2022/cp-18-2143-2022.pdf
spellingShingle L. Amon
F. Wagner-Cremer
J. Vassiljev
S. Veski
Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic region
Climate of the Past
title Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic region
title_full Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic region
title_fullStr Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic region
title_full_unstemmed Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic region
title_short Spring onset and seasonality patterns during the Late Glacial period in the eastern Baltic region
title_sort spring onset and seasonality patterns during the late glacial period in the eastern baltic region
url https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/18/2143/2022/cp-18-2143-2022.pdf
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AT jvassiljev springonsetandseasonalitypatternsduringthelateglacialperiodintheeasternbalticregion
AT sveski springonsetandseasonalitypatternsduringthelateglacialperiodintheeasternbalticregion