New progress in the study of annual lamination of stalagmites

NATURAL materials, which possess annual lamination and record annually climatic or environmental changes, can be termed 'natural clocks'. They include tree rings, coral layers, varves, ice layers, and laminated speleothems which were reported only in the last few years. The growth layer rhythm in stalagmites is related to high-frequency and short-term climatic oscillations. The luminescent density of annual layers of stalagmites is the signal of environmental changes. The organic matter contained in drip

The record of paleoclimatic change from stalagmites and the determination of termination II in the south of Guizhou Province, China

A high-resolution climate record from 163.00 kaBP to 113.80 kaBP has been obtained through TIMS-U series dating and carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of the three large stalagmites from two caves in the south of Guizhou Province, China. The record of the oxygen isotopes from the stalagmites reveals that the undulation characteristics between the cooling event of the glacial period and the warming event of the interglacial period in the research area can compare well to those of ice cores, lake sediments, loess and deep sea sediments on the scale of ten-thousand years or millennium time scale. The climate undulation provided by the record of the stalagmites has a coherence with the global changes and a tele-connection to the paleoclimate changes in the north polar region. Our results suggest that the direct dynamics of paleo-monsoon circulation changes reflected in the record of the stalagmites might be caused by changes of the global ice volume, and in turn related to various factors, including the solar radiation strength at the mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, the southern extension of the ice-rafted event in the North Atlantic, and changes of the equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature at the low-latitudes. Using δ18O values, we have calculated the temperatures and the results show that the temperature difference between the penultimate glacial period (with an average temperature of 8.1℃, and a minimum temperature range from 0.65℃ to -1.43℃ at stage 6 ) and the last interglacial period (with an average temperature of 18.24℃ at sub-stage 5e ) was about 10℃. This temperature difference from the record of the stalagmites corresponds in general to the record temperature variation (about 10℃) of measured ice cores. The climate records from the three stalagmites in the two caves have shown that the circulation strength of the Asian summer monsoon and the winter monsoon in the penultimate glacial period and the last interglacial period had a clear change. With the TIMS-U series method, termination II of the penultimate glacial period has been precisely dated at an age of (129.28±1.10) kaBP for the three stalagmites in the south of Guizhou Province, China. This borderline age represents the beginning of the last interglacial period or the boundary between the Middle Pleistocene and the Late Pleistocene, and corresponds to the beginning age of the last interglacial period shown by the ice cores and in the SPECMAP curve of the marine oxygen isotopes. The chronology determination of termination II is not only of stratigraphic and chronological significance, but also lays an important foundation for discussing the short time scales of climate oscillation and rapidly changing events of paleoclimate in the circulation region of the East Asian monsoon.

Optimization of acid digestion conditions on the extraction of fatty acids from stalagmites

Lipids in stalagmites have been shown the potential for the paleoclimate reconstruction. However, the low lipid content leads to the difficulty in gaining high resolution lipid record in stalagmites because large mass of samples are required. Previous studies have validated that the acid digestion can improve the yield of lipids, especially fatty acids （FAs） and 3-hydroxy fatty acids （3- OH-FAs）. In order to obtain more content of FAs and 3- OH-FAs with limited stalagmite sample weight, we investigate here how the acid digestion conditions （HC1 concentration, heating temperature and time duration） could affect the yields of FAs and 3-OH-FAs. Under different concentration of HC1, from 2.0 to 6.0 mol/L, the FAs keep the same step in content variation with 3-OH- FAs, and the highest yields of both two appeared under the 3 mol/L HCl. The content of 3-OH-FAs increases posi- tively with the heating temperature from 80℃ to 150℃, while FAs showed the highest content at 130℃. Both of FAs and 3-OH-FAs firstly increased to a high content and then decreased as the heating time duration varies from 1.0 to 4.0 h, with the highest yields of both two being at 3.0 h. Consequently, we suggest the optimized acid digestion condition is under 3 mol/L HC1, heating at 130℃ for 3 h and 5 g of each stalagmite sample are sufficient for the lipid analysis.

激光-多接收等离子体质谱测定石笋的Mg/Ca比

A method for determining Mg/Ca of stalagmite by LA-MC-ICPMS is studied. 24Mg/44Ca (Mass 22, intensity of 44Ca2+ , collected by ion counting and mass 24, intensity of 24Mg+, collected by Faraday cup) ratios were measured in replace of Mg/Ca ratios. Both diameter of laser sampling spot and laser moving increment were 20 μm. The curve of Mg/Ca vs. distance directly was obtained. The result indicates that relative Mg/Ca ratios changed from 0.5 to 2.0 in this stalagmite and it is enough to reflect environmental factors act.

The Younger Dryas Event and Holocene Climate Fluctuations Recorded in a Stalagmite from the Panlong Cave of Guilin

Comprehensive studies on a stalagmite from the Panlong cave, Guilin, have shown that the isotopic records and sedimentary characteristics can reflect the changes of both palaeotemperatures and palaeorainfall, that is to say, it is possible to get some information about the changes in climate of the area from the speleothem. The results suggest that: (1) the Younger Dryas event might have persisted in the area from 11 300 to 10 800 a B.P.; (2) from 9000 to 7000 a B.P., the climate got warmer and wetter, and the summer monsoon was gradually enhanced; (3) from 7000 to 4500 a B.P., the climate was warm and wet, and the summer monsoon prevailed; and (4) from 4500 a B.P. on, the summer monsoon was weakened and the modern climate pattern appeared, but there were several cold and dry periods, namely, from 4000 to 2500 a B.P., ca. 2400 a B.P. and < 1000 a B.P.

Holocene precipitationδ^18O as an indicator of temperature history in arid central Asia:an overview of recent advances

Holoceneδ^18O records from various archives(ice cores,cave stalagmites,and peat sediments)from the Xinjiang region of northwestern China,in arid central Asia(ACA),are all derived ultimately from local precipitationδ^18O(δ^18Op).Nevertheless,they have been proposed as indicators of different climatic parameters,such as wetness and temperature changes.This article summarizes previously reported records of moisture sources for the Xinjiang region and the results of modern observations conducted at an ice core site and a peat site in the Altai Mountains.The findings are used to propose that the overall positive trends in Holoceneδ^18O records from the various archives from the Xinjiang region primarily reflect the Holocene's long-term warming trend.It is concluded that more site-specific modern observations are needed to further elucidate the environmental significance of Holoceneδ^18O records from this region,especially for the separation of different seasonal temperature signals present withinδ^18O records.

CLIMATIC RECORDS FROM ANNUAL LAYERS AND STABLE ISOTOPES OF A STALAGMITE IN BEIJING OVER THE LAST 2300 YEARS

In this paper the authors report a preliminary study on a Holocene stalagmite from Shihua Cave in Southwest Beijing.The result shows that the thickness of annual growth layers which is defined by annual deposit hiatuses preserve changes with precipitation. In light with the thickness of annual layers the authors reconstruct the climatic variation history of the last 2300 years in Beijing area.The climatic patterns seems to reappear irregularly on millennium to decade scales in the last 1000 years. The stable isotopic sequence interprets that the climate and environment in Beijing could be separated into two stages in the late Holocene: the monsoon was strong and the environment was wet in the former stage and in the latter stage the monsoon was weak and the environment was dry. The annual layers and oxygen isotope could be taken as natural signals and carbon isotope as a comprehensive signal containing the natural information and the information of anthropogenic activity.

Dating of Speleothems Section in Shihua Cave,Beijing

Beijing Shihua Cave is located at the northeastern part of the granite fringed Paleozoic to Mesozoic synclinal belt in Fangshan,which is face to face with the Peking Man(Homo erectus pekinensis) Relic Site.The stratigraphy sequence is composed of Majiagou Formation limestone formed before 460 Ma in Middle Ordovician.The large forms of cave began to

An annually laminated stalagmite from the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau provides evidence of climate instability during the early MIS5e in the Asian summer monsoon

The Marine Isotope Stage(MIS5e)is characterized by a warmer climate than that of the pre-industrial period,and serves as an analog for the Current Warm Period(CWP).However,uncertainties persist regarding its climatic stability.Here,we retrieved a stalagmite(WXB075)from Wanxiang Cave in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,and employed abs-olute^(230)Th dating and relative annual layer data to establish a high-precision chronological framework for reconstructing the history of the Asian summer monsoon(ASM)and environmental evolution during early MIS5e with multiple proxies.The findings indicate that the annually laminated stalagmite was formed during Cooling Event 27(C27).The deposition of WXB075 experienced a hiatus(~125.58 ka BP)due to a significant cooling event in the North Atlantic,which may be linked to the unstable climate in the Northern Hemisphere.Additionally,the impact of meltwater discharge in high northern latitudes results in a two-phase evolution of the ASM,i.e.,an initial weaker stage followed by a gradual increase(with exception of deposition hiatus).The climatic instability of ASM is generally characterized by a quasi-60 year cycle that affects vegetation conditions,biological productivity,and karst hydroclimate dynamics.However,the increase in meltwater and decrease in temperature in the Northern Hemisphere have led to a weakened ASM and subsequent reduction in precipitation.Consequently,vegetation degradation above the cave has occurred along with a slowdown of karst hydroclimate.The vegetation conditions,organic matter content,and wet/drought of the karst hydroclimate were affected by both the large-scale monsoon circulation and local environment during extreme weakening(strengthening)of the monsoon when high-frequency climatic events of ASM occurred.A comparison ofδ^(18)O records between early MIS5e and the past 2000 years reveals that the climate during early MIS5e differed significantly from that of CWP,Medieval Warm Period(MWP),and Dark Age Cold Period(DACP)but was similar to Little Ice Age(LIA).Comparison with other geological records from the Northern Hemisphere indicates that climate instability was a widespread phenomenon during MIS5e.The power spectrum analysis of WXB075δ^(18)O reveals significant quasi-60 and 35 a cycles during the early MIS5e,which is consistent with the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation(AMO).The comprehensive results demonstrate that the ASM in the early MIS5e was closely linked to solar activity,Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)position,and Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation(AMOC).

Ice-volume and insolation influences on hydroclimate changes in central eastern China during the antepenultimate glacial period

The rainfall changes in East Asian summer monsoon(EASM)regions on the orbital timescale remain controversial due to the lack of reliable rainfall records.Here,we present new multiproxy records(δ^(18)O,δ^(13)C,Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca)of a230Thdated stalagmite from Hulu Cave in central eastern China.Multiproxy records reconstruct a regional hydroclimate history from 340 to 261 kyr BP(thousand years before present),approximately covering the antepenultimate glacial period.Theδ^(18)O record is dominated by the precessional cycles,suggesting that EASM responds to changes in Northern Hemisphere summer insolation(NHSI)on the orbital timescale.Significant correlations amongst theδ^(13)C,Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca suggest that a common factor,i.e.,the local hydrological cycle,controlled their variability,and their leading principal component can be used as a proxy linked to regional rainfall.This composite record bears a good similarity to those from the Chinese Loess Plateau,showing a gradually decreasing rainfall during the antepenultimate glacial period,consistent with changes in global ice volume.Superimposed on the long-term trend,three relative wetter intervals were responding to the higher NHSI periods,suggesting that EASM rainfall variability was induced by integrated effects of global ice volume and NHSI.The increased ice sheets and lower NHSI resulted in an increased meridional temperature gradient and southward shift of the westerlies,which shortened the duration of Meiyu and midsummer rainfall.The differences between the rainfall record and the stalagmiteδ^(18)O record indicate that the latter represents the overall EASM intensity linked to monsoon circulation,but does not directly reflect the rainfall changes at the cave sites.

Centennial-scale monsoon collapses during Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)7e detected in a northern Chinese stalagmite record

Occurrence or absence of centennial-scale climatic variability during Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)7e,the first peak interval of the Penultimate Interglacial,remains ambiguous due to the limited available high-resolved records.Here,we present a decadal-resolved stalagmiteδ^(18)O record from northern China spanning from 242.3 to 236.8 ka BP,covering MIS7e.The composite KLSδ^(18)O record,integrating this study with the previous record in the same cave,shows a descending trend from TerminationⅢto MIS7e,which follows the increasing Northern Hemisphere summer insolation(NHSI).This observation further emphasizes the important influence of NHSI on the glacial/interglacial transition.There are more large-amplitude,millennial-to centennial-scale variability occurring during TerminationⅢcompared with MIS7e,implying that ice-sheet decay potentially plays an important role in climatic excursions.Four centennial-scale summer monsoon collapses,peaking at~242.1,~240.8,~239.3 and~238.2 ka BP,are detected in our new record,indicating the pervasiveness of the intra-interglacial climatic instability.Given the lack of solar activity and freshwater outbursts data during MIS7e,it is not possible to conclude about the drivers of the identified abrupt climatic anomalous.Following the dynamic mechanisms of sub-millennial climatic anomalous during early Holocene,we tentatively propose that slowdown of the meridional overturning circulation caused by freshwater fluxes into North Atlantic and/or attenuated solar irradiance is the potential forcing for the abrupt climate events within MIS7e.Additionally,attenuated solar irradiance could also result in climatic anomalies through low-latitude processes.

Chinese stalagmite paleoclimate researches: A review and perspective

Stalagmite is one kind of secondary carbonates formed in limestone caves(speleothem). After cave water droplets containing Ca2+and HCO3 drip onto floor, carbonate in the water might become supersaturated due to CO2 degassing under certain conditions, resulting in the formation of stalagmite in a process year after year. Stalagmite is one of important geological archives for paleoclimate research. The advantages include wide spatial distribution, suitable for U-Th and U-Pb dating, enriched in climate proxies, continuity, long time span, comparability and lower sampling cost etc. These factors have propelled stalagmite paleoclimate research to the forefront of global paleoclimatology with an irreplaceable role. The stalagmite paleoclimate study started in the western countries, mainly in Europe and America in 1960 s–1970 s, while the relevant research in China was progressively developed in the 1980 s–1990 s after the Reform and Opening up. Although there was a huge gap between the overall research level in China and western countries, a solid research foundation, as well as a number of talent teams were established during the period. In the 21 st century, starting from the publication of stalagmite records from Hulu Cave in Nanjing in 2001, the stalagmite paleoclimate research in China has ushered in a flourishing development and a real leap on the basis of international cooperation, resulting in significant international impacts. The landmark achievements, including establishment of the world’s longest(640000 years) East Asian monsoon stalagmite record, as well as the longest Indian monsoon(280000 years),South American monsoon(250000 years), North American westerly climate(330000 years), Central Asian westerly climate(135000 years), and northwestern China westerly climate(500000 years), have laid a milestone in the paleoclimate study in these climate domains. Importantly, these stalagmite records have revealed the relationship of Asian monsoon variations with solar insolation climate change in polar regions, and the South American monsoon changes on orbital-suborbital timescales, which have provided new geological observations for the development of orbital-suborbital climate theory;elaborated coupling and differentiation relationships between the Asian monsoon and the westerly climate;reconstructed the history of Asian monsoon changes in the Holocene in detail, and thus the hydrological and climate variances behind Chinese and Indian civilizationcultural evolutions. Furthermore, a large number of high-resolution stalagmite records over the past 2000 years have been reconstructed, which are important for understanding short-term climate variability and magnitude, events, cycles, and thus the future climate projection. The achievements have also involved the improvements of a number of important techniques, such as U-Th dating method, the establishments of various hydroclimatic proxies, as well as the contributions to the reconstruction of the atmosphere14C variation history over the past ~54000 years. On the perspective of the future, the Chinese stalagmite community should continue to develop key techniques, further clarify the hydroclimatic significance of stalagmite proxies, impel the integration of related disciplines, and concentrate on key scientific issues in global climate change and major social demands.

Precise dating of abrupt shifts in the Asian Monsoon during the last deglaciation based on stalagmite data from Yamen Cave, Guizhou Province, China

Based on 33 U/Th dates and 1020 oxygen isotopic data from stalagmite Y1 from Yamen Cave, Guizhou Province, China, a record of the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) was established. The record covers the last deglaciation and the early Holocene (from 16.2 to 7.3 ka BP) with an average oxygen isotope resolution of 9 years. The main millennial-scale deglacial events first identified in Greenland (Greenland Interstadial Events: GIS 1e through GIS 1a) and later in China are clearly present in the Y1 record. By analogy to earlier work, we refer to these as Chinese Interstadials (CIS): CIS A.1e to CIS A.1a. The onset of these events in Y1 δ18O records are nominally dated at: 14750±50, 14100±60, 13870±80, 13370±80, and 12990±80 a BP. The end of CIS A.1a or the beginning of the Younger Dryas (YD) event is nominally at 12850±50 a BP and the end of the YD dates to 11500±40 a BP. The δ18O values shift by close to 3‰ during the transition into the Bφlling-Allerφd (BA, the onset of CIS A.1e) and at the end of the YD. Comparisons of Y1 to previously published early Holocene records show no significant phase differences. Thus, the East Asia Monsoon and the Indian Monsoon do not appear to have been out of phase during this interval. The Y1 record confirms earlier work that suggested that solar insolation and North Atlantic climate both affect the Asian Monsoon.

The Y.D.and climate abrupt events in the early and middle Holocene:Stalagmite oxygen isotope record from Maolan,Guizhou,China

The isotope records which range from 3.9 kaBP to 15.7 kaBP with an average resolution of 90 a have been obtained from 45 cm to 193.6 cm of the upper part of D4 stalagmite from Dongguo Cave in Libo, Guizhou, by using system TIMS U-series dating and carbon and oxygen stable isotope analyses.The study indicates that the last cold event, the YD (Younger Dryas) event, of the last glacial period was apparently shown in D4 record, which started from 12.80 kaBP and ended in 11.58 kaBP, with a great range of drop in temperature. The end of the last glacial period was consistent with the termination I in oceanic isotope records and was with time limit of 11.3 kaBP. The three most distinct cold events in the early and middle Holocene occurred respectively in 10.91 kaBP, 8.27 kaBP and 4.75 kaBP, with a range of drop in tem- perature reaching 2—5℃. The climate abrupt events in thousand and hundred years scale re- corded in stalagmite δ O can be compared to those in GISP2 ice cores from Greenland in their 18 happening time and the range of their lasting time. The cold events in 8.27 kaBP and 4.75 kaBP can also be compared to CC3 stalagmite records in Ireland, which indicate that climate changes of short range in China monsoon areas, western Europe and polar regions, have the same driv- ing factor. This has a global significance. In addition, the trend of record curves in some time- stages is apparently different, which reflects probably the difference between environment in monsoon climate areas and in polar regions.

Bioptical microcycles of laminated speleothems from China and their chronological significance

Interfaces of microlayers, in most stalagmites from China, consist of opaque and organic materials. Observed with microscope, the interfaces seem dark under transmitted light and luminiferous under reflected fluorescent light. Stalagmites in which the two optical characters are unified spatially would be most suitable for cross-dating use, and can play an important role in the study on speleochronology and speleoclimatology.

The δ^(18)O variation of a stalagmite from Qixing Cave,Guizhou Province and indi-cated climate change during the Holocene

A stalagmite from Qixing Cave, Guizhou Province was dated with the TIMS U-series method and its oxygen isotope composition was analyzed. On the basis of the ages and the variations of the δ18O of the stalagmite, the climate change of the last 7.7 ka has been reconstructed in this area: 7.7-5.8 ka, summer monsoon maximum period; 5.8-3.8 ka summer monsoon weakening period; 3.8-0.15 ka, weakened summer monsoon and high amplitude climate fluctuations period. We put forward that the increasing trend of δ18O of the stalagmite reflected not only the weakening of the summer monsoon, which was caused by the decreasing of solar radiation in the Northern Hemisphere, but also the possibly decreasing contribution of the southwest monsoon to the rainfall of this area. These results are consistent with the output of the numerical climate-model modeling. The high amplitude fluctuation of the δ18O may imply the quick shift of the contributions of different moisture sources to the precipitation in this area.

An exceptionally strengthened East Asian summer monsoon event between 19.9 and 17.1 ka BP recorded in a Hulu stalagmite

A stalagmite-based isotope record (No. H82) from Nanjing Hulu Cave, spanning from 16.5 to 10.3 ka BP, provided strong evidence for a coherence relation between the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and the North Atlantic climates on millennial time scales. Here we extend the high-resolution δ 18O time series back to 22.1 ka BP with additional 7 230Th dates and 573 stable isotope measurements on the lower part of that sample. The new record with a decadal resolution, piecing together with the previous data, provides a detailed, complete Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)/deglacial history of the EASM. Two centennial-scale weak monsoon events are detected within the analogue H1 event, and can be corre- lated to corresponding Greenland temperature shifts. This suggests a rapid re-organization of atmos- pheric and oceanic circulations during the ice-rafted debris (IRD) event in North Atlantic. A strength- ened EASM event spanning from 19.9 to 17.1 ka BP, firstly reported here, reaches on average a half of the monsoon intensity of B?lling warming with its peak close to the full level. Taking all available evi- dence from continental and oceanic sediments into consideration, we suggest that a forcing mecha- nism behind the event would be a positive feedback of the tropical Pacific Super-ENSO cycles in re- sponse to precessional changes in solar irradiation.

High-resolution climate variability of southwest China during 57―70 ka reflected in a stalagmite δ^(18)O record from Xinya Cave

A 26-cm-long stalagmite (XY2) from Xinya Cave in northeastern Chongqing of China has been ICP-MS 230Th/U dated, showing a depositional hiatus at 2.3 cm depth from the top. The growth of the 2.3―26 cm interval determined by four dates was between 57 ka and 70 ka, with a linear growth rate of 0.023 mm/a. We have analyzed 190 samples for δ 18O and δ 13C, mostly in the 2.3―26 cm part. The δ 18O and δ 13C values between 57 ka and 70 ka reveal decadal-to-centennial climatic variability during the glacial in-terval of Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS4), exhibiting much higher resolution than that of the published Hulu and Dongge records during this interval. Speleothem δ 18O in eastern China, including our study area can be used as a proxy of summer monsoon strength, with lighter values pointing to stronger summer monsoon and higher precipitation, and vice versa. Two decreases in the δ 18O signature of XY2 record around 59.5 and 64.5 Ka are argued to correspond to the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) events 17 and 18 respectively. The Heinrich event 6 (H6) can be identified in the record as a heavy δ 18O peak around 60 ka, indicating significant weakening of the monsoon in Chongqing during the cold period. The XY2 δ 18O record shows very rapid change toward to the interstadial condition of the D-O event, but more gradual change toward to the cold stadial condition. This phenomenon found in the Greenland ice core records is rarely observed so clearly in previously published speleothem records. According to SPECMAP δ 18O record, the glacial maximum of MIS 4 was around 64.5 ka with the boundary of MIS 3/4 around 60 ka. Unlike the marine record, the speleothem record of XY2, China, exhibits much high fre-quency variations without an apparent glacial maximum during MIS 4. However, the timing of MIS 3/4 boundary seems to be around 60 ka when the H6 terminated, in agreement with the marine chronology. The growth period of sample XY2 during glacial times probably reflects a local karstic routing of water, rather than having climatic significance.

Applications of interannual-resolution stable isotope records of speleothem: climatic changes in Beijing and Tianjin, China during the past 500 years──the δ^(18)O record

O of a stalagmite collected from Shihua Cave, 50 km southwest of Beijing is analyzed. The uppermost 2 cm was sampled at about 3-year intervals by a computer-controlled microsampling device. A total of 133 samples were analyzed, covering the last 480 years. A comparison of the δ 18O record with the instrumentally recorded precipitation in Beijing and Tianjin back to 1840 AD shows that high precipitation correlates with negative δ 18O peaks. The long-term δ 18O trend records temperature changes. Between 1620 and 1900 AD, the temperature was cooler than the average value for the 480-year record, corresponding to the Little Ice Age. Temperatures warmer than the average prevailed during 1520-1620 and 1900-present. Superimposed on the long-term trend are about 14 δ 18O cycles of 30-40-year periodicity, with wet periods centered around 1985, 1955, 1910, 1880, 1840, 1800, 1760, 1730, 1690, 1660, 1630, 1600, 1560 and 1530 AD.

Characteristics of annual laminae gray level variations in a stalagmite from Shihua Cave, Beijing and its climatic significance (II)

The annual laminae gray level variations in the stalagmite TS9501 of Shihua Cave, Beijing are studied in detail. The environmental factors influencing the laminae gray level are also analyzed. The following conditions may be necessary to the study on the lamina gray level. A) The seasonal differences of climate in the studied area are strong. B) The cave has a rapid and simple hydrological connection with the surface, such that the gray level variation is great; therefore, climatic changes can be more clearly recorded in a stalagmite. C) No water from other sources due to lateral flow adds to the seepage over the cave. D) There are more organic impurities than inorganic ones, whose content changes distinctly with time in the sample. By comparison with the modern instrumental climate records, it was found that the gray level of laminae is mainly related to the air temperature, especially the summer mean temperature. Therefore, the gray level can be used as a proxy of the air temperature. The variation