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Holocene hydroclimate synthesis of the Aegean

Diverging patterns, dry periods and implications for climate-society interactions

Bibliographic Data

ID12267303
AuthorsMatthew J Jacobson (0000-0002-0583-777X, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, corresponding author), Joana Seguin (0000-0002-4364-512X, Leibniz University Hannover), Martin Finné (0000-0001-7433-268X, Uppsala University)
Year2024
Volume34
Issue12
Pages1807-1823
Publication date2024-09-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Holocene (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0959-6836 • E-ISSN: 1477-0911
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/09596836241275028
OpenAlexW4402408819
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited93

The Aegean region has a wealth of archeological data originating from a long and rich human history and is frequently used as a testbed for climate-society interactions at different time scales. Here, we summarize and synthesize 31 proxy records derived from lake and wetland sediments, marine sediments, and speleothems reflecting hydroclimatic conditions over the last 10,000 years in the Aegean. To enable comparison and numerical analyses, we convert each record into z-scores and average values into centurial and decadal bins. The long-term hydroclimatic trajectory is best described by individual trends in three sub-regions that periodically converge and diverge. The results from our analyses highlight the complex long- and short-term spatio-temporal patterns of the hydroclimate with periods of wetter and drier conditions. Statistical analyses of the last 3500 years, the most data-rich period, corroborate the complex climate picture. Three periods that appear dry in the regional averages, at 7250–6650 BP, 3350–2750 BP, and 1200–700 BP, highlight spatio-temporal variability and underpin the importance of local data when comparing hydroclimate data with archeological information. Considering the complexities and uncertainties in hydroclimate records, we advocate for careful consideration when utilizing these in studies of climate-society interactions, including transparency regarding their uncertainties and the relevance of each record to a respective archeological site. We have produced a freely available, simplified dataset that can be used by those interested in studying the region, as well as maps displaying climatic conditions during each century

Climate change · Climatology · Geography · Holocene · Paleoclimatology · Physical geography · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Marine and environmental studies · Geology · Oceanography

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Unique citing works5
Citations per year5
Citation span2025 - 2025 (1)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5
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