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.

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