04/03/2024
: The Holocene epoch began 11,700 years ago, marking the end of the last Ice Age. While it is often seen as a period of warmth and stability, tropical regions have experienced significant environmental changes. Approximately 5,000 years ago, the Sahara Desert underwent a profound aridification, altering dramatically its ecosystems. Understanding past oceanographic conditions at these latitudes and during this time is crucial for understanding the Holocene environmental variability, especially considering the ocean's important role in regulating the climate.
In this research, Irene Rodriguez and her colleagues at the Centro Oceanografico de Vigo Instituto Español de Oceanografico (IEO) use various palaecoeanographic proxies to unravel the environmental history of the area. They look at the planktonic foraminifera, which provide valuable insight into surface water conditions such as temperature, salinity, type of food, etc. Additionally, the researchers analyse the chemical composition of the sediments, which offers clues about the sediments origin, including whether it was sourced from rivers, winds, marine or terrestrial environments, etc. Through these analyses, their findings reveal significant changes in the structure and stratification of water masses in the study area over the past 12,000 years. Moreover, these processes have occurred concurrently with changes in the continental environment. Understanding the connections between these processes is a key focus of their research.
Text and photos courtesy of Irene Perez Rodriguez, and Andrea Gori (corer photo)
