Speleothem Science (eBook)

Ian Fairchild was originally a geologist, then more specifically a sedimentologist, morphing into a physical geographer with leanings to environmental chemistry, before putting more geology back in the mix. Hence, he is now Professor of Geosystems at the University of Birmingham, UK, researching both on modern environments and interpreting those in deep time, with carbonates, waters and climates as linking themes. Andy Baker was trained as a physical geographer, and worked at the interface of geology, physical geography, and environmental engineering. He is currently a Professor at the University of New South Wales and a chief investigator in Australia's National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training.

Preface, xi

Acknowledgements, xiii

I Scientifi c and geological context, 1

1 Introduction to speleothems and systems, 3

1.1 What is all the fuss about?, 3

1.2 How is this book organized?, 11

1.3 Concepts and approaches of system science, 13

1.4 The speleothem factory within the karst system, 18

2 Carbonate and karst cave geology, 28

2.1 Carbonates in the Earth system over geological time, 28

2.2 Lithologies of carbonate host rocks, 34

2.3 Carbonate diagenesis and eogenetic karst, 47

2.4 Speleogenesis in mesogenetic and telogenetic karst (withcontributions from John Gunn and David J Lowe), 55

2.5 Cave infilling, 64

2.6 Conclusion, 71

3 Surface environments: climate, soil and vegetation,73

3.1 The modern climate system, 73

3.2 Water isotopes in the atmosphere, 84

3.3 Soils of karst regions, 94

3.4 Vegetation of karst regions, 102

3.5 Synthesis: inputs to the incubator, 104

II Transfer processes in karst, 105

4 The speleothem incubator, 107

4.1 Introduction to speleophysiology, 107

4.2 Physical parameters and fl uid behaviour, 109

4.3 Water movement, 114

4.4 Air circulation, 122

4.5 Heat flux (authored by David Domínguez-Villar), 137

4.6 Synthesis: cave climatologies, 145

5 Inorganic water chemistry, 148

5.1 Sampling protocols for water chemistry, 148

5.2 The carbonate system, 152

5.3 Weathering, trace elements and isotopes, 156

5.4 Carbon isotopes, 173

5.5 Evolution of cave water chemistry: modelling sources andenvironmental signals, 180

6 Biogeochemistry of karstic environments, 187

6.1 Introduction, 187

6.2 Organic macromolecules, 188

6.3 Pollen and spores, 198

6.4 Cave faunal remains, 199

6.5 Synthesis and research gaps, 200

III Speleothem properties, 205

7 The architecture of speleothems, 207

7.1 Introduction, 207

7.2 Theoretical models of stalagmite growth and of stalagmiteand stalactite shapes, 207

7.3 Geometrical classifi cation of speleothems, 213

7.4 Mineralogy and petrology, 223

7.5 Synthesis, 241

8 Geochemistry of speleothems, 245

8.1 Analysis and the sources of uncertainty, 245

8.2 The growth interface, 249

8.3 Trace element partitioning, 255

8.4 Oxygen and carbon isotope fractionation, 263

8.5 Evolution of dripwater and speleothem chemistry along waterflowlines, 277

8.6 Process models of variability over time, 281

9 Dating of speleothems, 290

9.1 Introduction, 290

9.2 Dating techniques, 291

9.3 Age-distance models, 300

9.4 Conclusions, 301

IV Palaeoenvironments, 303

10 The instrumental era: calibration and validation ofproxy-environment relationships, 305

10.1 Available instrumental and derived series, 306

10.2 Methodologies, 311

10.3 Case studies of calibrated speleothem proxies, 316

10.4 Questions raised and future directions, 323

11 The Holocene epoch: testing the climate and environmentalproxies, 324

11.1 A brief overview of the Holocene, 325

11.2 The past millennium, 327

11.3 Holocene environmental changes: speleothem responses,334

11.4 Questions raised and future directions, 351

12 The Pleistocene and beyond, 353

12.1 Pleistocene proxy records (ice-age climate fl uctuationsdefined and drawn), 353

12.2 Insights into pre-Quaternary palaeoenvironments, 361

12.3 Questions raised and looking to the future, 365

APPENDIX 1 Archiving speleothems and speleothem data,368

References, 371

Index, 421

"Speleothem Science sets high standards for any successor.
It is a must-have for researchers working on karst geology and
terrestrial Quaternary palaeoclimatology. For all those who always
wanted to know how dripstones "grow", why speleothems
rival ice cores as top climate archives, or just want to learn the
difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite: get your hands on
this book." (Zeitschrift für
Geomorphologie, 1 December 2013)

"The book is comprehensive; it brings together all the
relevant disciplines (geology, biology, hydrology,
chemistry...) and, whichever way you cut it, Fairchild and
Baker have succeeded in bringing an important subject to a wider
readership. Speleothem Science is highly
recommended." (Descent, 1 August 2013)

"The target readership of Speleothem Science is
threefold. First, researchers who are already working with
the stalagmite archive can widen and considerably deepen their
knowledge in sub-disciplines not already covered in their own
training. Second, climate researchers who are not yet working
on speleothem should be catapulted to the front-end once they will
have studied the book together with the relating bench mark
papers. Third, graduate students who are looking for a topic
for their PhD dissertation. They might have found their
textbook." (Computers & Geosciences, 27
January 2013)

"The volume will no doubt serve as a fine textbook and
reference volume. A companion website provides access to
slides of all figures and tables. Summing Up:
Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through
professionals." (Choice, 1 December
2012)
"I highly recommend the landmark and very thorough book href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405196203.html">Speleothem
Science: From Process to Past Environments by Ian J.
Fairchild, Ph.D., and Andy Baker, Ph.D., to any students and
professional scientists from a wide range of disciplines, who are
seeking a holistic and comprehensive examination of the many topics
and areas of research and study surrounding speleothems, climate,
caves, and Quaternary science." (Blog Business
World, 8 May 2012)