Articles | Volume 8, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-511-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-8-511-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Sep 2026
Research article |
| 11 Sep 2026
| 11 Sep 2026
Challenges of initial Thorium and Approaches to Robust Speleothem Age Models: A case study from the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico
Nils Schorndorf
Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Sophie F. Warken
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
René Eichstädter
Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
deceased
Aaron S. Mielke
Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Jerónimo Avilés Olguín
Museo del Desierto, Saltillo 25022, Coahuila, Mexico
Grupo Espeleológico Ajau, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Frank Keppler
Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Dominik Hennhöfer
Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Friedensplatz 1, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany
Fátima Tec Pool
Grupo Espeleológico Ajau, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Department of Comparative Religion, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
Carlos Evia
Grupo Espeleológico Ajau, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
María José Gómez
Grupo Espeleológico Ajau, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Wolfgang Stinnesbeck
Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Norbert Frank
Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Hannah F. Janecke, Sahra Greve, and Norbert Frank
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5095, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5095, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Ocean Science (OS).
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The Arctic Ocean, vital for global circulation, is affected by climate warming. This study analyzes Uranium Isotopes in water samples from six stations of the SAS-Oden 2021 expedition. Enriched 234U levels, tracing freshwater input, in surface water decrease with circulation and mixing. δ234U values in surface waters are lower than in a 2007 study, indicating stronger downward mixing due to climate change. Deeper waters match global and 2001 Arctic means, unaffected by surface changes.
Amelie T. Steinberg and Norbert Frank
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5117, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5117, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
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This manuscript presents a first global estimate of carbon burial through cold-water coral (CWC) ecosystems, addressing a critical gap in understanding marine carbon sequestration. The study compiles data from 32 published studies and uses Monte-Carlo simulations to estimate global carbon accumulation rates. The manuscript is well-structured and aligns with the scope of Biogeoscience, which focuses on biogeochemical processes in the Earth system.
Martina Schmidt, Ingeborg Bussmann, Sarah J. E. Reith, Annika Palzer, Cedric Couret, Frank Keppler, Daniela Polag, Lasse Sander, Moritz Schroll, and Julia B. Wietzel
Biogeosciences, 23, 5095–5115, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5095-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5095-2026, 2026
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Methane (CH4) measurements near a sand dredging site off Sylt (North Sea) revealed elevated concentrations in both air and water, particularly during summer. CH4 fluxes were significantly higher at the dredging site compared to surrounding areas. Isotopic signatures suggest a microbial origin. These findings indicate that coastal sand extraction may represent a previously unaccounted source of atmospheric CH4.
Sahra Greve, Norbert Frank, Sophie Warken, Paolo Montagna, Amos Winter, Serguei Damián Rico-Esenaro, Juan P. Carricart-Ganivet, Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza, Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández, Carlos Alonso-Hernández, Miguel Gomez–Batista, Marco Taviani, and Steffen Hetzinger
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3519, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3519, 2026
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Coral skeletons record subtle changes in the uranium composition of seawater, providing a window into past environmental conditions. By comparing different coral species, colonies, and sampling methods, we show that corals can reliably detect very small changes (0.6 ‰) associated with freshwater input and climate variability. This makes them a valuable tool for reconstructing past changes in reef and coastal environments.
Sahra Greve, Norbert Frank, Paolo Montagna, Carlos Manuel Alonso-Hernández, Miguel Gomez-Batista, Eric Douville, and Sophie Warken
Ocean Sci., 22, 1529–1544, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-1529-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-1529-2026, 2026
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We studied uranium isotopes in a 237-year-old coral from Cuba to understand how freshwater influences the ocean. The coral’s mostly stable uranium values vary with regional rainfall. During the late 1700s, variability increased sharply, revealing stronger distant river uranium input or changes in local terrestrial uranium sources. These findings show that corals Uranium ratios record past climate and ocean changes with high precision.
Inga Kristina Kerber, Fabian Kontor, Aaron Mielke, Sophie Warken, and Norbert Frank
Geochronology, 7, 1–13, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-1-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-1-2025, 2025
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A stand-alone data analysis application for Th/U dating on multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers features a Python-based algorithm with a graphical user interface. It handles data treatment, corrections, age calculus, and error estimation and supports various detector layouts including Faraday and electron multiplier detectors. Key features include reproducibility, user-friendly reanalysis, and automated data storage. A case study demonstrates the software’s performance.
Nikita Kaushal, Franziska A. Lechleitner, Micah Wilhelm, Khalil Azennoud, Janica C. Bühler, Kerstin Braun, Yassine Ait Brahim, Andy Baker, Yuval Burstyn, Laia Comas-Bru, Jens Fohlmeister, Yonaton Goldsmith, Sandy P. Harrison, István G. Hatvani, Kira Rehfeld, Magdalena Ritzau, Vanessa Skiba, Heather M. Stoll, József G. Szűcs, Péter Tanos, Pauline C. Treble, Vitor Azevedo, Jonathan L. Baker, Andrea Borsato, Sakonvan Chawchai, Andrea Columbu, Laura Endres, Jun Hu, Zoltán Kern, Alena Kimbrough, Koray Koç, Monika Markowska, Belen Martrat, Syed Masood Ahmad, Carole Nehme, Valdir Felipe Novello, Carlos Pérez-Mejías, Jiaoyang Ruan, Natasha Sekhon, Nitesh Sinha, Carol V. Tadros, Benjamin H. Tiger, Sophie Warken, Annabel Wolf, Haiwei Zhang, and SISAL Working Group members
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1933–1963, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1933-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1933-2024, 2024
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Speleothems are a popular, multi-proxy climate archive that provide regional to global insights into past hydroclimate trends with precise chronologies. We present an update to the SISAL (Speleothem Isotopes
Synthesis and AnaLysis) database, SISALv3, which, for the first time, contains speleothem trace element records, in addition to an update to the stable isotope records available in previous versions of the database, cumulatively providing data from 365 globally distributed sites.
Synthesis and AnaLysis) database, SISALv3, which, for the first time, contains speleothem trace element records, in addition to an update to the stable isotope records available in previous versions of the database, cumulatively providing data from 365 globally distributed sites.
Robin Fentimen, Eline Feenstra, Andres Rüggeberg, Efraim Hall, Valentin Rime, Torsten Vennemann, Irka Hajdas, Antonietta Rosso, David Van Rooij, Thierry Adatte, Hendrik Vogel, Norbert Frank, and Anneleen Foubert
Clim. Past, 18, 1915–1945, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-1915-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-1915-2022, 2022
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The investigation of a 9 m long sediment core recovered at ca. 300 m water depth demonstrates that cold-water coral mound build-up within the East Melilla Coral Province (southeastern Alboran Sea) took place during both interglacial and glacial periods. Based on the combination of different analytical methods (e.g. radiometric dating, micropaleontology), we propose that corals never thrived but rather developed under stressful environmental conditions.
Anna Wieland, Markus Greule, Philipp Roemer, Jan Esper, and Frank Keppler
Clim. Past, 18, 1849–1866, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-1849-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-1849-2022, 2022
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We examined annually resolved stable carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios of wood lignin methoxy groups of beech trees growing in temperate, low elevation environments. Here, carbon isotope ratios reveal highest correlations with regional summer temperatures while hydrogen isotope ratios correlate more strongly with large-scale temperature changes. By combining the dual isotope ratios of wood lignin methoxy groups, a proxy for regional- to subcontinental-scale temperature patterns can be applied.
Sophie F. Warken, Therese Weißbach, Tobias Kluge, Hubert Vonhof, Denis Scholz, Rolf Vieten, Martina Schmidt, Amos Winter, and Norbert Frank
Clim. Past, 18, 167–181, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-167-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-167-2022, 2022
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The analysis of fluid inclusions from a Puerto Rican speleothem provides quantitative information about past rainfall conditions and temperatures during the Last Glacial Period, when the climate was extremely variable. Our data show that the region experienced a climate that was generally colder and drier. However, we also reconstruct intervals when temperatures reached nearly modern values, and convective activity was comparable to or only slightly weaker than the present day.
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Short summary
To accurately understand past climate change, exact chronologies are fundamental. We dated multiple stalagmites from the Yucatán Peninsula covering the last 2700 years. Because these cave deposits contain high and variable amounts of contaminating elements that distort age models, we developed a multi-method approach to correct the timelines. Our corrected records now provide a reliable foundation for future studies to track ancient droughts, floods, and their links to Maya cultural evolution.
To accurately understand past climate change, exact chronologies are fundamental. We dated...
