Development of isotope analyses system for fluid inclusions of speleothem: toward quantitative temperature reconstructions

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24681005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental dynamic analysis
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: Uemura Ryu 琉球大学, 理学部, 准教授 (00580143)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 鍾乳石 / 流体包有物 / 安定同位体 / 質量分析 / 石筍 / 水の酸素同位体 / 第四紀 / 最終氷期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Most of the terrestrial climate proxies in mid- and low-latitudes region are qualitative. Isotopic compositions of fluid-inclusion water in speleothems are promising tools, because they give quantitative information to reconstruct the past hydrological and temperature changes. Here, we have developed an isotope measurement technique for fluid inclusions in stalagmite, and applied the method to stalagmites in Okinawa, Japan. The developed system can measure the isotope ratios of fluid-inclusion water in nano-liter quantities. Data from the stalagmite samples of the modern and the last glacial period suggest that it is possible to reconstruct the past temperature.

Free Research Field

地球化学・古気候学