Stable isotope and Caesium records of sediment core LG06

Usually, the oxygen isotopic compositions of ostracods from the lake sediments are interpreted as changes in effective precipitation, temperature and evaporation/input water ratio in a sub-arid or arid area.

Here, we compare a 150-year-long oxygen-isotope record that was derived from ostracod carbonate from the sediments of Lake Gahai in the Qaidam Basin with meteorological data (precipitation) and tree-ring evidence for changing precipitation. Our results show that the oxygen isotopic compositions of ostracod shells are related to precipitation over the past 150 years. In general, increased precipitation accompanied a shift to less positive d18O values in the lake water, and thus in the ostracod shells, whereas decreased precipitation coincided with the opposite in Lake Gahai over the past 150 years.