Western Caucasus regional hydroclimate controlled by cold-season temperature variability since the Last Glacial Maximum

A new study reveals that the hydroclimate of the Western Caucasus region has been primarily controlled by cold-season temperature variability since the Last Glacial Maximum, challenging previous interpretations of speleothem oxygen-isotope records. Researchers analyzed 24 stalagmites from three caves using model-proxy comparisons, modern oxygen-isotope data, and climate modeling to demonstrate spatially distinct changes in vegetation and precipitation seasonality, particularly under glacial conditions. The findings suggest that while harsh climatic pressures during the Last Glacial Maximum reduced but did not eliminate human refugia, adaptive strategies allowed early populations to overcome these challenges. This research provides critical insights into early human dispersal and evolution in Eurasia by filling gaps in high-resolution paleoclimate records.

Wolf, A., Baker, J. L., Tjallingii, R., Cai, Y., Osinzev, A., Antonosyan, M., Amano, N., Johnson, K. R., Skiba, V., McCormack, J., Kwiecien, O., Chervyatsova, O. Y., Dublyansky, Y. V., Dbar, R. S., Cheng, H., & Breitenbach, S. F. M. (2024). Western Caucasus regional hydroclimate controlled by cold-season temperature variability since the Last Glacial Maximum. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01151-3