The sedimentary and geochemical evolution of Lake Estanya (NE Spain) documents arid conditions, reflected by shallow water levels, high salinity and low organic productivity during lateglacial times, with intensified aridity during the so-called Mystery Interval (17,500 – 14,500 cal. years BP), the Younger Dryas (13,300 – 11,600 cal. years BP) and prior to the Holocene (11,600 – 9,400 cal. years BP). Higher water availability characterized the last 9,400 years, as recorded by most Iberian marine and continental records. The Estanya records demonstrate a high impact of suborbital global climate fluctuations in lake hydrology. Increase in lake level and detrital sediment delivery during the last millenium also indicate changes in land uses in the watershed since Medieval times.

Esta investigación se ha financiado con los proyectos LIMNOCAL (CGL2006- 13327-C04-01) y GRACCIE (CSD2007- 00067), concedidos por la Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT), y a través del proyecto multidisciplinar PM073/2007, concedido por la Diputación General de Aragón (DGA).

4 páginas, 2 figuras, 1 tabla.-- Paleoclimatología.-- Trabajo presentado a la 46ª Sesión Científica de la Sociedad Geológica de España celebrada en Madrid en 2009.

Peer reviewed