Late Holocene lake levels of the Dead Sea

Bookman, Revital; Enzel, Yehouda; Agnon, Amotz; Stein, Mordechai

doi:10.1130/b25286.1

Cited by 245 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The estimated Lake Samra levels are ∼50-100 m higher than the mean level of the Holocene Dead Sea (Bookman (Ken-Tor) et al, 2004;Bookman et al, 2006;Migowski et al, 2006). This hydrological difference may indicate a relative wetter regime during the last interglacial compared to present conditions, or else changes in the tectonic subsidence rate of the basin.…”

Section: Chronology and Level Reconstruction Of Lake Samramentioning

confidence: 84%

Stratigraphy, depositional environments and level reconstruction of the last interglacial Lake Samra in the Dead Sea basin

et al. 2009

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a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f oIn this paper we describe the stratigraphy and sediments deposited in Lake Samra that occupied the Dead Sea basin between ∼ 135 and 75 ka. This information is combined with U/Th dating of primary aragonites in order to estimate a relative lake-level curve that serves as a regional paleohydrological monitor. The lake stood at an elevation of ∼ 340 m below mean sea level (MSL) during most of the last interglacial. This level is relatively higher than the average Holocene Dead Sea (∼ 400 ± 30 m below MSL). At ∼ 120 and ∼ 85 ka, Lake Samra rose to ∼ 320 m below MSL while it dropped to levels lower than ∼ 380 m below MSL at ∼ 135 and ∼ 75 ka, reflecting arid conditions in the drainage area. Lowstands are correlated with warm intervals in the Northern Hemisphere, while minor lake rises are probably related to cold episodes during MIS 5b and MIS 5d. Similar climate relationships are documented for the last glacial highstand Lake Lisan and the lowstand Holocene Dead Sea. Yet, the dominance of detrital calcites and precipitation of travertines in the Dead Sea basin during the last interglacial interval suggest intense pluvial conditions and possible contribution of southern sources of wetness to the region.

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Section: Chronology and Level Reconstruction Of Lake Samramentioning

confidence: 84%

Stratigraphy, depositional environments and level reconstruction of the last interglacial Lake Samra in the Dead Sea basin

et al. 2009

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“…In the ZA-2 pollen diagram (Neumann et al, 2007), seismite B is towards the beginning of the zone of maximal olive cultivation related to the Roman period (LPAZ 5), and seismite D is at the beginning of the increase of Pinus related to the transition from the Byzantine to the early Islamic period (LPAZ 6). Bookman et al (2004) placed seismite B clearly in a period of high lake levels, whereas seismite D is at it the end of one.…”

Section: Impact Of Earthquakes On Ds Agriculture and Societymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During our fieldwork in the Ze'elim fan, samples were taken in gully A unit III of Bookman et al (2004) (Fig. 2).…”

Section: Subsampling Of the Outcrop Of Ze'elimmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of earthquakes on agriculture during the Roman–Byzantine period from pollen records of the Dead Sea laminated sediment

et al. 2010

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The Dead Sea region holds the archives of a complex relationship between an ever-changing nature and ancient civilisations. Regional pollen diagrams show a Roman-Byzantine period standing out in the recent millennia by its wetter climate that allowed intensive arboriculture. During that period, the Dead Sea formed laminites that display mostly a seasonal character. A multidisciplinary study focused on two earthquakes, 31 BC and AD 363, recorded as seismites in the Ze'elim gully A unit III which has been well dated by radiocarbon in a previous study. The sampling of the sediment was done at an annual resolution starting from a few years before and finishing a decade after each earthquake. A clear drop in agricultural indicators (especially Olea and cereals) is shown. These pollen indicators mostly reflect human activities in the Judean Hills and coastal oases. Agriculture was disturbed in large part of the rift valley where earthquake damage affected irrigation and access to the fields. It took 4 to 5 yr to resume agriculture to previous conditions. Earthquakes must be seen as contributors to factors damaging societies. If combined with other factors such as climatic aridification, disease epidemics and political upheaval, they may lead to civilisation collapse.

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“…Of the above mentioned lacustrine bodies, the Dead Sea is the most saline deep lake in the world today [∼300 m water depth, water level 430 m below mean sea level (mbmsl), salinity ∼340 g/l], and its water levels and limnological history have been shown to reflect regional climate patterns, themselves controlled by northern hemisphere climate change during the Quaternary (e.g., Stein, 2001;Bartov et al, 2003;Enzel et al, 2003;Bookman Ken-Tor et al, 2004;Torfstein et al, 2013b). Due to its high salinity, any input of freshwater induces density stratification that can persist for several years.…”

Section: Introduction Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rates and Cycles of Microbial Sulfate Reduction in the Hyper-Saline Dead Sea over the Last 200 kyrs from Sedimentary δ34S and δ18O(SO4)

Torfstein

Turchyn

2017

Front. Earth Sci.

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We report the δ 34 S and δ 18 O (SO4) measured in gypsum, pyrite, and elemental sulfur through a 456-m thick sediment core from the center of the Dead Sea, representing the last ∼200 kyrs, as well as from the exposed glacial outcrops of the Masada M1 section located on the margins of the modern Dead Sea. The results are used to explore and quantify the evolution of sulfur microbial metabolism in the Dead Sea and to reconstruct the lake's water column configuration during the late Quaternary. Layers and laminae of primary gypsum, the main sulfur-bearing mineral in the sedimentary column, display the highest δ 34 S and δ 18 O (SO4) in the range of 13-28 and 13-30 , respectively. Within this group, gypsum layers deposited during interglacials display lower δ 34 S and δ 18 O (SO4) relative to those associated with glacial or deglacial stages. The reduced sulfur phases, including chromium reducible sulfur, and secondary gypsum crystals are characterized by extremely low δ 34 S in the range of −27 to +7 . The δ 18 O (SO4) of the secondary gypsum in the M1 outcrop ranges from 8 to 14 . The relationship between δ 34 S and δ 18 O (SO4) of primary gypsum suggests that the rate of microbial sulfate reduction was lower during glacial relative to interglacial times. This suggests that the freshening of the lake during glacial wet intervals, and the subsequent rise in sulfate concentrations, slowed the rate of microbial metabolism. Alternatively, this could imply that sulfate-driven anaerobic methane oxidation, the dominant sulfur microbial metabolism today, is a feature of the hypersalinity in the modern Dead Sea. Sedimentary sulfides are quantitatively oxidized during epigenetic exposure, retaining the lower δ 34 S signature; the δ 18 O (SO4) of this secondary gypsum is controlled by oxygen atoms derived equally from atmospheric oxygen and from water, which is likely a unique feature in this hyperarid environment.

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Late Holocene lake levels of the Dead Sea

Cited by 245 publications

References 26 publications

Stratigraphy, depositional environments and level reconstruction of the last interglacial Lake Samra in the Dead Sea basin

Stratigraphy, depositional environments and level reconstruction of the last interglacial Lake Samra in the Dead Sea basin

Impact of earthquakes on agriculture during the Roman–Byzantine period from pollen records of the Dead Sea laminated sediment

Rates and Cycles of Microbial Sulfate Reduction in the Hyper-Saline Dead Sea over the Last 200 kyrs from Sedimentary δ34S and δ18O(SO4)

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