Climatic control on the Holocene hydrology of a playa-lake system in the western Mediterranean

Evaporitic lakes such as playa-lakes are characteristic of many arid regions and unique environments with respect to fauna flora, while being very vulnerable climate environmental fluctuations threatened by the current global change scenario. Water balance oscillations in these systems can trigger precipitation or dissolution different evaporitic minerals, negatively impacting local biodiversity economic activities. Here, we study sedimentary record a small saline pond from playa-lake complex southwestern Iberia order reconstruct paleohydrological evolution this area assess potential anthropogenic disturbances. The proxies studied ∼11.9 ky old Laguna de la Ballestera suggest that greatest lake extension highest water levels occurred during Early Holocene, pointing wettest period record. Climate transitioned towards more conditions Middle even dramatically Late Holocene. In last stage wetland surface level largely diminished gypsum gradually increased negative precipitation/evapotranspiration lowest levels. Summer desiccation likely under scenario, especially after ∼1.0–0.9 cal BP coeval Medieval Anomaly, when content started rise abruptly. However, significant was only associated massive drop siliciclastic scarce carbonates (dolomite calcite) ∼400 years. This evidence suggests shift (semi) permanent temporal/seasonal hydrological regime. responded general climatic western Mediterranean mostly controlled changes insolation. Our data also show response natural variations significantly disturbed human activities since 20th century, second half deduced abrupt siliciclastic, organic sediments, well enhanced accumulation rates, probably hydroperiod catchment land use.