Cryogenic cave carbonates in the Dolomites (northern Italy): insights into Younger Dryas cooling and seasonal precipitation

Abstract. In the European Alps, Younger Dryas (YD) was characterised by last major glacier advance, with equilibrium line altitudes being ? 220 to 290 m lower than during Little Ice Age, and also development of rock glaciers. Dating these geomorphic features, however, is associated substantial uncertainties, leading considerable ambiguities regarding internal structure this stadial, which most intensively studied one glacial period. Here, we provide robust physical evidence based on 230Th-dated cryogenic cave carbonates (CCCs) from a located at 2274 a.s.l. in Dolomites northern Italy coupled thermal modelling, indicating that early YD winters were only moderately cold part Alps. More precisely, find mean annual air temperature dropped ? 3 ?C Allerød–YD transition. Our data suggest autumns relatively snow-rich, resulting stable winter snow cover. The latter insulated shallow subsurface allowed interior remain close freezing point (0 ?C) year-round, promoting CCC formation. main phase precipitation 12.2 ka coincided mid-YD transition recorded other archives across Europe. Based modelling propose formation likely slight warming approximately +1 conjunction drier second half YD. These changes triggered Alpine as well ice retreat expansion