Recent imprint of El Nio-Southern Oscillation

variability in Laguna Pallcacocha (Ecuador)

M.C.A. Stekelenburg1 K. Hagemans1 W.D. Gosling2 M. Hennekam3 G.J. Reichart3&4 T.H. Donders1
Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University. 2Institute of Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam.
3
Marine Geology Department at Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). 4Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University.
1

Martin C.A. Stekelenburg

MSc-student Earth, Life & Climate
m.c.a.stekelenburg@students.uu.nl
www.geoblog.weebly.com/palaeoblog

Introduction

Methods

Reconstructions of the strength of the El Nio Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

throughout the Holocene are needed to provide a reference point for future
climate projections. ENSO is a climatic phenomenon in the Pacic Ocean that
varies on timescales of ~2.5 to 7 years, and is a powerful source of inter-annual
global climate variability. We investigate a sedimentary record from Laguna
Pallcacocha (Ecuador), known to be sensitive to changes in ENSO. The silt layers
are the result of increased runo (El Nio), while the black layers indicate background sedimentation. Here we aim to calibrate the ENSO signal to high
resolution environmental proxies.

To calibrate the recent ENSO signal to paleoenvironmental proxies, a 45-cm long laminated sediment core has been taken by the use of a gravity corer. This core has been
scanned by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) at 1mm-resolution, to obtain information
about element contents within and between the dierent lithologies.
Figure 2 shows the sediment core, which is overlain by a graph that
shows the Al-content within the sediment. Element cycles that are
related to shifts in climatic variables (e.g. precipitation and temperature)
are analyzed and used for the reconstruction of local El Nio inuence.

Al

Next, high resolution pollen analysis is carried out which can provide a
quantitative paleoclimatic signal. Pollen are counted at a 2mmresolution which is expected to reect the subdecadal signal in ENSO. For
now, only te results on 4-mm resolution are largely nished and shown.

Figure 1 shows the location of the research area (Laguna Pallcacocha in Ecuador, green star) and (2) the spatial correlation of the
NINO3.4 index and the precipitation that falls in November till
January. You can read about the NINO3.4 index under Meteorology. This map indicates that there is a strong positive correlation
(>60%) between the precipitation in the research area and
ENSO-activity. This means that if El Nio occurs (maximum
anomaly between November and January) there falls more precipitation
in
the
research
area
than
normal.

Figure 2: sediment core with

Al-plot (right) and XRF-scan
results (left).

Figure 1: Spatial correlation of Nov-Jan precipitation with the NINO 3.4 index (19792012). The green star indicates the study area. Source: KNMI Climate Explorer.

Results
The pollen record is compared to meteorological data to see how the vegetation and pollen deposition responds to variations in local climate,
which are mainly caused by uctuations in ENSO-activity. Pollen data is displayed as both percentage and absolute concentration data. The resulting calibrations are applied to reconstructions of ENSO-activity before instrumental records further downcore.
Disturbance

io
ph
yd yll
r o um
M co
t
ai
ze yle
U
rti
ca
Te cea
tra e
pl
oa

Aquatic

As

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yr

ex

t
le olim
ria
e
M
on nac nsis
ea
o
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ile
te spo
r
Al
s
nu po e
r
e
s

Va

um

ex
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pp
e

ra
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o
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Lower montane forest

te
r
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on
ae
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ed
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hl
i
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or
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el
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yr
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ae
yr
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lyl pus
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#
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ub a
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nm
A c an
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yp nia
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or a
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Upper montane forest

rm
w on
Ap er m tan
ia o e fo
c n
C eae tan res
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up e
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G
en
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P l ana
an
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Po ago
ac sp
ea p#

Paramo

0
5
10
15
20
25

Depth (mm)

30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95

Figure 3: sediment core with Al-plot (left),

percentage of total pollen sum with some
pollen pictures (left). The black lines are 5x
exaggeration lines.

20

40

60

80

100 0

20

20

40

60

20 0

t
e

ur
b

ic

ist

ua
t

es

Aq

et
Is
o

an
ce

ta
n
M
on
we
r
Lo

2015

0
5
10

-2

2005

15
20
25

1995

Depth (mm)

30
35

1985

40
45
55
60

1955

80

1945

85
90
95

1935
0

12000 24000 360000

5000

10000 150000

240

480

720120036006000840010800
1 32000

50

100

150

ENSO 1.2-index

200

Pollen concentration (pollen/cm3)

Meteorology

Figure 8: average temperature from SH winter (June, July, August) and SH summer (December,
January, February).

Average temperature DJF and JJA

Monthly averages El Labrado [1964-2013] +3335m

11

9
100

8
7

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Figure 5: monthly climatic averages from a nearby weather station.

Precipitation anomaly (%)

Measured dierences in precipitation per month and per El-Nio category

[1963-2013]
60
40
20

Very strong El Nio (n=3)

Strong El Nio (n=5)

Strong La Nia (n=5)

-20
-40
JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Figure 6: calculation of the precipitation anomaly (%) per month and per El Nio category.

Temperature (C)

10

Temperature (C)

Precipitation (mm)

150

APR

20

40

60

80

Isoetes
Quillworts

Figure 3 (above) indicates that the relative abundances of

the pollen are relatively stable. This means that the vegetation around Laguna Pallcacocha has been similar for the
last ~80 years. The vegetation around the lake is called
paramo: high montane grassland, which indicates low
local
temperatures.
Towards
recent,
the
relative amount of paramo pollen decreases, while the
montane forest pollen increase: likely due to global warming. The aquatic plants uctuate most in abundance: this
phenomenon
will
be
further
investigated.
Figure 4 (left) shows the uctuations in pollen concentration (pollen/cm3 sediment) and the tentative relation between the aluminium content from the core and the ENSO
1.2-index. Silt layers usually contain more Al, and silt is related to the occurrence of El Nio. Pollen concentration
and Al-content seem to be inversely related, indicating
lower pollen concentrations for El Nio-laminations.

1965

70
75

MAR

1975

50

65

FEB

Alnus acuminata
Andean alder

Fo
re
s

t
Fo
re
s
e
ta
n
rM
on
pp
e

Al
nu

ra
m
o

Pa

Po

ac
e

ae

Figure 4: sediment core with Al-plot (left),

plot with pollen concentrations (middle),
ENSO 1.2-index (right).

JAN

20 0

Percentage of total pollen sum (%)

Lycopodium foveolate Poaceae

(Huperzia) calamagrostis
Firmosses (most
abundant)
Reed grass

50

10
9

DJF

JJA

7
6
1960

R = 0.34

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985 1990
Year AC

1995

2000

Linear (JJA)
2005

2010

2015

Figure 5: as can be observed, the coldest months

(MJJAS) are also the driest months. Precipitation
varies from ~75-150 mm/month, and average
monthly
temperatures
vary
from
~7-9C.
Figure 6: only during a very strong El Nio, the
SH summer months experience signicantly more
precipitation. It must be noted that all correlations are
based upon a non-continuous database and on
a small amount of measured El Nios (n).
Figure 7: for the purpose of this research, ENSO 1.2
has been used since it is located closest to the research
area. The ENSO-index indicates the Sea Surface
Temperature anomaly. El Nio conditions occur when
the SST anomaly is equal or greater than 0.5C.
Figure 8: indicates increasing temperatures, and the
vast amount of gaps in the SH summer months (DJF).
Figure 7: map showing the dierent ENSO-regions. Source:
xxxhttp://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/indices/about.shtmlhttp://www.bom.gov.au/climate
/enso/indices/about.shtml

Preliminary conclusions

1. There is a strong, positive correlation between

ENSO-strenght and precipitation in Laguna Pallcacocha,
Ecuador.
2. The sedimentary record reects the ENSO-signal.
3. The global warming trend is visible in the pollen
signal, by means of an increase in arboreal pollen.
4. The vegetation around Laguna Pallcacocha remained
similar, but the pollen concentration varies widely due to
dierent sedimentation rates and dierent pollen
production, which is related to ENSO uctuations.
5. On higher, 2mm-resolution, the El Nio-events will be
individually visible in the pollen concentration signal.

References
1. Rodbell, D.T.; Seltzer, G.O.; Anderson, D.M.; Abbott, M.B.; Eneld, D.B.; Newman, J.H. (1999). An 15,000 year record of El Nio-driven alluviation in southwestern
Ecuador, Science, vol. 283, pp. 516-520.
2. Tudhope, A.W.; Chilcott, C.P.; McCulloch, M.T.; Cook, E.R.; Chappell, J.; Ellam, R.M.; Lea, D.W.; Lough, J.M.; Shimmield, G.B. (2001). Variability in the El NioSouthern Oscillation Through a Glacial-Interglacial Cycle. Science, vol. 291, pp. 1511-1517.
3. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/teleconnections/enso/enso-tech.php