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Holocene Lakes from Ramlat as-Sab'atayn (Yemen) Illustrate the Impact of Monsoon Activity in Southern Arabia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Anne-Marie Lézine ,
Jean-François Saliège ,
Christian Robert ,
Frédéric Wertz  and
Marie-Louise Inizan
Anne-Marie Lézine
Affiliation:
ESA 7073-CNRS, Paléontologie et Stratigraphie, UPMC-JUSSIEU, Boı̂te 106, 75252, Paris-cedex 05, France
Jean-François Saliège
Affiliation:
LODYC, UPMC-JUSSIEU, Boı̂te 100, 75252, Paris-cedex 05, France
Christian Robert
Affiliation:
Centre d'Océanographie de Marseille, Luminy Case 901, 13288, Marseille-09, France
Frédéric Wertz
Affiliation:
Centre d'Océanographie de Marseille, Luminy Case 901, 13288, Marseille-09, France
Marie-Louise Inizan
Affiliation:
ERA 28-CNRS (UPR 7549), MAE (Maison R. Ginouvès), 21, rue de l'Université, 92023, Nanterre cedex, France
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Abstract

Paleoecology and paleohydrology of the Ramlat as-Sab'atayn (Southern Arabia) are reconstructed from a comparative study including sedimentology, mineralogy, stable isotope ratios of carbonates, and palynology of lacustrine sediments recovered from the al-Hawa depression. The section dates from 8700 to 7200 yr B.P. and records an early phase of flooding followed by distinct lacustrine development from 7800 to 7200 yr B.P., coeval with maximum activity of the Indian monsoon. Comparison of the pollen record with modern pollen deposition suggests that regional vegetation was then already of desert type and was related to strong seasonal trade winds.

Keywords

HolocenepaleolakesYemenSouthern Arabiasedimentologyclay mineralogyisotope stratigraphypalynology
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 50 , Issue 3 , November 1998 , pp. 290 - 299
Copyright
University of Washington

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