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El Niño Variability in the Coastal Desert of Southern Peru during the Mid-Holocene

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michel Fontugne ,
Pierre Usselmann ,
Danièle Lavallée ,
Michèle Julien  and
Christine Hatté
Michel Fontugne
Affiliation:
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR 1572-CEA/CNRS, Domaine du CNRS, F-91198, Gif sur Yvette cedex, France. E-mail: Michel.Fontugne@lsce.cnrs-gif.fr
Pierre Usselmann
Affiliation:
UMR 5651 Espace, Maison de la Géographie, 17 rue de l'Abbé de l'Epée, F-34090, Montpellier, France
Danièle Lavallée
Affiliation:
Archéologie des Amériques, CNRS, Maison de l'Archéologie et de l'Ethnogie, 21 Allée de l'Université, F-92023, Nanterre Cedex, France
Michèle Julien
Affiliation:
Archéologie des Amériques, CNRS, Maison de l'Archéologie et de l'Ethnogie, 21 Allée de l'Université, F-92023, Nanterre Cedex, France
Christine Hatté
Affiliation:
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR 1572-CEA/CNRS, Domaine du CNRS, F-91198, Gif sur Yvette cedex, France
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Abstract

Fourteen organic-rich sedimentary layers in the deposits at Quebrada de los Burros, in coastal southern Peru (Tacna department), lie between two debris-flow units, interpreted to result from El Niño events, at 8980 cal yr B.P. and after 3380 cal yr B.P., respectively. The accumulation of the fine-grained and low-energy sediments of this deposit during the mid-Holocene is incompatible with the occurrence of El Niño events in this region, as these would produce catastrophic flood deposits. The occurrence of organic-rich sediments and evidence of an enhancement of upwelling strength at this time imply the existence of a permanent water supply resulting from an increased condensation of fog at mid-altitudes. These results suggest a lower intensity and perhaps, a lower frequency of occurrence of the El Niño phenomenon during the mid-Holocene. It is precisely during this period that the most important human settlements are found at this site, probably indicating the presence of reliable supply of fresh water. The chronologies for wetlands in the central south altiplano are out of phase with those indicating increased soil moisture episodes on the coast, implying a long-term difference in climate between these two regions.

Keywords

El Niñosouthern Perumid-Holocene14C dating
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 52 , Issue 2 , September 1999 , pp. 171 - 179
Copyright
University of Washington

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