Paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental reconstructions over the last glacial period in the mid-west Brazil

Abstract

South American Monsoon System is the main responsible by the rainfall over Brazil. However, a strong special variability on the precipitation occur in this region, with the opposite trend of precipitation between Nordeste and western Amazon. This rainfall contrast is very important for biogeographic and biodiversity studies in South America. Thus, for the better knowledge about the precipitation standard over South America and its implications on the biomes evolution, more high resolutions paleoclimate records are required. For this research project, the acquisition of new paleoclimate records from speleothems around Pantanal regions is proposed. It will support associated FAPESP thematic projects [Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: a multidisciplinary framework for biodiversity prediction in the Brazilian Atlantic forest hotspot (proc. FAPESP: 2013/50297-0) and Structure and evolution of the Amazonian biota and its environment: an integrative approach (proc. FAPESP: 2012/50260-6)].The paleoclimate reconstruction of Pantanal is extremely necessary in the framework of climate changes from South America, because this region is located in a strategic position between the distribution of moistures from Amazon to Atlantic coast. Besides that, Pantanal have the one of the biggest biological diversity of the Earth and is considered a biosphere patrimony of world by UNESCO.In association with the paleoclimate reconstruction, will be continued the research project about environmental monitoring in caves where the speleothems were collected. (AU)