The 8kaDynamic project investigate the dramatic climate event around 8200 years ago, known as the 8.2 ka BP event, which caused widespread cooling across the Northern Hemisphere. Using high-resolution stable and radioactive isotope analyses of precisely dated subfossil oak tree rings from southern Germany, the project reconstructs annually resolved hydroclimate variability before, during, and after this event. Results will enhance our understanding of climate forcings and contribute valuable data to both paleoclimate science and archaeology.

Scientific Goals

• Characterize the pre-event (~8370 BP) and post-event (~8040 BP) climate dynamics (trends, extremes)
• Examine seasonal contrasts in temperature and precipitation
• Assess the role of solar activity, including short-term events like solar proton spikes
• Improve the radiocarbon calibration curve (IntCal) through new annual ¹⁴C data

Methodology

• Use of over 240 subfossil oak samples with dendrochronological dating
• Annual resolution isotope analyses over a 700-year window (8600–7900 BP)
• Collaboration with leading isotope and radiocarbon labs (e.g., CEZA Mannheim, ETH Zurich)
• Application of wavelet analyses and carbon cycle modeling