Paleohydrologic reconstruction based on n-alkane distributions in ombrotrophic peat

Reconstructions based on these approaches have resulted in records of decadal- to centennial-scale moisture variability in regions of North America and elsewhere. Although the various peatland moisture proxies generally show significant temporal covariance, multi-proxy approaches can refine knowledge of the multivariate nature of climate change and increase confidence in interpretations. Here, we demonstrate that ratios of the abundances of n-alkanes provide a new and efficient way of reconstructing past peatland surface moisture change. We found strong correlations among n-alkane indices, humification indices and testate amoebae-inferred water table depths from a single core. Biogeochemical proxies can be used in paleohydrological reconstructions for ombrotrophic bogs to provide a new and complementary source of data from these under-utilized paleoclimate archives.