Evidence for solar forcing of climate change at ca. 850 cal BC from a Czech peat sequence

A climatic change to wetter and cooler conditions was recorded in the Pancavska Louka peat sequence in the Giant Mountains (Czech Republic) at ca. 850 cal BC. The curves of climate indicators were compared to detrended Delta(14)C, which is considered to be a proxy for solar activity, to assess if solar activity, through changes in, for example, irradiance, had caused the observed climatic change. Visual comparison of the curves showed that changes in the bog and in the regional vegetation occurred in correspondence with the start of the sharp rise in radiocarbon at ca. 850 cal BC, caused by a sudden shift to low solar activity. Cross-correlation of the curves of climate indicators with that of Delta(14)C is significant. The results of the sequence provide independent evidence for solar forcing of climate change. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.