Description: This dataset contains compound-specific hydrogen (δ2H) and carbon (δ13C) isotope compositions and concentrations of long-chain n-alkanes and fatty acids (n-alkanoic acids) from the ROT21 sediment record of Rotsee, Central Switzerland (47°04′10″N, 8°18′48″E, 419 m a.s.l.). Sediment cores were retrieved in October 2021 using a UWITEC gravity corer, and the dataset spans the past ~13,000 years based on 19 radiocarbon dates (terrestrial and aquatic macrofossils) integrated with 210Pb and 137Cs profiles (see De Jonge et al., 2025). Laboratory analyses were conducted between February 2023 and November 2024 at the University of Basel. Sediment samples (~2–5 g) were sub-sampled, freeze-dried, spiked with internal standards (n-C19-alkanoic acid, n-C36-alkane, 2-octadecanone, and n-C21-alkanol), and extracted with dichloromethane/methanol (9:1, v/v) using an Accelerated Solvent Extractor (Dionex ASE 350, Thermo Fisher Scientific). Following saponification, neutral fractions were separated via silica gel chromatography, and fatty acids were converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Both n-alkanes and FAMEs were further purified to isolate saturated compounds using AgNO3-impregnated silica gel columns, then analyzed and quantified by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Peak areas were normalized to recovery standards to account for potential losses during sample handling, and compounds were identified by comparison with external standards. Compound-specific δ2H and δ13C values were determined by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) and normalized to the VSMOW-SLAP (δ2H) and VPDB (δ13C) scales. Analytical precision was ±3-5 ‰ for δ2H and ±0.2–0.3 ‰ for δ13C. The dataset was generated to reconstruct past hydroclimate and vegetation dynamics in Central Europe using plant wax δ2H records. Full methodological details are provided in the study: Central Europe hydroclimate since the Younger Dryas inferred from vegetation-corrected sedimentary plant wax δ2H values (Santos et al., 2026).
Global identifier:
Doi(
"10.1594/PANGAEA.987812",
)
DataMeasurements(
DataMeasurements {
domain: Unspecified,
station: None,
measured_variables: [
"AGE",
"Counts",
"DEPTH, sediment/rock",
"Sample code/label",
"n-Alkane C17",
"n-Alkane C20",
"n-Alkane C21",
"n-Alkane C21, δ13C",
"n-Alkane C21, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C22",
"n-Alkane C23",
"n-Alkane C23, δ13C",
"n-Alkane C23, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C23, δD",
"n-Alkane C24",
"n-Alkane C25",
"n-Alkane C25, δ13C",
"n-Alkane C25, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C25, δD",
"n-Alkane C25, δD, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C26",
"n-Alkane C27",
"n-Alkane C27, δ13C",
"n-Alkane C27, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C27, δD",
"n-Alkane C27, δD, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C28",
"n-Alkane C29",
"n-Alkane C29, δ13C",
"n-Alkane C29, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C29, δD",
"n-Alkane C29, δD, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C30",
"n-Alkane C31",
"n-Alkane C31, δ13C",
"n-Alkane C31, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C31, δD",
"n-Alkane C31, δD, standard deviation",
"n-Alkane C32",
"n-Alkane C33",
"n-Alkane C34",
"n-fatty acid C14:0",
"n-fatty acid C15:0",
"n-fatty acid C16:0",
"n-fatty acid C16:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C16:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C16:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C16:0, δD, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C17:0",
"n-fatty acid C18:0",
"n-fatty acid C18:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C18:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C18:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C18:0, δD, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C20:0",
"n-fatty acid C20:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C20:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C20:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C20:0, δD, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C21:0",
"n-fatty acid C22:0",
"n-fatty acid C22:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C22:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C22:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C22:0, δD, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C23:0",
"n-fatty acid C24:0",
"n-fatty acid C24:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C24:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C24:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C24:0, δD, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C25:0",
"n-fatty acid C26:0",
"n-fatty acid C26:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C26:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C26:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C26:0, δD, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C27:0",
"n-fatty acid C28:0",
"n-fatty acid C28:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C28:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C28:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C29:0",
"n-fatty acid C30:0",
"n-fatty acid C30:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C30:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
"n-fatty acid C30:0, δD",
"n-fatty acid C31:0",
"n-fatty acid C32:0",
"n-fatty acid C32:0, δ13C",
"n-fatty acid C32:0, δ13C, standard deviation",
],
methods: [
"Gas chromatography - Isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC-IRMS)",
],
},
)
Tags: Vegetation ? Biomarker ? Fettsäuremethylester ? Kohlenstoff ? Lösungsmittel ? Wasserstoff ? Schweiz ? Mitteleuropa ? Chromatografie ? Studie ? Sediment ? CSIA ? Holocene ? Lake sediment core ? Rotsee ? Younger Dryas ? d13C ? d2H ? fatty acids ? leaf waxes ? n-alkanes ? plant waxes ?
Region: Rotsee, Switzerland
Bounding boxes: 9.3133333° .. 9.3133333° x 48.0694444° .. 48.0694444°
License: cc-by/4.0
Language: Englisch/English
Issued: 2026-02-17
Modified: 2026-02-17
Time ranges: 2021-10-03 - 2021-10-05
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