Isotopic ratios of Sr and Nd from lithogenic components of three
isochronous core sections recovered from an east-west transect in the
Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) have been analyzed. The data are used
for a quantitative estimate of the temporal and spatial variation of
detrital flux to the EMS, assuming Saharan dust arid Aegean/Nile
particulate matter as dominant end members. It was established that the
carbonate-free Saharan dust flux during deposition of the nonsapropel
layers of marine oxygen isotope stage 5.4 (MIS 5.4) was similar to the
present flux. During the deposition of sapropels S5 and S6. however. the
Saharan dust input was drastically reduced and was not balanced by a
change in the riverine influx at this time. Denser vegetation cover
during more humid conditions may have reduced physical erosion and
sediment removal in the source area. During marine oxygen isotope stage
6.2 (MIS 6.2) a pronounced increase of Saharan dust and detrital influx
from the Aegean region is evident and implies more and conditions in the
southern and northern catchment areas. During this period, intersite
variations are interpreted in terms of their geographic location
relative to the seaways connecting the Aegean Sea and EMS. The width of
the straits and hence the amount of sediment entering the eastern basins
may have been affected by a low sea level that impeded interbasin
sediment dispersal. Copyright (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.