Millennial-scale variability in Greenland dust provenance during Dansgaard–Oeschger events of the last glacial period

Greenland ice-core records show an approximately 15-fold increase in dust concentration during cold stadial periods compared to warmer interstadial periods in the last glacial period (LGP). While multiple regions including East Asian deserts and the Sahara have been suggested as potential source areas (PSAs) for Greenland dust, millennial-scale variability of their relative contributions associated with Dansgaard–Oeschger climatic fluctuations during the LGP remains poorly constrained. To address this, we investigate high-resolution (~800 y) Pb and Sr isotopic, mineralogical, and geochemical records from the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling ice-core samples covering the entire LGP. We found that the Pb and Sr isotopic compositions, kaolinite-to-chlorite ratios, and chemical index of alteration values were higher during stadials than during interstadials. Comparison with PSAs suggests that East Asian deserts remained the dominant contributors to Greenland dust throughout the LGP, but contributions from the Sahara increased during stadial intervals. This shift likely reflects climate-driven changes in atmospheric circulation patterns responsible for transporting dust to Greenland. Our findings provide insights into the relationship between dust cycle dynamics and abrupt climate changes on millennial timescales during the LGP.