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This study examines the first precisely dated and temporally highly resolved speleothem record from Iberia that reconstructs the Oldest Dryas (OD). The onset of cold conditions in the study area, contemporary with the beginning of Heinrich Stadial 1, is recorded at 18.13 ± 0.08 ka, with a pronounced drop of 6.1‰ in δ13C in 250 years. Henceforth, stadial conditions depict a period of instability in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, peaking in freshwater input from iceberg melting during Heinrich Event 1. Anomalies in the δ18O of the stalagmite attributed to such a freshwater event are found from 16.17 to 15.89 ka. Such absolute dates given to the onset of the OD in Iberia and to the main iceberg discharges are reliable anchor points for non-absolute chronologies. Two periods are identified in the OD: OD-a (18.13–16.17 ka) is characterized by wet conditions and a faster growth rate, and OD-b (15.89–14.81 ka) exhibits relative dryness and a slower growth rate. The sudden release of fresh water is considered to be the reason for the disruption of rainfall patterns in eastern Iberia. The present study also highlights the existence of heterogeneous and complex hydrological conditions during the OD in Iberia when both Atlantic and Mediterranean realms are considered.

δ 13 C and δ 18 O of recent, continuous tufa records, obtained during a monitoring period spanning 3 to 13 years, are compared with the corresponding, known environmental conditions. Three rivers in NE Iberia (located along a 200-km N–S transect) are used for this comparison. The isotopic variations through space and time are discussed in terms of the environmental and geological parameters that operate on different scales, focusing on discerning the interactions between these parameters and providing examples of possible misinterpretation of climatic conditions, which is important to past climate studies based on isotopic data. The calculation of the actual isotopic fractionation coefficients, and the comparison with the literature-derived coefficients, demonstrates that the studied tufa formation was close to isotopic equilibrium to reflect the water temperature. The difference between mean measured water temperature (Tw) and mean calculated Tw (based on δ 18 O calcite and measured δ 18 O water ) is less than 2.7 °C. Tendencies of these calculated Tw are similar to the regional air temperature (Tair) tendencies through time, in particular in the case of the 13-year record, although certain deviations exist over shorter time spans. The best agreement between measured and calculated Tw and between δ 18 O calcite -based Tw tendencies and Tair tendencies corresponds to the tufa stromatolite facies. Differences between the δ 18 O calcite records of the three rivers cannot be attributed to temperature changes, but to the varying influences of groundwater inputs and isotopic rainfall composition in each river. Without considering these parameters, δ 18 O calcite -based Tw calculations yield inaccurate results when comparing the study sites. δ 13 C calcite values do not exhibit distinct patterns over time, and δ 13 C calcite variations are likely caused by local processes that do not reflect general environmental changes. These findings underscore the significance of accounting for both groundwater behaviour and rainfall stable isotope composition when interpreting climate parameters in carbonate systems, particularly when differences between the isotopic signatures of deposits exist in the same region.