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Palaeoclimate inferred from δO and palaeobotanical indicators in freshwater tufa of Lake Äntu Sinijärv, Estonia

Laumets, Liina ; Kalm, Volli ; Poska, Anneli ; Kele, Sándor ; Lasberg, Katrin and Amon, Leeli (2014) In Journal of Paleolimnology 51(1). p.99-111
Abstract
We investigated a 3.75-m-long lacustrine sediment record from Lake Äntu Sinijärv, northern Estonia, which has a modeled basal age >12,800 cal yr BP. Our multi-proxy approach focused on the stable oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of freshwater tufa. Our new palaeoclimate information for the Eastern Baltic region, based on high-resolution δ18O data (219 samples), is supported by pollen and plant macrofossil data. Radiocarbon dates were used to develop a core chronology and estimate sedimentation rates. Freshwater tufa precipitation started ca. 10,700 cal yr BP, ca. 2,000 years later than suggested by previous studies on the same lake. Younger Dryas cooling is documented clearly in Lake Äntu Sinijärv sediments by abrupt appearance of... (More)
We investigated a 3.75-m-long lacustrine sediment record from Lake Äntu Sinijärv, northern Estonia, which has a modeled basal age >12,800 cal yr BP. Our multi-proxy approach focused on the stable oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of freshwater tufa. Our new palaeoclimate information for the Eastern Baltic region, based on high-resolution δ18O data (219 samples), is supported by pollen and plant macrofossil data. Radiocarbon dates were used to develop a core chronology and estimate sedimentation rates. Freshwater tufa precipitation started ca. 10,700 cal yr BP, ca. 2,000 years later than suggested by previous studies on the same lake. Younger Dryas cooling is documented clearly in Lake Äntu Sinijärv sediments by abrupt appearance of diagnostic pollen (Betula nana, Dryas octopetala), highest mineral matter content in sediments (up to 90 %) and low values of δ18O (less than −12 ‰). Globally recognized 9.3- and 8.2-ka cold events are weakly defined by negative shifts in δ18O values, to −11.3 and −11.7 ‰, respectively, and low concentrations of herb pollen and charcoal particles. The Holocene thermal maximum (HTM) is palaeobotanically well documented by the first appearance and establishment of nemoral thermophilous taxa and presence of water lilies requiring warm conditions. Isotope values show an increasing trend during the HTM, from −11.5 to −10.5 ‰. Relatively stable environmental conditions, represented by only a small-scale increase in δ18O (up to 1 ‰) and high pollen concentrations between 5,000 and 3,000 cal yr BP, were followed by a decrease in δ18O, reaching the most negative value (−12.7 ‰) recorded in the freshwater tufa ca. 900 cal yr BP. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Stable oxygen isotopes, Freshwater tufa, Palaeoclimate, Pollen analysis, Estonia
in
Journal of Paleolimnology
volume
51
issue
1
pages
99 - 111
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:84892852622
ISSN
0921-2728
DOI
10.1007/s10933-013-9758-y
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
9a189039-33e2-4f09-b4fd-2d90c1ed6aa5 (old id 4862794)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:44:54
date last changed
2022-01-28 02:20:16
@article{9a189039-33e2-4f09-b4fd-2d90c1ed6aa5,
  abstract     = {{We investigated a 3.75-m-long lacustrine sediment record from Lake Äntu Sinijärv, northern Estonia, which has a modeled basal age >12,800 cal yr BP. Our multi-proxy approach focused on the stable oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of freshwater tufa. Our new palaeoclimate information for the Eastern Baltic region, based on high-resolution δ18O data (219 samples), is supported by pollen and plant macrofossil data. Radiocarbon dates were used to develop a core chronology and estimate sedimentation rates. Freshwater tufa precipitation started ca. 10,700 cal yr BP, ca. 2,000 years later than suggested by previous studies on the same lake. Younger Dryas cooling is documented clearly in Lake Äntu Sinijärv sediments by abrupt appearance of diagnostic pollen (Betula nana, Dryas octopetala), highest mineral matter content in sediments (up to 90 %) and low values of δ18O (less than −12 ‰). Globally recognized 9.3- and 8.2-ka cold events are weakly defined by negative shifts in δ18O values, to −11.3 and −11.7 ‰, respectively, and low concentrations of herb pollen and charcoal particles. The Holocene thermal maximum (HTM) is palaeobotanically well documented by the first appearance and establishment of nemoral thermophilous taxa and presence of water lilies requiring warm conditions. Isotope values show an increasing trend during the HTM, from −11.5 to −10.5 ‰. Relatively stable environmental conditions, represented by only a small-scale increase in δ18O (up to 1 ‰) and high pollen concentrations between 5,000 and 3,000 cal yr BP, were followed by a decrease in δ18O, reaching the most negative value (−12.7 ‰) recorded in the freshwater tufa ca. 900 cal yr BP.}},
  author       = {{Laumets, Liina and Kalm, Volli and Poska, Anneli and Kele, Sándor and Lasberg, Katrin and Amon, Leeli}},
  issn         = {{0921-2728}},
  keywords     = {{Stable oxygen isotopes; Freshwater tufa; Palaeoclimate; Pollen analysis; Estonia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{99--111}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Paleolimnology}},
  title        = {{Palaeoclimate inferred from δO and palaeobotanical indicators in freshwater tufa of Lake Äntu Sinijärv, Estonia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-013-9758-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10933-013-9758-y}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}