Ice-core pollen record of climatic changes in the central Andes during the last 400 yr

This paper presents a high-resolution ice-core pollen record from the Sajama Ice Cap, Bolivia, that spans the last 400 yr. The pollen record corroborates the oxygen isotopic and ice accumulation records from the Quelccaya Ice Cap and supports the scenario that the Little Ice Age (LIA) consisted of two distinct phases—a wet period from AD 1500 to 1700, and a dry period from AD 1700 to 1880. During the dry period xerophytic shrubs expanded to replace puna grasses on the Altiplano, as suggested by a dramatic drop in the Poaceae/Asteraceae (P/A) pollen ratio. The environment around Sajama was probably similar to the desert-like shrublands of the Southern Bolivian Highlands and western Andean slopes today. The striking similarity between the Sajama and Quelccaya proxy records suggests that climatic changes during the Little Ice Age occurred synchronously across the Altiplano.     

Magnetic polarity zonation within the El Teniente copper–molybdenum porphyry deposit, central Chile

El Teniente porphyry copper deposit, the world’s greatest intrusion-related Cu–Mo ore body, is hosted within basaltic–andesitic volcanic and gabbroic rocks (mafic complex). This ore body is strongly affected by multiple events of alteration/mineralization with pervasive potassic and chloritic alteration and coetaneous with associated copper mineralization. We present paleomagnetic results obtained from oriented samples at four locations within the mine and from two drill cores, 200 and 400 m long, respectively. Samples are representative of all the main hydrothermally altered rock units, with emphasis on the mafic host rock and dacitic (Teniente dacite porphyry) and dioritic porphyry intrusions. Magnetic experiments [hysteresis loop, isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), k–T curves, thermal, and alternating field demagnetization] show the presence of prevailing magnetite. Microscope and SEM observations show two families of magnetite, (a) large multidomain magnetite grains, associated with biotite and chlorite of various different hydrothermal alteration events, and (b) abundant small to medium grain-size magnetite (<10 μm) contained within plagioclase, either related to an early Na–Ca–Fe alteration or included within plagioclase during magmatic crystal growth. While the Teniente dacite porphyry and the quartz diorite–tonalite have low magnetic susceptibility (<0.0005 SI) and low natural remanent magnetization (NRM, 10⁻⁴–10⁻³ Am⁻¹), the mineralized mafic host rocks have usually high susceptibility (>0.01 and up to 0.2 SI) with NRM in the range 0.1–2 Am⁻¹. Most mafic complex rock samples have univectorial magnetizations during alternating field or thermal demagnetization. Within the mine, the magnetic polarity is spatially distributed. In the northern part of the deposit, the Teniente dacite porphyry, the associated hydrothermal breccias, and the hosting mafic complex record a reverse polarity magnetization, also observed in the El Teniente sub-6 mine sector immediately to the east and southeast. In the eastern part of the deposit, a normal polarity is observed for samples of the mafic complex from the two long drill cores. There is no evidence for superimposed magnetizations of opposite polarities in samples of the mafic complex. Anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) in a DC field of 40 μT and NRM have similar magnitude and comparable behavior upon alternating field demagnetization. The well-defined strong remanent magnetizations associated with high unblocking temperatures (>500°C) indicate an acquisition of remanent magnetization during mineralization by circulating high temperature fluids related with ore deposition. Paleomagnetic results and the recorded polarity zonation suggest multiple mineralization events occurred at El Teniente, each one with its own evolution stages, superimposed within the district. These results indicate that a simplified broad four-stage model for El Teniente, as presented and overly employed by many authors, divided in (1) late magmatic, (2) main hydrothermal, (3) late hydrothermal, and (4) posthumous stage, does not recognize various short-lived single mineralization events, some superimposed and some distinctly separated in time and space. There is no paleomagnetic evidence for post-mineralization deformation     

A 2000-yr reconstruction of air temperature in the Great Basin of the United States with specific reference to the Medieval Climatic Anomaly

A sediment core representing the past two millennia was recovered from Stella Lake in the Snake Range of the central Great Basin in Nevada. The core was analyzed for sub-fossil chironomids and sediment organic content. A quantitative reconstruction of mean July air temperature (MJAT) was developed using a regional training set and a chironomid-based WA-PLS inference model (r²_jack = 0.55, RMSEP = 0.9°C). The chironomid-based MJAT reconstruction suggests that the interval between AD 900 and AD 1300, corresponding to the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA), was characterized by MJAT elevated 1.0°C above the subsequent Little Ice Age (LIA), but likely not as warm as recent conditions. Comparison of the Stella Lake temperature reconstruction to previously published paleoclimate records from this region indicates that the temperature fluctuations inferred to have occurred at Stella Lake between AD 900 and AD 1300 correspond to regional records documenting hydroclimate variability during the MCA interval. The Stella Lake record provides evidence that elevated summer temperature contributed to the increased aridity that characterized the western United States during the MCA.     

Temporal evolution of sediment supply in Lago Puyehue (Southern Chile) during the last 600 yr and its climatic significance

Short-term climate changes in Southern Chile are investigated by a multi-proxy analysis of a 53-cm-long sedimentary sequence selected among eight short cores retrieved in Lago Puyehue (Chile, 40°S). This core contains a 600-yr-long undisturbed record of paleo-precipitation changes. Two measurement methods for sediment density, organic matter and biogenic silica contents are compared and the most appropriate techniques are selected. Together with aluminium and titanium concentrations, grain size and geochemical properties of the organic matter, these proxies are used to demonstrate paleo-precipitation changes around 40°S. Increase of terrigenous particle supply between A.D. 1490 and A.D. 1700 suggests a humid period. Contemporaneously, δ¹³C data show increasing lake productivity, in response to the high nutrient supply. The A.D. 1700-1900 interval is characterized by a decreasing terrigenous supply and increasing δ¹³C values, interpreted as a drying period. The magnetic susceptibility signal, reflecting the terrigenous/biogenic ratio, demonstrates that similar variations occur in all the undisturbed sedimentary environments of Lago Puyehue. The A.D. 1490-1700 wet period is associated with the onset of the European Little Ice Age (LIA) and interpreted as its local signature. This work supports the fact that the LIA was a global event, not only restricted to the Northern Hemisphere.     

Relationship between magnetic properties and heavy metals of urban soils with different soil types and environmental settings: implications for magnetic mapping

Two types of soil (fluvisols and anthrosols) were collected from different environmental settings (suburb and industrial area) in Wuhan, central China, aiming to examine the applicability of magnetic mapping for heavy metal pollution of urban soil in a large region. Magnetic measurements and chemical analysis indicated elevated magnetization and heavy metal concentrations of topsoils in the industrial area. Magnetic susceptibility (χ), anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) of fluvisols are much higher than those of anthrosols, but contrary for frequency-dependent susceptibility, indicating that soil magnetism strongly depends on the soil type/condition. Predominant magnetic carrier in topsoils in industrial area is pseudo-single-domain/multi-domain magnetite. Environmental scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray examination of the magnetic extracts from these topsoils revealed abundant spherical particles with diameters of 10–50 μm that are rich in iron-oxides, and could be attributed to the nearby industrial activities (e.g., steel work and power generation). Significant correlations were observed between magnetic concentration-related parameters (e.g., χ, ARM and SIRM) and concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg and Tomlinson pollution load index. These results proposed that magnetic proxy mapping of soil pollution is an effective, fast and inexpensive tool for delineation of heavy metal pollution. However, interpretation of magnetic properties for such a purpose must be done on a site-specific basis, taking into account the possibilities of pedogenic enhancement/depletion under the specific soil conditions.     

The Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age from a sediment record of Lake Ebinur,northwest China

Ma, L., Wu, J., Yu, H., Zeng, H. & Abuduwaili, J. 2011: The Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age from a sediment record of Lake Ebinur, northwest China. Boreas, Vol. 40, pp. 518–524. 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00200.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. Lake Ebinur, Xinjiang, northwest China, is a closed‐basin, shallow lake that responds rapidly to changes in the ratio of precipitation to evaporation (P/E). A sediment record spanning the last 1500 years was obtained from the lake. We used δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C in bulk carbonate, and δ¹³C of organic matter in the lake sediments to infer environmental changes in the Ebinur region during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). Decreased δ¹⁸O values of carbonate largely reflect an enhanced P/E ratio within the basin and a higher lake level. Bulk carbonates with higher δ¹³C values are deposited during periods when lake‐water pH is high, while lower δ¹³C values reflect a lower pH in the water column. δ¹³C in organic matter is associated with the amount of precipitation. The results indicate that the Ebinur region experienced a dry MWP and a wet LIA, although the MWP and LIA were warm and cold periods, respectively, as expected. Furthermore, the MWP and LIA were hydrologically complex and cannot be characterized as uniformly wet or dry. Peak wet periods are recorded in the sediment core around AD 1000, 1400 and 1700, and a dry event also occurred in the period of temperature change within the LIA (cold to warm around AD 1500). A comparison of the Lake Ebinur data with proxy records for the strength of the Siberian High and climate proxy indicators suggests that precipitation in the Ebinur region was a consequence, in part, of an enhanced Siberian High during the LIA.     

Sediment magnetic properties of glacial till deposited since the Little Ice Age maximum for selected glaciers at Svartisen and Okstindan, northern Norway

Samples of glacial till deposited since the Little Ice Age (LIA) maximum by two glaciers, North Bogbre at Svartisen and Corneliussen-breen at Okstindan, northern Norway, were obtained from transects running from the current glacier snout to the LIA (c. AD 1750) limit. The samples were analysed to determine their sediment magnetic properties, which display considerable variability. Significant trends in some magnetic parameters are evident with distance from the glacier margin and hence length of subaerial exposure. Magnetic susceptibility (χ) decreases away from the contemporary snout, perhaps due to the weathering of ferrimagnetic minerals into antiferromagnetic forms, although this trend is generally not statistically significant. Trends in the ratios of soft IRM/hard IRM which are statistically significant support this hypothesis, suggesting that antiferromagnetic minerals are increasing relative to ferrimagnetic minerals towards the LIA maximum. Backfield ratios (IRM -100 mT/SIRM) also display a significant and strong trend towards magnetically harder behaviour with proximity to the LIA maximum. Thus, by employing a chronosequence approach, it may be possible to use sediment magnetics data as a tool for reconstructing glacier retreat in areas where more traditional techniques, such as lichenometry, are not applicable.     

Holocene climate inferred from glacier extent,lake sediment and tree rings at Goat Lake,Kenai Mountains,Alaska, USA

Lake sediment, glacier extent and tree rings were used to reconstruct Holocene climate changes from Goat Lake at 550 m asl in the Kenai Mountains, south‐central Alaska. Radiocarbon‐dated sediment cores taken at 55 m water depth show glacial‐lacustrine conditions until about 9500 cal. yr BP, followed by organic‐rich sedimentation with an overall increasing trend in organic matter and biogenic silica content leading up to the Little Ice Age (LIA). Through most of the Holocene, the northern outlet of the Harding Icefield remained below the drainage divide that currently separates it from Goat Lake. A sharp transition from gyttja to inorganic mud about AD 1660 signifies the reappearance of glacier meltwater into Goat Lake during the LIA, marking the maximum Holocene (postglacial) extent. Meltwater continued to discharge into the lake until about AD 1900. A 207 yr tree‐ring series from 25 mountain hemlocks growing in the Goat Lake watershed correlates with other regional tree‐ring series that indicate an average summer temperature reduction of about 1°C during the 19th century compared with the early–mid 20th century. Cirque glaciers around Goat Lake reached their maximum LIA extent in the late 19th century. Assuming that glacier equilibrium‐line altitudes (ELA) are controlled solely by summer temperature, then the cooling of 1°C combined with the local environmental lapse rate would indicate an ELA lowering of 170 m. In contrast, reconstructed ELAs of 12 cirque glaciers near Goat Lake average only 34 ± 18 m lower during the LIA. The restricted ELA lowering can be explained by a reduction in accumulation‐season precipitation caused by a weakening of the Aleutian low‐pressure system during the late LIA. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3500年来祁连山中段天鹅湖岩芯记录的沉积环境变化

湖泊沉积,特别是内陆高山封闭湖泊沉积是古气候研究的重要载体,可以高分辨率、敏感地记录连续的古气候环境变化。选取祁连山中段天鹅湖沉积岩芯TEB孔的10个陆生植物残体进行AMS 14C测年并建立年代框架,结合对总有机碳（TOC）含量、矿物成分及元素相对含量等指标的分析结果,重建了天鹅湖3 500年来的沉积环境变化特征。初步研究结果表明:碳酸盐含量变化主要受控于地下水补给量的变化,进而反映区域降水量,1 534 BC~1 300 AD期间,天鹅湖区降水呈减少的趋势,尤其是中世纪暖期（720~1 300 AD）,是3 500年来最干旱的时期;小冰期开始于1 300 AD,共出现三次降水较多的时期,1 600~1 730 AD为小冰期最盛期。受西风环流影响,天鹅湖沉积记录了该区域中世纪暖期相对暖干,而小冰期较为冷湿的变化特征。同时,该湖记录的小冰期气候相比于中世纪暖期更不稳定。     

Barrier island response to late Holocene climate events, North Carolina, USA

The Outer Banks barrier islands of North Carolina, USA, contain a geologic record of inlet activity that extends from ca. 2200 cal yr BP to the present, and can be used as a proxy for storm activity. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating (26 samples) of inlet-fill and flood tide delta deposits, recognized in cores and geophysical data, provides the basis for understanding the chronology of storm impacts and comparison to other paleoclimate proxy data. OSL ages of historical inlet fill compare favorably to historical documentation of inlet activity, providing confidence in the technique. Comparison suggests that the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and Little Ice Age (LIA) were both characterized by elevated storm conditions as indicated by much greater inlet activity relative to today. Given present understanding of atmospheric circulation patterns and sea-surface temperatures during the MWP and LIA, we suggest that increased inlet activity during the MWP responded to intensified hurricane impacts, while elevated inlet activity during the LIA was in response to increased nor'easter activity. A general decrease in storminess at mid-latitudes in the North Atlantic over the last 300 yr has allowed the system to evolve into a more continuous barrier with few inlets.     

Composite detrital and thermal remanent magnetization in tuffs from Aeolian Islands (southern Tyrrhenian Sea) revealed by magnetic anisotropy

This paper reports on the complex relation between rock emplacement and remanence acquisition in tuffs deposited by pyroclastic density currents, disclosed by systematic measurements of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and natural remanent magnetization (NRM). Thermal demagnetization shows that the NRM consists of two components with different blocking-temperature spectra. The direction of the low-temperature component is consistent with the geocentric axial dipole value, whereas the high-temperature component has dispersed directions. The magnetic fabric is oblate, the magnetic foliation is close to the bedding and the lineations are generally dispersed along a girdle within the foliation plane. The directions of the magnetic lineation and the high-temperature remanence component of individual specimens are close to each other. This correspondence suggests that the high blocking-temperature grains acquired a remanence aligned to their long dimension before deposition, while cooling within the explosive cloud and the moving pyroclastic current. Thereafter, during deposition, the traction processes at the base of the current oriented the grains along the flow direction and affected both fabric and high-temperature remanence. This NRM component results from mechanical orientation of previously magnetized grains and is thus detrital in origin. A second, thermal component was then acquired during the cooling of the low blocking-temperature grains after deposition. These results show that NRM in fine-grained pyroclastic rocks is affected by the Earth’s magnetic field as well as the emplacement processes and that magnetic fabric data are essential to unravel its complex nature.     

Shallow-marine sediment cores record climate variability and earthquake activity off Lisbon (Portugal) for the last 2000 years

Sea Surface Temperature (SST), river discharge and biological productivity have been reconstructed from a multi-proxy study of a high-temporal-resolution sedimentary sequence recovered from the Tagus deposition center off Lisbon (Portugal) for the last 2000 years. SST shows 2 °C variability on a century scale that allows the identification of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA).High Iron (Fe) and fine-sediment deposition accompanied by high n-alkane concentrations and presence of freshwater diatoms during the LIA (1300–1900 AD) (Science 292 (2001) 662) suggest augmented river discharge, whereas higher total-alkenone concentrations point to increased river-induced productivity. During the MWP (550–1300 AD) (Science 292 (2001) 662) larger mean-grain size and low values of magnetic susceptibility, and concentrations of Fe, n-alkanes, and n-alcohols are interpreted to reflect decreased runoff. At the same time, increased benthic and planktonic foraminifera abundances and presence of upwelling related diatoms point to increased oceanic productivity. On the basis of the excellent match found between the negative phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index and the intensified Tagus River discharge observed for the last century, it is hypothesized that the increased influx of terrigenous material during the LIA reflects a negative NAO-like state or the occurrence of frequent extreme NAO minima. During the milder few centuries of the MWP, stronger coastal upwelling conditions are attributed to a persistent, positive NAO-like state or the frequent occurrence of extreme NAO maxima.The peak in magnetic susceptibility, centered at 90 cm composite core depth (ccd), is interpreted as the result of the well-known 1755 AD Lisbon earthquake. The Lisbon earthquake and accompanying tsunami are estimated to have caused the loss of 39 cm of sediment (355 years of record—most of the LIA) and the instantaneous deposition of a 19-cm sediment bed.     

从古里雅冰芯与祁连山树轮记录看过去2000年气候变化

通过藏南沉错湖芯的210Pb和137Cs的测试,获得湖芯的平均沉积速率为0.16cm/a.根据湖芯长度和分样间距,获得平均分辨率为6～7年,长达1 350年的连续湖芯环境序列.对湖芯样品磁学指标的低频磁化率(Xlf)、等温剩磁(IRM)、饱和等温剩磁(SIRM)、非滞后剩磁(ARM)等指标及其比值的测试,划分了650 A D.以来沉错湖区的冷暖变化阶段和相对强度.结果表明,690～860A D.和1 120～1 320 A.D.分别出现两个相对集中的暖期,每个暖期中间又具有相对寒冷时段.1 520～1 650A.D.出现寒冷时段之后,1 820A D.左右直至现在环境又逐渐进入转暖时期.在3个暖期中,以1 220A.D.前后的温暖程度最强,而冷期中以1 610～1 650A.D.达到最盛.沉错湖区冷暖环境的演变得到了其他资料的很好验证.     

The role of hematite–ilmenite solid solution in the production of magnetic anomalies in ground- and satellite-based data

Remanent magnetization (RM) of rocks with hematite–ilmenite solid solution (HISS) minerals, at all crustal levels, may be an important contribution to magnetic anomalies measured by ground and satellite altitude surveys. The possibility that lower thermal gradient relatively deep in the crust can result in exsolution of HISS compositions with strong remanent magnetizations (RM) was studied for two bulk compositions within the HISS system. Samples from granulite-terrane around Wilson Lake, Labrador, Canada contains titanohematite with exsolved ferrian ilmenite lamellae. Other samples from the anorthosite-terrane of Allard Lake, Quebec, Canada contain ferrian ilmenite with exsolved titanohematite lamellae. In both cases, the final exsolved titanohematite has similar Ti content and carries dominant magnetic remanence with REM (=NRM/SIRM, where NRM is the natural remanent magnetization and SIRM is the saturation isothermal remanent magnetization) that is comparable to the Ti-free end member. The RM was acquired prior to exsolution and the ilmeno-hematite-rich rock possesses thermal remanent magnetization (TRM), whereas rocks with hemo-ilmenite possess chemical remanent magnetization (CRM). In both cases, we found fairly large homogeneous grains with low demagnetizing energy that acquired intense RM. The magnetism of the ilmeno-hematite solid solution phases is not significantly perturbed by the continuous reaction: ilmeno-hematitetitanohematite solid solution. Hence, the occurrence of HISS in rocks that cooled slowly in a low intensity magnetic field will have an intense magnetic signature characterized by a large REM.     

红粘土的磁学性质研究

本文对陕西宝鸡剖面红粘土上部进行了详细的岩石磁学研究，确定了该地区红粘土的主要磁性矿物是磁铁矿。赤铁矿相对含量很少，对剩余磁性贡献较小。磁性质不稳定的磁赤铁矿存在于红粘土中，但不影响剩磁稳定性。特征剩磁载体主要是磁铁矿。磁性矿物的粒度是以准单畴为主。红粘土的短时间弛豫粘滞剩磁很强，因此在零磁空间进行退磁和剩磁测量是非常重要的。     

NEW MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHIC AND SEDIMENTOLOGIC RESULTS FROM TERTIARY SEDIMENTS OF THE HOH XIL BASIN, NORTHERN QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CENOZOIC TECTONIC HISTORY OF THE TIBET PLATEAU

NEW MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHIC AND SEDIMENTOLOGIC RESULTS FROM TERTIARY SEDIMENTS OF THE HOH XIL BASIN, NORTHERN QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CENOZOIC TECTONIC HISTORY OF THE TIBET PLATEAU     

Depositional magnetization of Carboniferous Limestones from the Craven Basin of northern England

Carboniferous Limestones in the Craven Basin of northern England carry a stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) the intensity of which is facies dependent. Dark argillaceous limestones are most strongly magnetized and pure, pale coloured limestones most weakly magnetized. Partial thermal and alternating field demagnetization suggest that magnetite is the principal carrier of the remanence although some haematite is present in the limestone. The presence of magnetite is confirmed by the low temperature transition, isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM build-up curves) and microprobe analysis. Partial demagnetization of IRM and ARM suggest that the magnetite is relatively coarse grained and in the multidomain state. There are no indications of pseudo-single domain behaviour but magnetite of this type cannot be excluded as a possible remanence carrier. A grain size estimate of 10–20 μm based on coercive force and remanent coercive force is compatible with the theoretical consideration of grain size. The limestones show a weak but marked magnetic susceptibility anisotropy. This anisotropy defines a depositional fabric which indicates that the magnetization is a depositional remanent magnetization (DRM). A DRM was acquired by each specimen before compaction and cementation and was preserved because of the reducing conditions which prevailed in the early diagenetic environments of the limestones.     

马兰黄土和离石黄土的磁学性质

中国黄土-古土壤系列的磁学性质,如磁化率等被广泛用于古气候和古环境研究,这必须建立在对黄土-古土壤的剩磁的性质和获得剩磁的机制以及古土壤磁性增强的原因有深入了解的基础之上。作者通过对洛川和吉县剖面马兰黄土和离石黄土的磁学性质的深入研究,对黄土与古土壤磁学性质差异的各种表现,对它们剩磁的性质,对古土壤磁性增强的原因以及磁性变化对古气候、古环境研究的意义进行了讨论,并对利用某些磁学性质建立的黄土-古土壤形成的时间模式提出了质疑。     

Preliminary magnetostratigraphic dating of Paleogene lacustrine sediments from the Shandong Province, East China

A detailed magnetostratigraphic and rock magnetic study was conducted on Tertiary lacustrine/fluvial sediments from Jiyang, Shandong, East China. High temperature susceptibility variation and thermal demagnetization show that magnetite is the main magnetic remanence carrier. The characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) was isolated above 150 °C by thermal demagnetization, and a detailed magnetic polarity sequence was established. The lacustrine/fluvial sediments were dated from polarity chron C18n.1r to polarity chron C15n, i.e., within the interval 39.631–34.655 Ma. The results of this study indicate the likelihood that either no hydrocarbon-bearing fluids were present after 34.655 Ma or, if there was any such fluid flow, the fluids must have gone through the section very quickly, without having any significant influence on the magnetic signal.     

A chironomid-based reconstruction of summer temperatures in NW Iceland since AD 1650

Few studies currently exist that aim to validate a proxy chironomid-temperature reconstruction with instrumental temperature measurements. We used a reconstruction from a chironomid percentage abundance data set to produce quantitative summer temperature estimates since AD 1650 for NW Iceland through a transfer function approach, and validated the record against instrumental temperature measurements from Stykkishólmur in western Iceland. The core was dated through Pb-210, Cs-137 and tephra analyses (Hekla 1693) which produced a well-constrained dating model across the whole study period. Little catchment disturbance, as shown through geochemical (Itrax) and loss-on-ignition data, throughout the period further reinforce the premise that the chironomids were responding to temperature and not other catchment or within-lake variables. Particularly cold phases were identified between AD 1683–1710, AD 1765–1780 and AD 1890–1917, with relative drops in summer temperatures in the order of 1.5–2°C. The timing of these cold phases agree well with other evidence of cooler temperatures, notably increased extent of Little Ice Age (LIA) glaciers. Our evidence suggests that the magnitude of summer temperature cooling (1.5–2°C) was enough to force LIA Icelandic glaciers into their maximum Holocene extent, which is in accordance with previous modelling experiments for an Icelandic ice cap (Langjökull).