西天山温泉地区全新世沉积物元素地球化学记录及其古环境意义

通过对西天山温泉湿地钻孔沉积物Rb/Sr、Sr/Ca、Ti/Sr、Mg/Ca、Zr/Sr 5种特征元素比值综合分析与对比研究,识别温泉湿地全新世气候变化驱动模式。结果表明：（1）温泉湿地沉积物提供了新疆全新世气候变化的可靠记录,其全新世气候经历了暖干（10300—7700 cal a BP）-暖干向温湿过渡期（7700—7000 cal a BP）-温湿（7000—4200 cal a BP）-温干（4200—2900 cal a BP）-冷湿（2900—81 cal a BP）5个阶段变化过程。（2）与邻近区域其他替代性指标所指示的气候变化相吻合,验证了新疆地区全新世早期暖干、中晚期冷湿的气候变化模式,表明新疆地区全新世气候类似于西风模式。（3）温泉湿地沉积物化学元素比值在7700—7000 cal a BP期间指示的降温过程是8200 cal a BP全球变冷事件的响应;4200—2900 cal a BP期间指示的升温过程或许与3000—2900 cal a BP敦德冰芯反映的全新世次高温事件相关。同时,与周边区域其他替代性指标对比发现,新疆地区逐渐湿润的变化趋势可能是全新世温度...     

晚冰期以来乌伦古湖沉积物多指标高分辨率的古环境演化

对位于北疆福海县的乌伦古湖Ulungur10B孔岩芯进行分析,以AMS~(14)C测年为年代框架,结合粒度、烧失量和色度指标重建了该地区12.3 cal ka BP以来的古环境演化。结果显示:12.3~11.2 cal ka BP期间,湖泊有机质含量较高,区域有效湿度较大;11.2~7.4 cal ka BP期间,沉积物平均粒径大,有机质含量低,色度a*值、b*值偏大,区域气候冷干,湖面水位较低;7.4~4.3 cal kaBP期间,沉积物平均粒径减小,有机质含量升高,色度a*值、b*值减小,区域气候暖湿,湖泊水位较高;4.3 cal ka BP以来指标在波动中变化,反映湖泊水位在波动中变化,区域有效湿度有所降低。乌伦古湖晚冰期以来古环境演化与周边环境记录一致,气候变化模式符合中亚干旱区全新世气候变化的西风模式。     

晚冰期以来河西走廊花海古湖泊演化过程及其对气候变化的响应

通过分析河西走廊花海古湖泊沉积物中的盐类矿物组成,结合年代序列,重建了花海晚冰期以来湖泊演化过程及其对气候变化的响应。结果表明：晚冰期及新仙女木时期,花海湖泊以芒硝沉积为主,属硫酸盐型湖泊,湖水的盐度较高且周期性波动频繁;全新世早期（10.47 cal ka BP以前）,湖泊以洪泛堆积和风成沉积为主,揭示了湖泊萎缩、甚至干涸;全新世早期至全新世中期（10.47～8.87 cal ka BP）盐类矿物以碳酸盐沉积为主,为碳酸盐型湖泊,湖水淡化,湖泊水位开始逐渐回升;全新世中期（8.87～5.50 cal ka BP）盐类矿物呈现一定的波动变化,其中,8.8 cal ka BP 时期盐类矿物以硫酸盐沉积为主,湖泊由碳酸盐型转化为硫酸盐型,湖水咸化,盐度升高;随后盐类矿物以碳酸盐沉积为主,湖泊由硫酸盐型转化为碳酸盐型,湖水盐度降低、湖泊扩张;全新世中晚期（5.50 cal ka BP以来）出现沉积间断,表明中晚全新世时期湖泊逐渐萎缩。在全新世期间,花海湖泊千年尺度演化过程揭示了该区域气候干湿状况受亚洲季风和西风共同控制的影响。     

珠江三角洲三水盆地早全新世以来 孢粉分析与古环境重建

为了深入探讨珠江三角洲的沉积古环境和古气候历史,在三水市区获取了2个高取芯率的钻孔岩芯,进行了12个AMS 14C测年,并结合孢粉、硅藻等分析结果探讨三水地区全新世的海平面与河流水动力变化,以及古植被演替过程。结果表明：钻孔所在区域全新世沉积总体从9 000 cal. a B.P.左右开始,呈现河流相―河湾相―河口湾相―潮坪相―河口湾相―河漫滩相的演变过程。三水区的早全新世沉积阶段年代最早为9 000 cal. a B.P.左右,表现为河口湾相的淤泥质粉砂沉积,硅藻以淡水种类为主,最高沉积速率为1.6 cm/a。海侵初始时间为8 700 cal. a B.P.左右,最高海平面时间为7 600 cal. a B.P.左右,此时海岸带发育红树林,丘陵山地发育较茂盛的亚常绿热带常绿阔叶林;中―晚全新世阶段（6 500―2 200 cal. a B.P.）,以泥炭粉砂沉积为主,沉积速率为0.2~0.5 cm/a,河口区高潮线附近及河流弯道低洼滩地在5 000 cal. a B.P.前后形成淡水沼泽、河口三角洲边缘区洼地水松林发育。在晚全新世（2 200 cal. a B.P.左右）以来,陆相黏土质沉积指示河口泥沙快速堆积,三角洲平原迅速扩大,沉积速率高达1.7 cm/a。孢粉结果显示次生的芒箕孢子剧增,陆地植被稀疏,人类活动显著增强。     

黄旗海岩芯烧失量分析与冰后期环境演变

重建闭流型湖泊的水位及环境变化,可以为研究冰后期及全新世以来的气候变化及季风环流演变提供不可或缺的关键信息。对HQH4岩芯烧失量与川蔓藻化石种子的研究结果显示,黄旗海湖区在全新世到来之前的气候寒冷,湖面冰封期较长,夏季温度较低,致使湖泊的有机生产率和自生碳酸盐产量比全新世低很多。黄旗海从全新世早期起进入了稳定的湖泊发展阶段后有机生产率显著上升,自生碳酸盐产量同步大幅度增长。在10 200~6 800 a BP期间,烧失量出现显著波动,很大程度上反映了气候发生暖湿-冷干-暖湿-冷湿的变化。在6 800~3 800 a BP期间,烧失量较高而且波动较小,反映了中全新世黄旗海以稳定的温暖湿润气候为主,湖水水位变化不大,有机质和碳酸盐生产力较高。从3 800 a BP起,气候逐渐变凉,间有多次冷暖干湿的剧烈变化,水位波动频繁。     

阿拉善地区湖泊岩芯磁性特征记录的全新世环境变化

对居延海G36钻孔进行了系统磁性特征分析,并结合总有机碳含量和粒度等环境代用指标,在精确测年的基础上,探讨了居延海地区全新世时期以来的环境变化。结果显示,居延海岩芯磁性矿物主要存在于粗颗粒的沉积物中,载磁矿物为颗粒较粗的多畴磁铁矿;磁化率变化机制比较复杂,与干湿环境变化没有简单正（反）关系。根据G36沉积物环境代用指标的变化,大致可以将其分为4个干湿交替时期:6 700~4 600 a BP干旱时期,4 600~3 100 a BP湿润时期,3 100~2 500 a BP干旱时期以及1 800 a BP以来湖泊干涸。在这4个时期中,磁学参数记录了两次显著湿润事件和两次显著干旱事件。     

曹娥江下游XYC孔粒度特征及沉积记录

基于曹娥江下游星一村钻孔(XYC)1717个沉积物样品的粒度分析,探讨钱塘江南岸地区全新世沉积环境记录。初步结论如下：①基于粒度组成,XYC孔沉积物分为粉砂质砂、砂质粉砂、粉砂、粘土质粉砂等4种岩性,自下而上分为9个单元,组成多个粒度粗细变化旋回。其中,第1、4两层为粉砂质砂,砂含量高于粉砂,粘粒含量10%~15%,分选差,动力条件复杂;第3、5两层属砂质粉砂,粉砂为主但含量不超过70%,砂含量20%以上,粘粒含量低;第2、7、9三层为粉砂,粉砂含量超过70%,粘粒、砂含量均低于20%;第6、8两层为粘土质粉砂,粉砂含量高于70%,粘粒含量20%以上。②基于C-M图最大搬运动能和平均搬运动能强弱及其变化幅度分析,初步识别出4种沉积相,自下而上依次为河流相、潮坪相、浅海相、湖沼相。第1、2两层为高能且不稳定的水动力搬运环境,属河流相沉积;第3~7层,最大搬运动能减弱,搬运动力与上虞近海滩涂样品SYTT相似,为潮坪相沉积;第8~9层,搬运动能低且变幅小,属低能静水沉积环境;第8层下段为浅海相,该层上段至第9层为湖沼相。③粒度纵向变化表明,粘粒含量自下而上波动增加;砂含量自下而上波动减少,平均粒径向上变细、分选性向上变好。XYC孔记录了该地区9690~5131 cal.a BP时段海面上升,达到高海面继而又海退的过程。研究结果有利于进一步探索钱塘江流域的古环境演变特征。     

苏北平原周庄镇浅钻沉积物粘土矿物分布特征及其环境意义

利用X衍射法分析了苏北平原浅钻剖面(YZ1)的粘土矿物类型和含量,并对其环境意义进行了探讨。结果表明,YZ1浅钻沉积物粘土成分主要由4种粘土矿物(伊利石、高岭石、绿泥石、蒙脱石)和少量长石、石英碎屑组成;研究区的古气候环境演变主要经历3个阶段,13 770~11 600 cal a B.P.期间的低温冷干阶段;11 600~9 610cal a B.P.期间的逐步升温阶段;9 610~1 520 cal a B.P.期间的全新世暖湿阶段,在这3个大的阶段背景条件下也存在一些次级波动。     

晚冰期以来大柴旦盐湖沉积记录的古气候演变及其尘暴事件

选择大柴旦盐湖DCD03沉积剖面柱硼镁石矿层下伏土黄色淤泥质粉砂层为研究对象,基于AMS ~(14)C年代学、岩性地层学、矿物学以及地球化学等研究方法,旨在探讨土黄色湖相淤泥质粉砂沉积记录的尘暴事件,以及重建晚冰期以来西风环流显著影响区的水文气候变化。研究结果表明,DCD03沉积剖面的淤泥质粉砂样品粒度频率曲线呈现为双峰态,主峰(均值10μm)反映了河流作用携带入湖的细粒组分,次峰(32μm)则反映了风力作用以及河流作用等携带入湖的粗粉砂粒组分。大于64μm的砂砾组分可能代表外源风尘物质的输入,由尘暴天气携带入湖。大柴旦地区晚冰期以来依次出现了博令和阿勒罗德暖期(12.94～12.17 cal.ka BP)、新仙女木冷期(12.17～11.37 cal.ka BP)、不稳定的早全新世气候(11.37～8.64 cal.ka BP)以及趋于偏冷干的中全新世早期(8.64～7.39 cal.ka BP)。     

毛乌素沙地东缘中全新世以来环境变化及其对文明演化的影响初探北大核心CSCD

毛乌素沙地全新世风成沉积为探讨气候变化与文明演化之间的关系提供了可能。本文通过对毛乌素沙地东缘全新世中晚期寨山剖面沉积物的磁学参数、色度、CaCO含量和粒度进行分析,重建了该区域环境变化历史,并初步探讨了环境变化对文明演化的影响。结果表明:该区域6 800-1 500 cal a BP分别经历了一次气候暖湿期(6 800-5 500 cal a BP)、一次气候相对暖干期(5 500-4 000 cal a BP)和一次气候相对暖湿期(4 000-1 500 cal a BP)。毛乌素沙地东缘仰韶文化(6 800-5 500 cal a BP)的大扩张与气候暖湿期具有一致性,遗址数量增加;仰韶晚期和龙山时期(5 500-4 000 cal a BP)气候变化频繁,文化复杂多样,期间经历了仰韶文明的衰落和龙山文化的扩张,遗址数量逐渐增加;青铜铁器时代和秦汉时期(4 000-1 500 cal a BP)各民族文化融合发展,人口活动频繁,经济文化都得到较好的发展,遗址不断增加,且数量较大。研究结果指示文明兴衰受环境演化影响,两者在时间上有较好的一致性,但短时期内文明演化对气候变化的响应有滞后性。     

尕海DG03孔元素地球化学特征及其环境意义

通过对柴达木盆地尕海DG03孔沉积物的Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Ni、Zn、C、N等元素含量变化以及m(C)/m(N)、m(Sr)/m(Ba)比值变化的测定,结合DG03孔沉积序列的年代学测定和沉积物分布特征,分析了尕海地区11·52ka BP以来的气候环境变化过程。研究表明尕海地区在11·52ka BP以来存在明显的气候波动;4·70kaBP以来的全新世晚期气候波动频率加大,存在5次较为明显的冷干和暖湿的气候旋回,并且表现出冷干气候时段长,暖湿气候时段短的特征。     

尕海湖DG03孔碳酸盐含量及其环境意义

通过对尕海DG03孔岩芯碳酸盐含量的测定,表明碳酸盐含量指标较好地记录了尕海湖地区自冰消期晚期以来的气候环境变化。对阿勒罗德暖期和新仙女木期都有较好的反映,并揭示出早全新世气候变暖且波动明显,中全新世早期暖湿,后期温凉偏干,晚全新世气候明显变干,早期较为寒冷,后期偏暖。碳酸盐含量的变化反映了湖水的浓缩程度,与湖泊所处的沉积阶段相联系,同时与岩性特征所反映的环境也有关。在风成作用堆积的粉砂至中砂层,碳酸盐含量降至很低;在滨湖相沉积的细砂层,碳酸盐含量也较低,因此,碳酸盐含量指示的气候环境意义应与岩性及其他指标相结合进行分析,方可得到可信的结论。     

A sedimentary and geochemical record of water-level changes from Rantin Lake, Yukon, Canada

A multi-proxy analysis of two sediment cores from Rantin Lake are used to reconstruct past lake-level changes and to make inferences about millennial-scale variations in precipitation/evaporation (P/E) balance in the southern Yukon, Canada between 10,900 and 3,100?cal?yr BP. Analyses of calcium carbonate and organic matter concentration, magnetic susceptibility, titanium content, dry bulk density, and macrofossils are used to reconstruct water-level changes. The development of sand layers and deformed sediments at the deep-water core site (i.e. Core A-06) prior to ~10,900?cal?yr BP suggest that lake level was lower at this time. Fine-grained organic sediment deposited from 10,600 to 9,500?cal?yr BP indicates a rise in lake level. The formation of an unconformity at the shallow cores site (Core C-06) and the deposition of shallow-water calcium carbonate-rich facies at the Core A-06 site between ~9,500 and ~8,500?cal?yr BP suggest lower lake levels at this time. Shallow-water facies gradually transition into a sand layer that likely represents shoreline reworking during an extreme lowstand that occurred at ~8,400?cal?yr BP. Following this low water level, fine-grained organic-rich sediment formed by ~8,200?cal?yr BP, suggesting deeper water conditions at core site A-06. Calcium carbonate concentrations are relatively low in sediment deposited from ~6,300 to 3,100?cal?yr BP in Core A-06, indicating that lake level was comparatively higher during the middle and late Holocene. In general, results from this study suggest that the early Holocene was characterized by high P/E from ~10,500 to 9,500?cal?yr BP, low P/E from ~9,500 to 8,400?cal?yr BP, and return to higher P/E from ~8,200 to 3,100?cal?yr BP.     

Constraining Holocene lake levels and coastal dune activity in the Lake Michigan basin

Sediment cores collected from embayed lakes along the east-central coast of Lake Michigan are used to construct aeolian sand records of past coastal dune mobility, and to constrain former lake levels in the Lake Michigan basin. Time series analysis of sand cycles based on the weight-percent aeolian sand within lacustrine sediment, reveals statistically significant spectral peaks that coincide with established lake level cycles in Lake Michigan and the Gleissberg sunspot cycle of minima. Longer cycles of ~ 800 and ~ 2200 years were also identified that correspond to solar cycles. Shorter cycles between 80 and 220 years suggest a link between coastal dune mobility, climate, and lake levels in the Lake Michigan basin. Radiocarbon-dated sedimentary contacts of lacustrine sediment overlying wetland sediment record the Nipissing transgression in the Lake Michigan basin. Lake level rise closely mimics the predicted uplift of the North Bay outlet, with lake level rise slowing when outflow was transferred to the Port Huron/Sarnia outlet. The Nipissing highstand was reached after 5000 cal (4.4 ka) BP.     

腾格里沙漠南缘土门剖面末次间冰阶层段的粒度特征及其反映的气候-沉积环境

腾格里沙漠南缘土门剖面末次间冰阶层段（TMS 3）由风成砂、黄土状亚砂土、砂黄土、古土壤、湖相沉积物和冲积黄土等6种沉积相相互叠覆构成。粒度分析结果显示,该层段以砂质沉积物为主,粉砂次之,黏土最少,平均值分别为65.45%、26.72%和8.83%;在砂粒级中,以细砂含量最高,其次为极细砂,其余为中砂-粗砂颗粒。粉砂含量、黏土含量、M_z和σ在风成砂中呈现谷值,在其他沉积相为峰值,中砂-粗砂和细砂则相反。粒度指标指示腾格里沙漠南缘土门剖面末次间冰阶至少经历了13次暖湿和12次冷干的气候波动,且可划分为TMS 3e（54 200~59 750 a BP）、TMS 3d （54 200~40 800 a BP）、TMS 3c （40 800~32 800 a BP）、TMS 3b （32 800~25 400 a BP）和TMS 3a （25 400~22 940 a BP）等5个亚段, 25次冷暖波动与格陵兰冰芯和中国南方石笋记录的D/O事件以及北大西洋深海沉积物记录的H事件具有很高的同步性。     

Lake levels in the Erie Basin of the Laurentian Great Lakes

Water levels in the Lake Erie basin are inferred from glacial lake times to present. An era of early to middle Holocene lowstands is defined below outlets by a submerged paleo-beach, and truncated reflectors in glaciolacustrine sediment beneath a mud-covered wave-cut terrace. Also, the glacial clay surface above the paleo-shore level has elevated shear strength because of porewater drainage during subaerial exposure. Below the paleo-shore where exposure did not occur, clay strength remained normal. Sedimentation rates were reduced during the lowstands. The distortion of once-level shore zone indicators by differential glacial rebound was removed by computing original elevations of the indicators using an empirical model of rebound based on observations of upwarped former lake shorelines. Erie water-level history was inferred from a plot of the original elevations of lake-level constraints and outlets versus age. The lake history was validated by reference to ~83 water-level indicators, not used as constraints. During the deglaciation, lake-crossing moraines were likely eroded by fluvial drainage into low-level Lake Ypsilanti and a subsequent unnamed low lake to produce the Lorain Valley and Pennsylvania Channel. Once inflow from the upper Great Lakes basins was directed to Ottawa Valley about 10,400 (12,270 cal BP), Erie water levels descended in a dry, evaporative climate to a closed lowstand during which ostracode δ¹⁸O increased ~2‰ above present values. Lake level began to rise 6,000 to 7,000 (6,830 to 7,860 cal) BP in response to increased atmospheric moisture and later, to northern inflow as the Nipissing Transgression returned upper Great Lakes drainage to Lake Erie by about 5,200 (6,000 cal) BP. At that time, the lake overflowed the uplifted Lyell–Johnson Sill north (downstream) of the present Niagara Falls at higher-than-present levels. After recession of the Falls breached this sill about ~3,500 (~3,770 cal) BP, Lake Erie fell 3–4 m to its present Fort Erie–Buffalo Sill. The extended low-water phase with its isolated sub-basins could have restricted migration of aquatic fauna. The early to middle Holocene closed-basin response highlights the sensitivity of Lake Erie to climatic reductions in its water budget.     

Evidence of early Holocene closed-basin conditions in the Huron-Georgian basins from within the North Bay outlet of the upper Great Lakes

Sub-bottom profiling and coring were undertaken at eight sub-basins along the lower French River and at five small lakes near North Bay, Ontario, to collect stratigraphical and chronological evidence to investigate whether lakes occupying the Huron–Georgian basins during the early- to mid-Holocene became hydrologically closed. All of the coring sites are located within the route of the North Bay outlet that carried outflow from the upper Great Lakes during this period. Sand beds containing organic detritus are present within five cores from Muskrat, Crombie and Deep bays that otherwise are composed of glaciolacustrine rhythmites or fine-grained lacustrine deposits. These sand beds are interpreted to represent intervals when water levels within the sub-basins were lower than present, based on chronology, sediment texture, and macrofossil assemblages. It is inferred that the water surface in the Huron–Georgian basins fell below the level of the Dalles Rapids sill isolating the lower French River sub-basins from the large lake. A core from Depensier Lake, North Bay, contains an organic-rich sand interval within a thicker sand unit barren of organic materials. Macrofossils within this organic-rich interval are interpreted to be evidence of substantially diminished flow through the North Bay outlet channel. Radiocarbon dates of terrestrial macrofossils provide correlation of the sand beds between the French River cores as well as with the organic-rich sand in the Depensier Lake core. The possibility that the sand beds in the French River cores represent flood deposits rather than evidence of hydrologically closed conditions is considered, but rejected, based on the occurrence of multiple peaty layers and the record of shallow water conditions inferred from macrofossils within the upper sand bed of core MUS1, Muskrat Bay, in combination with the evidence of quiescent depositional conditions from similarly aged macrofossils in the core from Depensier Lake. Eight radiocarbon dates from the French River cores are incorporated into an elevation-age plot of paleo-indicators of water levels in the Huron–Georgian basins, using additional data from the literature. This plot and stratigraphic evidence from the Muskrat Bay cores indicates that separate closed-basin intervals occurred between 9.0 and 8.4, and 9.5 and 9.3 ka cal BP (~ 8.1 and 7.6, and ~ 8.5 and 8.3 ka BP). The occurrence of these two closed-basin intervals between 9.6 and 8.4 ka cal BP (~ 8.7 and 7.6 ka BP) implies that run-off derived exclusively from precipitation within the non-glaciated portions of the upper Great Lakes drainage basins was likely insufficient at this time to support an open-basin lake hydrology during the contemporary climate, which was colder and drier than present, without being supplemented from glacial Lake Agassiz overflow and/or Laurentide Ice Sheet meltwater.     

The sedimentary and palynological records of Serpent River Bog,and revised early Holocene lake-level changes in the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay region

Serpent River Bog lies north of North Channel, 10 m above Lake Huron and 15 m below the Nipissing Great Lake level. A 2.3 m Holocene sequence contains distinct alternating beds of inorganic clastic clay and organic peat that are interpreted as evidence of successive inundation and isolation by highstands and lowstands of the large Huron-Basin lake. Lowstand phases are confirmed by the presence of shallow-water pollen and plant macrofossil remains in peat units. Twelve ¹⁴C dates on peat, wood and plant macrofossils combined with previously published ¹⁴C ages of lake-level indicators confirm much of the known early Holocene lake-level history with one notable exception. A new Late Mattawa highstand (8,390 [9,400 cal]–8,220 [9,200 cal] BP) evidenced by a sticky blue-grey clay bed is tied to outburst floods of glacial Lake Minong during erosion of the Nadoway drift barrier in the eastern Lake Superior basin. A subsequent Late Mattawa highstand (8,110 [9,040 cal]–8,060 [8,970 cal] BP) is attributed to enhanced meltwater inflows that first had deposited thick varves throughout Superior Basin. Inundation by the Nadoway floods and possibly the last Mattawa flood were likely responsible for termination of the Olson Forest (southern Lake Michigan). A pollen diagram supports the recognized progression of Holocene vegetation, and defines a subzone implying a very dry, cool climate about 7.8–7.5 (8.6–8.3 cal) ka BP based on the Alnus crispa profile during the Late Stanley lowstand. A new date of 9,470 ± 25 (10,680–10,750 cal) BP on basal peat over lacustrine clay at Espanola West Bog supports the previous interpretation of the Early Mattawa highstand at ca. 9,500 (10,740 cal) BP. The organic and clastic sediment units at these two bogs are correlated with other records showing coherent evidence of Holocene repeated inundation and isolation around northern Lake Huron. Taken together the previous and new lake-level data suggest that the Huron and Georgian basin lakes were mainly closed lowstands throughout early Holocene time except for short-lived highstands. Three of the lowstands were exceptionally low, and likely caused three episodes of offshore sediment erosion which had been previously identified as seismo-stratigraphic sequence boundaries.     

Postglacial sedimentary record and history of West Hawk Lake crater,Manitoba

West Hawk Lake (WHL) is located within the glacial Lake Agassiz basin, 140 km east of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The small lake lies in a deep, steep-sided, meteorite impact crater, which has been partly filled by 60 m of sediment that today forms a flat floor in the central part of the basin below 111 m of water. Four cores, 5–11 m in length, were collected using a Kullenberg piston gravity corer. All sediment is clay, contains no unconformities, and has low organic content in all but the upper meter. Sample analyses include bulk and clay mineralogy, major and minor elements, TOC, stable isotopes of C, N, and O, pollen, charcoal, diatoms, and floral and faunal macrofossils. The sequence is divided into four units based mainly on thickness and style of lamination, diatoms, and pollen. AMS radiocarbon dates do not provide a clear indication of age in the postglacial sequence; possible explanations include contamination by older organic inwash and downward movement of younger organic acids. A chronological framework was established using only selected AMS dates on plant macrofossils, combined with correlations to dated events outside the basin and paleotopographic reconstructions of Lake Agassiz. The 822 1-cm-thick varves in the lower 8 m of the cored WHL sequence were deposited just prior to 10,000 cal years BP (∼8,900 ¹⁴C years BP), during the glacial Lake Agassiz phase of the lake. The disappearance of dolomite near the top of the varved sequence reflects the reduced influence of Lake Agassiz and the carbonate bedrock and glacial sediment in its catchment. The lowermost varves are barren of organisms, indicating cold and turbid glacial lake waters, but the presence of benthic and planktonic algae in the upper 520 varves indicates warming; this lake phase coincides with a change in clay mineralogy, δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C in cellulose, and in some other parameters. This change may have resulted from a major drawdown in Lake Agassiz when its overflow switched from northwest to east after formation of the Upper Campbell beach of that lake 9,300–9,400 ¹⁴C years ago. The end of thick varve deposition at ∼10,000 cal years BP is related to the opening of a lower eastern outlet of Lake Agassiz and an accompanying drop in West Hawk Lake level. WHL became independent from Lake Agassiz at this time, sedimentation rates dropped, and only ∼2.5 m of sediment was deposited in the next 10,000 years. During the first two centuries of post-Lake Agassiz history, there were anomalies in the diatom assemblage, stable O and C isotopes, magnetic susceptibility, and other parameters, reflecting an unstable watershed. Modern oligotrophic conditions were soon established; charcoal abundance increased in response to the reduced distance to the shoreline and to warmer conditions. Regional warming after ∼9,500 cal years BP is indicated by pollen and diatoms as well as C and O isotope values. Relatively dry conditions are suggested by a rise in pine and decrease in spruce and other vegetation types between 9,500 and 5,000 cal years BP (∼8,500–4,400 ¹⁴C years BP), plus a decrease in δ¹³C_cell values. After this, there was a shift to slightly cooler and wetter conditions. A large increase in organic content and change in elemental concentration in the past several thousand years probably reflects a decline in supply of mineral detritus to the basin and possibly an increase in productivity.     

Mid-late Holocene anthropogenic and natural variations in geochemistry and sedimentation in the Yazoo Basin: Clark Lake,Sharkey County,Mississippi

A 4000-yr history at Clark Lake reveals natural variations in sediment geochemistry and nutrient levels and anthropogenic influence on twentieth century sedimentation rates. Sediment texture and ridge and swale topography indicate that the channel system creating Clark Lake is now occupied by the Yazoo River. Between 1.24 and 0.60 m (2522–865 cal yr BP), total carbon percentages and the C/N ratio average 42% and 17, respectively. The base of the 1650-yr interval and onset of high organic activity in the lake coincides with the abandonment of the Yazoo Meander Belt. The top of the interval is marked by a drop in C/N ratio to 11 and a geochemical transition zone. No change in the rate of sediment accumulation or clay mineralogy was observed despite increased cumulative percentages of Al, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ca, and Na. The decrease in organic activity at 865 cal yr BP is attributed to unfavorable growth conditions related to the entrenchment of the Yazoo River and changes in the hydroperiod of the area. Significant floodplain alteration was completed in 1978, but the only major effect was increased sedimentation in the late twentieth century due to the completion of the Whittington Auxiliary Channel.