Effect of phosphatation and calcination on the environmental behaviour of sediments

Dredging operations produce considerable quantities of materials, to be managed and this opens an opportunity for valorization in civil engineering. However, the contamination of the dredged sediments has become a major problem to solve. The major contaminants are heavy metals and organic compounds. This study focuses on the use of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to stabilize heavy metals from sediments and destroy organic matter by calcination at 650 °C with a goal of using sediments in roadworks. Several studies have been conducted in this eld. The stabilized materials obtained have been used in civil engineering. The main purpose of this work is to discuss the environmental behavior of marine sediment treated by phosphatation and calcination. Two types of phosphoric acids were used. The pH dependence leaching test has been used as the basic characterization to evaluate the effect of the type of phosphoric acid on the metals behavior in a valorization scenario. The standard leaching test and the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) were conducted as compliance tests. In regards of the obtained results, the environmental assessment has also shown a reduction in the availability of targeted heavy metals in alkaline environment whatever the type of acid used for treatment. This opens opportunities for co-valorization.     

Simulation experiments on gas production from hydrate-bearing sediments

Experiments were made on 58 sediment samples from four sites(1244,1245,1250 and 1251) of ODP204 at five temperature points(25,35,45,55 and 65℃) to simulate methane production from hydrate-bearing sediments.Simulation results from site 1244 show that the gas components consist mainly of methane and carbon dioxide,and heavy hydrocarbons more than C2+ cannot be detected.This site also gives results,similar to those from the other three,that the methane production is controlled by experimental temperatures,gene...     

Low boundary layer response and temperature dependence of nitrogen and phosphorus releases from oxic sediments of an oligotrophic lake

The effects of temperature, diffusive boundary-layer thickness, and sediment composition on fluxes of inorganic N and P were estimated for sediment cores with oxidized surfaces from nearshore waters (2?C10?m) of a montane oligotrophic lake. Fluxes of N and P were not affected by diffusive boundary-layer thickness but were strongly affected by temperature. Below 16?°C, sediments sequestered small amounts of P and released small amounts of N. Above 16?°C, the seasonal maximum water temperature, sediments were substantial sources of N (NH₄ ⁺?CN?=?2?C24?mg?m^?2 d^?1; NO₃ ^??+?NO₂ ^??CN?=?2?C5?mg?m^?2 d^?1) and P (0.1?C0.4?mg?m^?2 d^?1), indicating potential responsiveness of sediment?Cwater nutrient exchange, and of corresponding phytoplankton growth, to synoptic warming.     

The release of phosphorus from sediment into water in subtropical wetlands: a warming microcosm experiment

Global warming poses a great threat to wetland ecological stability and water quality improvement. In this paper, we sampled six types of wetlands representing different kinds of land utilisation around the TaiHu Lake Basin in southeast China. An outdoor computerized microcosm was set up in May 2008 to simulate climate scenarios of ambient temperature (control) and a warmed ambient temperature (+5 °C) using a novel minute‐scale daily and seasonal temperature manipulation technology. The 18‐month incubation indicated that warming impaired the ecological sink of sediment (fixing P from porewater) while strengthening the role of the ecological source, moreover, the rate of P release from sediment into porewater (19–113% for total phosphorus) was much stronger than from top sediment into overlying water. Warming enhanced the activity of neutral and alkaline phosphatases for P‐deficient wetland sediments and neutral phosphatases for P‐rich sediments, at the 14th month of incubation. A significant increase in total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) occurred under warming in sediments with relatively low levels of PLFAs, but bacterial abundance in the sediment biomass tended to decrease (18%) along with an increase (4·5%) of the fungi‐to‐bacteria ratio. The variations of carbon consumption and availability indicated by measured dissolved organic carbon in sediment may have contributed to P release from sediments to water. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rock magnetic properties and palaeomagnetic results of sediments from a stone implement layer in the Bose Basin,Guangxi

Directional samples were taken to study rock magnetism and palaeomagnetic records from the Dong- sheng profile, which is 5 m thick and on the northwest edge of the Bose Basin. Mineralogy and rock magnetism of typical samples indicate that coarse granular titanomagnetite, and fine-grained hematite, superparamagnetic maghemite formed by pedogenesis are in the sediment, which has undergone many transformative processes during different stages of pedogenesis. Parallel samples were taken for thermal demagnetization (TH) (0 to 680℃) and alternating field (AF) demagnetization (0 to 80 mT) respectively. Experimental results of these two kinds of demagnetization illustrate that there are two or more magnetic components in the samples. Intensity of NRM decreases by almost 60% to 90% rapidly when the temperature ranges from 100℃ to 350℃, with a steady magnetic component. It is impossible to analyze the magnetic components at high temperature because those fluctuate widely when the temperature is higher than 400℃. Steady magnetic components from 100℃ to 350℃ indicate that the remanence was mainly carried by fine-grained hematite formed by pedogenesis, reflecting a change in the geomagnetic field while the magnetite was being oxidized into hematite by chemical weathering after deposition. The formative age of the sediments cannot be obtained by magnetic methods in this profile.     

40Ar/39Ar age spectrum analysis of detrital microclines from the southern San Joaquin Basin,California: an approach to determining the thermal evolution of sedimentary basins

Detrital microcline grains from sedimentary strata preserve a record of thermal evolution in the temperature range ～ 100° to 200°C which can be revealed by⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectrum analysis. Microcline separates from deep drill hole intersections with Eocene to Miocene sediments in the Basin and Tejon Blocks of the southern San Joaquin Valley, California, analysed by the age spectrum approach show radiogenic⁴⁰Ar (⁴⁰Ar*) gradients that record both the slow cooling of the uplifting sediment source ～ 65 Ma ago, and a recent thermal event. This information, in conjunction with the observation of fission track annealing in the coexisting apatites, allows estimation of the temperature-time conditions of this thermal event at about 140°C for ～ 200 ka. Present and paleotemperature data is in accord with heating related to several kilometers of Pleistocene sediment deposition. Heat flow calculations suggest that this recent subsidence has depressed the thermal gradient from about 30°C km^?1 to the present apparent gradient of 24°C km^?1.⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analysis of detrital microcline crystals yields thermochronological information in the temperature-time range of petroleum maturation and provides this technique with potential as both a useful exploration tool and as a means of probing the fundamental geodynamic processes of basin evolution.     

Meltwater erosion process of frozen soil as affected by thawed depth under concentrated flow in high altitude and cold regions

Changes in thawed depth of frozen soil caused by diurnal and seasonal temperature fluctuations are commonly found in high altitude and latitude regions of the world. These changes significantly influence hydrologic and erosion processes. Experimental data are necessary to improve the understanding and modeling of the phenomenon. Laboratory experiments were conducted in Beijing to assess the impacts of thawed soil depth, slope gradient, and flow rate on soil erosion by concentrated meltwater flow over an underlying frozen soil layer. Soil samples from watershed were filled in flumes, saturated before being frozen. After the soil was completely frozen, flumes were taken out of storage to thaw the frozen soil from top to the designed depths. Meltwater flow was simulated using a tank filled with water and icecubes at approximately 0°C. The erosion experiments involved four thawed soil depths of 1, 2, 5, and 10 cm; three slope gradients of 5°, 10°, and 15°; and three flow rates of 1, 2, and 4 l/min; and seven rill lengths of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 m. Sediment‐laden water samples were collected at the lower end of the flume for determination of sediment concentration. The results showed that sediment concentration increased exponentially with rill length to approach a maximum value. The sediment concentrations were closely correlated with thawed soil depth, flow rate, and slope gradient. Shallower thawed depths delivered more sediments than deeper thawed depths. Slope gradient was the primary factor responsible for severe erosion. The effect of flow rate on sediment concentration which decreased with increasing slope gradient, was not as significant as that of slope gradient. Results from these experiments are useful for understanding the effect of thawed soil depth on erosion process in thawed soils subject to freezing and for estimating erosion model parameters. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The performance of grass filter strips in controlling high‐concentration suspended sediment from overland flow under rainfall/non‐rainfall conditions

There is little information on the performance of vegetative filter strips (VFS) in filtering high‐concentration sediment from subcritical overland flow. Flume experiments on simulated grass strips were conducted using combinations of three slope gradients (3°, 9° and 15°), five 1‐m‐wide slope positions (from upslope to downslope), two flow rates (60 and 20 L min^‐1 m^‐1) and sediment concentrations of 100–300 kg m^‐3 under simulated rainfall and non‐rainfall conditions. The results showed that sediment deposition efficiency increased with VFS width as a power function. Rainfall significantly reduced sediment deposited within VFS. Higher sediment concentration corresponded to a larger sediment deposition load but reduced deposition efficiency. Flow rate had a negative effect on deposition efficiency but no effect on deposition load. Sediments were more easily deposited at the upper slope position than downslope, and the upper slope position had a higher percentage of coarse sediments. The deposited sediment had significantly greater median diameters (D₅₀) than the inflow sediment. A greater proportion of coarse sediments larger than 25 µm in diameter were deposited, and particles smaller than 1 µm and of 10–25 µm had a better deposition performance than particles of 1–10 µm. Rainfall reduced the deposited sediment D₅₀ at a slope gradient of 3° and had no significant influence on it at 9° or 15°. A higher sediment concentration led to a smaller D₅₀ of the deposited sediment. Rainfall had no significant effect on overland flow velocity. Both the deposited sediment load and D₅₀ decreased with increasing flow velocity, and flow velocity was the most sensitive factor impacting sediment deposition. The results from this study should be useful to control sediment flowing into rivers in areas with serious soil erosion. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrological and thermal regimes in a supra-glacial lake: Imja,Khumbu, Nepal Himalaya

Abstract

Supraglacial Imja Lake (lake level, 5010 m a.m.s.l.), Khumbu, Nepal Himalaya, has increased its size on the tongue of Imja Glacier since the 1950s. In order to clarify the mechanism of the lake expansion, the physical conditions, water budget and heat budget of the lake were examined by measuring water temperature, water turbidity, lake level, meteorology and water discharge. These measurements were carried out in the monsoon season of July 1997, when the glacier melt occurred in the ablation area with air temperature of more than 0°C. Density stratification in the lake is built up by an effect of water pressure on lake water, but, neglecting the effect, lake water density is defined by suspended sediment concentration rather than temperature. Glacier-melt water from the subaqueous part of the glacier terminus mixed with lake surface water of 4–8°C, and diffused the water of about 3°C into the deeper zone of the lake. This advective, thermal diffusion occurs by sediment-laden underflow and relatively clear density interflow. The sediment-laden underflow is induced by intermittent glacier-melt sediment discharge at the terminus, while the density interflow is probably produced by continuous glacier-melt water discharge. Calculation of water budget of the lake indicates that meltwater inflow at the glacier terminus and surface water outflow at the outlet determine the hydrological conditions of the lake. The net heat transfer by melting of the terminal ice and dead ice, connected to the lake expansion, was evaluated by calculating the heat budget of the lake.     

Effectiveness of grass strips in trapping suspended sediments from runoff

Little information is available concerning the performance of grass strips for erosion control from steep cropland. An experiment was conducted on 5‐m‐long grass strips with slopes of 3°～15° that were subjected to silt laden runoff and simulated rainfall, to investigate the sediment trapping processes. The grass strips had three treatments including intact grass control (C), no litter (dead grass material covering the soil surface was removed) (NL), and no litter or leaves (only 2～3 cm grass stems and roots were reserved) (NLL). Generally the grass strips had a high effectiveness in trapping sediment from steep cropland runoff. Sediment trapping efficiency (STE) decreased with increasing slope gradient, and even for a 15° slope, STE was still more than 40%. Most sediment deposited in the backwater region before each grass strips. The removal of grass litter or/and leaves had no significant influence on STE. The sediment median size (D₅₀) in inflow was greater than that in outflow, and the difference (ΔD₅₀) decreased with increasing slope. A positive power relationship between STE and ΔD₅₀ can be obtained. Grass strips were more effective in trapping sediments coarser than 10 or 25 µm, but sediments finer than 1 µm were more readily removed from runoff than particles in the range of 2 to approximately 10 µm. Grass litter had less influence on flow velocity than leaves because the deposited sediment partially covered the litter layer. Mean flow velocity and its standard deviation were negatively correlated with STE, and they can help make good estimation of STE. Results from this study should be useful in planting and managing forage grass to effectively conserve soil loss by runoff from steep slopes on the Loess Plateau of China. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Drug-resistance transfer in Escherichia coli in New York Bight sediment

Sediment from the sewage sludge dump site area in the New York Bight contains bacteria resistant to antibiotics and heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to determine if antibiotic resistance could be transferred from donor to recipient Escherichia coli strains inoculated into glass vessels containing sediment and seawater obtained near the dump site. Temperature was maintained at 10°C, the mean winter temperature of benthic water at the dump site. Transconjugants (recipients which inherit donor genes for tetracycline resistance) were isolated from the seawater and sediment within one hour after inoculation and were found in all subsequent sediment samples for one month. Donor and recipient E. coli remained viable in the sediment for at least one month. Our results indicate that sewage sludge polluted sediment may serve as an environment conducive to conjugal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes.     

Effect of deposit feeders on migration of137Cs in lake sediments

Illite clay particles with adsorbed¹³⁷Cs were added as a submillimeter layer to the surface of silt-clay sediments contained in rectangular Plexiglas cells stored in a temperature-regulated aquarium, in order to trace the effect of the oligochaete, Tubifex tubifex, and the amphipod, Pontoporeia hoyi, on mass redistribution near the sediment-water interface. A well-collimated NaI gamma detector scanned each sediment column (～10 cm deep) at daily or weekly intervals for six months, depicting the time evolution of radioactivity with and without added benthos. In a cell with tubificids (～5 × 10⁴ m^?2), which feed below 3 cm and defecate on surface sediments, the labeled layer was buried at a rate of 0.052 ± 0.007 cm/day (20°C). When labeled particles entered the feeding zone,¹³⁷Cs reappeared in surface sediments creating a bimodal activity profile. In time, the activity tended toward a uniform distribution over the upper 6 cm, decreasing exponentially below to undetectable levels by 9 cm. In a cell with amphipods (～1.6 × 10⁴ m^?2) uniform activity developed rapidly (～17 days) down to a well-defined depth (1.5 cm). The mixing of sediments by Pontoporeia is described by a simple quantitative model of eddy diffusive mixing of sediment solids. The value of the diffusion coefficient, 4.4 cm²/yr (7°C) was computed from a least squares fit of theoretical to observed profile broadening over time. In a cell without benthos, small but measurable migration of¹³⁷Cs indicated an effective molecular diffusion coefficient of 0.02 cm²/yr.     

Distribution of faecal coliforms in bottom sediments from the New York Bight

The distribution of faecal coliform densities found in New York Bight sediments indicated that sewage sludge material has contaminated areas extending 11 km north and 37 km south from the disposal site. A high degree of confidence for enumerating faecal coliforms in marine sediments was demonstrated by standard water methodology since 82.3% of the faecal coliform group isolated were Escherichia coli. This study also indicated that marine sediments could be stored 4 days at 4°C without appreciable changes in the faecal coliform count, and that, in situ, faecal coliforms would persist longer when sediment temperatures were low.     

The seismogenic zone of subduction thrust faults

Abstract Subduction thrust faults generate earthquakes over a limited depth range. They are aseismic in their seaward updip portions and landward downdip of a critical point. The seaward shallow aseismic zone, commonly beneath accreted sediments, may be a consequence of unconsolidated sediments, especially stable-sliding smectite clays. Such clays are dehydrated and the fault may become seismogenic where the temperature reaches 100--150°C, that is, at a 5--15 km depth. Two factors may determine the downdip seismogenic limit. For subduction of young hot oceanic lithosphere beneath large accretionary sedimentary prisms and beneath continental crust, the transition to aseismic stable sliding is temperature controlled. The maximum temperature for seismic behavior in crustal rocks is ～ 350°C, regardless of the presence of water. In addition, great earthquake ruptures initiated at less than this temperature may propagate with decreasing slip to where the temperature is ～ 450°C. For subduction beneath thin island arc crust and beneath continental crust in some areas, the forearc mantle is reached by the thrust shallower than the 350°C temperature. The forearc upper mantle probably is aseismic because of stable-sliding serpentinite hydrated by water from the underthrusting oceanic crust and sediments. For many subduction zones the downdip seismogenic width defined by these limits is much less than previously assumed. Within the narrowly defined seismic zone, most of the convergence may occur in earthquakes. Numerical thermal models have been employed to estimate temperatures on the subduction thrust planes of four continental subduction zones. For Cascadia and Southwest Japan where very young and hot plates are subducting, the downdip seismogenic limit on the subduction thrust is thermally controlled and is shallow. For Alaska and most of Chile, the forearc mantle is reached before the critical temperature, and mantle serpentinite provides the limit. In all four regions, the seismogenic zones so defined agree with estimates of the extent of great earthquake rupture, and with the downdip extent of the interseismic locked zone.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface sediments of the Bayan Lepas area,Penang, Malaysia

This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Pb, Ni, V, and Zn) in the sediments of Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone of Penang, Malaysia. Ten sampling stations were selected and sediment samples were collected during low tide (2012 ? 2013). Metals were analyzed and the spatial distribution of metals were evaluated based on GIS mapping. According to interim sediment quality guidelines (ISQG), metal contents ranged from below low level to above high level at different stations. Based on the geoaccumulation index (I_geo) of sediment, sampling stations were categorized from unpolluted to strongly polluted. The enrichment factor (EF) of metals in the sediment varied between no enrichment to extremely high enrichment. The potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated Bayan Lepas FIZ was at low risk.     

The transport of aggregates associated with soil organic carbon under the rain-induced overland flow on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Organic carbon (OC) is easily enriched in sediment particles of different sizes due to aggregate breakdown and selective transport for sheet erosion. However, the transport of aggregate-associated OC has not been thoroughly investigated. To address this issue, 27 simulated rainfall experiments were conducted in a 1 m × 0.35 m box on slope gradients of 15°, 10°, and 15°and under three rainfall intensities of 45 mm h⁻¹, 90 mm h⁻¹ and 120 mm h⁻¹. The results showed that OC was obviously enriched in sediment particles of different sizes under sheet erosion. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations of each aggregate size class in sediments were different from those in the original soil, especially when the rainfall intensity or slope was sufficiently low, such as 45 mm h^–1 or 5°, respectively. Under a slope of 5°, the SOC enrichment ratios (ERocs) of small macroaggregates and microaggregates were high but decreased over time. As rainfall intensity increased, OC became enriched in increasingly fine sediment particles. Under a rainfall intensity of 45 mm h^–1, the ERocs of the different aggregate size classes were always high throughout the entire erosion process. Under a rainfall intensity of > 45 mm h^–1 and slope of > 5°, the ERocs of the different aggregate size classes were close to 1.0, especially those of clay and silt. Therefore, the high ERocs in sediments resulted from the first transport of effective clay. Among total SOC loss, the proportion of OC loss caused by the transport of microaggregates and silt plus clay-sized particles was greater than 50%. We also found that low stream power and low water depth were two requirements for the high ERocs in aggregates. Stream power was closely related to sediment particle distribution. Flow velocity was significantly and positively related to the percentage of OC-enriched macroaggregates in the sediments (P > 0.01). Our study will provide important information for understanding the fate of SOC and building physical-based SOC transport models. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Latitudinal patterns of export production recorded in surface sediments of the Chilean Patagonian fjords (41–55°S) as a response to water column productivity

The Chilean Patagonian fjords region (41–56°S) is characterized by highly complex geomorphology and hydrographic conditions, and strong seasonal and latitudinal patterns in precipitation, freshwater discharge, glacier coverage, and light regime; all of these directly affect biological production in the water column. In this study, we compiled published and new information on water column properties (primary production, nutrients) and surface sediment characteristics (biogenic opal, organic carbon, molar C/N, bulk sedimentary δ¹³C_org) from the Chilean Patagonian fjords between 41°S and 55°S, describing herein the latitudinal pattern of water column productivity and its imprint in the underlying sediments. Based on information collected at 188 water column and 118 sediment sampling sites, we grouped the Chilean fjords into four main zones: Inner Sea of Chiloé (41° to ～44°S), Northern Patagonia (44° to ～47°S), Central Patagonia (48–51°S), and Southern Patagonia (Magellan Strait region between 52° and 55°S). Primary production in the Chilean Patagonian fjords was the highest in spring–summer, reflecting the seasonal pattern of water column productivity. A clear north–south latitudinal pattern in primary production was observed, with the highest average spring and summer estimates in the Inner Sea of Chiloé (2427 and 5860 mg C m^?2 d^?1) and Northern Patagonia (1667 and 2616 mg C m^?2 d^?1). This pattern was closely related to the higher availability of nutrients, greater solar radiation, and extended photoperiod during the productive season in these two zones. The lowest spring value was found in Caleta Tortel, Central Patagonia (91 mg C m^?2 d^?1), a site heavily influenced by glacier meltwater and river discharge loaded with glacial sediments. Biogenic opal, an important constituent of the Chilean fjord surface sediments (Si_OPAL ～1–13%), reproduced the general north–south pattern of primary production and was directly related to water column silicic acid concentrations. Surface sediments were also rich in organic carbon content and the highest values corresponded to locations far away from glacier influence, sites within fjords, and/or semi-enclosed and protected basins, reflecting both autochthonous (water column productivity) and allochthonous sources (contribution of terrestrial organic matter from fluvial input to the fjords). A gradient was observed from the more oceanic sites to the fjord heads (west–east) in terms of bulk sedimentary δ¹³C_org and C/N ratios; the more depleted (δ¹³C_org ?26‰) and higher C/N (23) values corresponded to areas close to rivers and glaciers. A comparison of the Chilean Patagonian fjords with other fjord systems in the world revealed high variability in primary production for all fjord systems as well as similar surface sediment geochemistry due to the mixing of marine and terrestrial organic carbon.     

Heavy metals in surface sediments from nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay,Northern China

Concentrations of heavy metals in river water and sediment were investigated in nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay, Northern China. Multivariate statistical techniques such as principal component analysis and cluster analysis, in combination with metal concentration analysis and correlation analysis, were used to identify the possible sources of the metals and the pollution pattern in nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay. The environmental risks of metals, evaluated by sediment quality guidelines and background values, revealed Hg contamination in the estuaries. However, levels of Cd in estuarine sediments were low, and they were less than those levels in river sediments, partly due to the high mobility and dilution of river or seawater. Cd did not contribute to sediment deposits in estuaries. High organic matter from effluents from large municipal sewage treatment plants was predominantly responsible for restricting Hg mobility from the river to Bohai Bay.     

Feldspar multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL dating of the Wulanmulun Paleolithic site and its implication

The Wulanmulun site found in 2010 is an important Paleolithic site in Ordos (China), from which lots of stone and bone artifacts and mammalian fossils have been recovered. It was previously dated by radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques on quartz. To further confirm the reliability of the chronology constructed based on OSL ages and test the applicability of the recently developed pIRIR procedure on sediments from northern China, twenty-four sediment samples (including eolian, lacustrine and fluvio-eolian sands) from the site were determined using the multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL (MET-pIRIR or pIRIR) procedure on potassium feldspar. The results show that the studied samples have two MET-pIRIR D_e preheat plateaus (280–320 and 340–360 °C), and the bleaching rates of the luminescence signals are associated with sample ages and stimulation temperatures. All the pIRIR ages (7–155 ka) corrected for anomalous fading and residual dose obtained after solar bleaching for 15 h are larger than the corresponding quartz OSL ages (4–66 ka) previously determined, even for the young eolian samples (<10 ka). But the corrected IRSL(50 °C) ages (6–85 ka) are broadly consistent with the quartz ages. It appears that the IRSL(50 °C) ages are more reliable, although this contradicts the previously results obtained by other people. On the other hand, we also obtained an extended age plateau between the stimulation temperatures of 50 and 290 °C in the plot of age versus stimulation temperature (A-T plot) by subtracting different residual doses obtained after different bleaching times. The reliability of the plateau ages requires further investigation. For the sediment samples from this site, quartz should be more suitable for dating than K-feldspar, and the quartz OSL ages of 50–65 ka for its cultural layer should be reliable.     

Luminescence signals from modern sediments in a glaciated bay,NW Svalbard

Landforming processes are highly active in the Arctic, and luminescence dating can be used to establish a chronological framework for these processes. For example, luminescence ages of raised littoral and marine deposits provide the age control for many reconstructions of Pleistocene events in the Arctic. Due to the nature of the depositional environment (e.g. short transport distance, turbid water, long polar night) these types of sediment may not be completely zeroed at the time of deposition. To test the significance of incomplete bleaching in this type of environment, surface sediments were sampled along a transect from the margin of a glacier out into a nearby bay on NW Svalbard. The water in the bay is very turbid (secchi depth 0.1 m), but there is significant reworking by waves along the shores.Quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and feldspar infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) were measured using sand-sized grains. For quartz OSL and feldspar IRSL (50 °C) the ice-proximal sample showed relatively high doses (∼12 Gy) while nearby beach sand and shallow-marine deposits, as well as ice-distal sandur sediments, had much lower doses: most OSL doses were consistent with zero, while IRSL (50 °C) ranged from 0.5 to 6.5 Gy. Post-IR IRSL (290 °C) doses were overall much higher (∼20–55 Gy), which partly is due to a significant (∼12 Gy) unbleachable residual, and partly due to slower bleaching rates than for the IRSL (50 °C) signal.In this Arctic environment it appears that bleaching is limited in the first ∼100 m of meltwater transport from the glacier margin, but for material transported at least 3 km bleaching of OSL and IRSL (50 °C) signals is more or less complete. Given the very limited light penetration through the seawater in the bay, any bleaching must have occurred during fluvial/subaerial transport to the bay or by wave-reworking on the beach. Apart from the ice-proximal glacifluvial sediments, residual apparent doses recorded by quartz OSL and feldspar IRSL (50 °C) are negligible for the luminescence dating of Pleistocene-aged deposits of ice-distal, littoral and shallow-marine origin.