内蒙锡林浩特鸽子山火山地质研究

鸽子山火山位于内蒙古自治区锡林浩特市东南,处于大兴安岭-大同新生代火山喷发带中段,是锡林浩特-阿巴嘎火山群中保存最为完好的一座玄武质火山。火山喷发物的分布面积约55km²,主要为降落火山渣、溅落熔结火山碎屑岩和熔岩流,成分主要为碧玄岩,晚期有少量的橄榄拉斑玄武岩,碧玄岩中含有较多二辉橄榄岩包体和辉石及歪长石巨晶。火山由锥体、熔岩流和火山碎屑席组成,锥体由早期的降落锥和晚期溅落锥复合而成。火山口经历多次塌陷而成为破火口。锥体西侧及北东侧出露两个仍保留了原始形态的熔岩溢出口,熔岩流类型为结壳熔岩,由多个岩流单元组成,局部地区的熔岩流中发育较多保存完好的喷气锥、喷气碟或喷气塔。火山碎屑席主要分布在锥体的东侧,厚度由锥体向外逐渐减薄。火山活动可分为早、晚两个阶段,早期为爆破式喷发,形成火山渣锥和碎屑席,属亚布里尼型喷发,晚期主要为溢流式喷发,形成溅落锥和大规模熔岩流,其活动时代为晚更新世末-全新世。     

内蒙古乌兰哈达第四纪火山时空分布与构造控制

乌兰哈达第四纪火山群位于内蒙古中部、华北克拉通北缘,大体上处于大兴安岭—太行山重力梯度带与华北克拉通—中亚造山带界线交汇区域,行政区划上属于乌兰察布市察哈尔右翼后旗。该火山群周围发育大量的新生代地堑盆地、活动强烈的断层以及广泛分布的火山岩。火山群西侧是新生代河套断陷盆地,东侧是上新世—第四纪商都盆地。区域内EW向断层与NNE向断层第四纪以来活动明显。火山群周围有大面积分布的晚渐新世—第四纪形成的集宁玄武岩(汉诺坝玄武岩)。长期以来,乌兰哈达火山群被归入集宁玄武岩;近年来,这一火山群中陆续发现晚更新世—全新世火山活动的证据,逐渐成为火山研究的热点。乌兰哈达火山群由8座火山组成,即红山、火烧山、那明山、北炼丹炉、中炼丹炉、南炼丹炉、黑脑包和北尖山。这些火山大多具有多个火山口和锥体,共由20个火山锥组成,其中包括17个火山渣锥,3个熔岩锥。12个火山渣锥底部直径为60~160 m,另外5个渣锥底部直径为300~680 m,熔岩锥底部直径为70~90 m。这些火山锥形成NE和NWW两个线性排列。初步的火山岩K-Ar测年研究表明,红山、火烧山和黑脑包3个火山形成于0.22~0.36 Ma,属中更新世晚期。其他火山的风化程度明显较弱,尤其是北炼丹炉、中炼丹炉、南炼丹炉和北尖山,这4座火山保存着较为完整的锥体,熔岩流表面裸露,喷气锥、绳状熔岩、结壳熔岩这些熔岩流动过程中形成的独特地质景观得以保留,表明它们形成时代较晚,推测火山喷发时代在晚更新世—全新世。由此推断乌兰哈达火山群有早晚两期火山活动:中更新世晚期火山活动主要发生在NWW走向的乌兰哈达—高勿素深断裂附近,火山喷发规模较小,喷出熔岩也相对较少;而晚更新世—全新世喷发的火山主要在NE走向的线性排列上,这一规律连同新发现的NE向的喷发裂隙支持在这一方向上存在断裂构造。基于以上认识,我们提出,区域上NE向的主压应力作用在NWW走向的乌兰哈达—高勿素深断裂上,使其形成左旋逆走滑,并衍生出NE走向的张裂,这些NWW走滑断裂与NE张裂一起控制了乌兰哈达第四纪晚期火山活动的时空分布。     

吉林省龙岗火山群地质构造特征研究

本文就龙岗火山群的区域地质构造、火山体分布、喷发活动时代、岩石类型及岩石化学特征等,进行概略的论述。火山群分布面积约1170km~2,共有大、小火山167个,它们主要受北东和北西走向断裂的控制,火山口处于上述二组断裂的交汇点上。按其喷发时代由老至新分为四期:①中更新世中期(大椅子山组),有33个火山锥体,分布于龙湾—龙泉湾断裂以西地区,喷发物由火山熔岩、火山集块岩、火山弹组成:②晚更新世(新开岭组),喷发活动集中在东部的新开岭—四海一带,共有134个火山锥,喷发物为玄武质火山熔岩:③全新世早期(四海组),它是早期火山的又一次复活,以火山熔渣堆积为主;④全新世末期(金龙顶子组),它分布较小,且喷发强度亦大为减弱,以溢出相玄武岩流为主。     

内蒙东部晚第四纪火山活动与新构造

本文所指的晚第四纪包括晚更新世和全新世。内蒙东部晚第四纪火山活动强烈,北起大兴安岭北部的鄂伦春诺敏河火山群、经阿尔山-柴河、锡林浩特-阿巴嘎火山群,南抵察右后旗乌兰哈达火山群,断续延伸约1000km,分布着约390余座大小不一、形态各异的火山,构成了内蒙东部壮观的北北东向第四纪火山喷发带。火山类型包括玛珥式、夏威夷式、斯通博利式、亚布里尼式和冰岛式,以斯通博利式最为发育。爆破式火山作用包括射汽、射汽-岩浆爆发和岩浆爆发。火山岩类型主要为碱性玄武岩及其火山碎屑物(岩),火山岩具初期裂谷构造属性。火山活动主体受北北东向基底断裂控制,但就具体火山群而言,又多处于北东和北西向基底深断裂交会处。区内新构造与火山活动密切相关,深部岩浆的上侵,可能是控制本区新构造活动的主因。尤其是全新世火山的空间展布,显示了内蒙东部新构造的活动性。     

大兴安岭哈拉哈河-绰尔河第四纪火山分期: K-Ar年代学与火山地质特征

大兴安岭中部哈拉哈河-绰尔河第四纪火山区分布有34座火山,这些火山总体呈北东向带状分布,火山岩分布面积约400 km2,岩性主要为碱性橄榄玄武岩.根据火山地质特征,结合火山岩K-Ar测年结果,哈拉哈河-绰尔河第四纪火山可进一步划分为早、中、晚更新世和全新世4期.早更新世火山岩,由于被后期火山岩覆盖,主要分布于火山区周边和出露在河谷中.中更新世火山活动最强,不论火山数量(27座)还是熔岩流规模都超过该区第四纪火山的一半以上.晚更新世时期火山活动趋弱,火山活动范围缩小,只局限于小范围区域.全新世火山活动又进入新的高峰期,强爆破式喷发和规模宏大的熔岩流,以及保存完好的熔岩流地貌是全新世火山之特点.     

大兴安岭哈拉哈河—淖尔河地区第四纪火山活动初步研究

大兴安岭中部哈拉哈河-淖尔河地区受基底断裂控制,发育28座第四纪火山,这些火山总体呈北东向带状分布。研究区第四纪火山岩分布面积约1000km^2,岩性主要为碱性玄武岩。根据喷发时代和火山地质特征,这里的火山大体可分为更新世和全新世两期。按照火山作用方式不同,区内火山可分为岩浆成因和射汽岩浆成因两类：前者活动产物主要包括火山碎屑锥、碎屑席、熔岩流,其中发育结壳熔岩、渣状熔岩、块状熔岩,以及喷气锥、熔岩冢等火山地质现象;后者产物主要是射汽岩浆喷发形成的基浪堆积物,其中发育大型平行层理及交错层理。不同的火山作用形成了火山口湖、低平火山口湖、火山堰塞湖和塌陷熔岩湖四种不同规模与形态特征的湖泊,这种水火相容的火山地质现象为阿尔山火山温泉国家地质公园增添了景观。     

内蒙中部辉腾锡勒第四纪火山群初步研究

辉腾锡勒火山群位于内蒙古中部卓资县、察哈尔右翼中旗和后旗交界处的高山草原区。处于中国东部大同-阿尔山-诺敏河第四纪火山喷发带南段。火山群坐落在太古宙变质岩系、二叠纪花岗岩和新近纪汉诺坝玄武岩之上。平面上呈低洼的菱形台地，四周为山地，总面积约260km²。因上覆在汉诺坝玄武岩台地之上，故以往将其误归为新近纪汉诺坝玄武岩。火山群内发育近百座火山，大多数火山形貌保存基本完整。火山产物主要为一套碱性橄榄玄武岩，次为不同成因的火山碎屑物（岩）。碱性玄武岩覆盖在晚更新世坡积物和黄土之上。火山活动的时代主体为晚更新世，可进一步分为早、中、晚三期。早期为裂隙-中心式喷发，火口已剥蚀殆尽；中期主要形成"地池式"和玛珥式火山，火山形貌较完整，火口呈特征的圆形或椭圆形，大部分积水成湖，当地习称"九十九眼泉"或"海子"。晚期以熔浆的溢流为主，形成结构完整的盾片状火山。火山活动经历了沿裂隙的喷溢到中心式弱爆发、溢流-射汽岩浆爆发-溢流再到溅落堆积的演化过程。辉腾锡勒火山群是在新近纪汉诺坝玄武岩台地上新解体确定的第四纪火山群，这为研究蒙古高原南部地壳深部结构及其活动性提供了又一天然窗口，对了解新构造活动、环境及灾害预警研究都具有重要的理论和实际意义。     

新疆阿什库勒盆地大黑山火山地质及地球化学特征

大黑山火山是新疆阿什库勒火山群最大的火山,通过野外地质调查和遥感解译,火山锥体由渣锥、溅落锥和寄生火山锥组成。大黑山岩石类型分别为玄武粗安岩、粗面安山岩和粗面岩,钾玄岩系列。岩浆分离结晶特征明显,斜长石晶体析出导致残余熔体中δEu形成明显负异常。大黑山锥体南侧发育一套长约1.3km的碎屑熔岩。该套岩石显微薄片上表现为发育玻晶交织结构和溶蚀结构等熔岩结构特征,少许凝灰结构。碎屑主要为5~6cm的角砾,含少量的火山弹。角砾可能来自于大黑山火山较强的爆发,生成岩屑以及少量凝灰质碎屑。后期熔岩喷泉式喷发形成熔岩流,在流动过程中裹带大量的岩屑以及少量凝灰质碎屑。该套碎屑熔岩的发现,加深了对整个地区火山活动类型的了解。     

长白山天池火山近代喷发中气象站组熔岩—碎屑岩流研究

中晚全新世以来,长白山天池火山的活动多为爆炸性喷发和形成火山碎屑流,熔岩流出较少,气象站组熔岩—碎屑岩流则是为数不多的熔岩溢流活动之一,它是天池火山一个寄生火山的喷发产物。气象站组熔岩—碎屑岩流的岩性为碱流岩质,岩浆粘度大,流动缓慢。据研究其喷发时间大约4 ka BP,应属天池火山的近代喷发产物。     

内蒙古达里诺尔火山群火山地貌特征及火山岩岩石学特点

在内蒙古自治区锡林郭勒盟与赤峰交界处、达里湖的西北部有一群第四纪火山,数目达上百座,多数为中心式或裂隙-中心式喷发,形成相对高度在50~130m之间的火山锥,它们被称为"达里诺尔火山群",也是世界上海拔较高的火山群之一。因锥体形成后受风化、流水侵蚀等外力作用,多数火山锥已受剥蚀,但相对较新的火山还保留着完整的火山机构,包括火山渣锥、火山口、降落和溅落堆积物、塌陷坑、熔岩流、喷气锥等。达里诺尔火山锥体多由火山碎屑物组成,熔岩则流动迭加在早期形成的多级熔岩台地之上,分布总面积约3100km2,与其它火山岩共同组成了广阔的内蒙古高原。火山区整体呈四周低、中间阶梯状隆起的台地地形,按高程可分为四个阶梯,高度分别为1280m、1360m、1440m和1500m。熔岩台地的展布和火山锥的分布均呈东西走向的条带状,火山群的整体分布主要受东西向天山-阴山基底断裂和北东向大兴安岭-太行山断裂的双重影响,与大地构造关系密切。本群火山锥体虽然大小不一、形态各异,但按锥体形态可将火山锥分为截顶单锥形、复合型、盾形和残余型等四类,其剥蚀程度有明显差异,暗示了火山喷发活动时代的先后关系。锥形及复合型火山位于火山群中部,而盾形火山多沿台地边部分布,残余形火山则分布广泛,表明台地边部火山形成时间较早,晚期火山活动集中于台地中部,而更早期造台地的溢流式拉斑玄武岩喷发规模更大,形成本区基底。达里诺尔火山岩的岩性主要为碧玄岩和碱性玄武岩,少量为粗面玄武岩,虽然SiO_2变化范围较大,但全碱含量变化幅度相对较小,均属钾质系列的碱性火山岩范畴。火山岩斑晶数量少,在镜下为斑状结构,基质多为隐晶质,少量微晶质,明显不同于火山岩之下早期熔岩台地火山岩的基质显晶质结构。火山岩的微量元素呈LREE富集、HREE亏损的右倾型,显示了岩浆低度部分熔融的特征,并且本区与邻区火山岩可能有共同或相似的岩浆源。在岩性相近的基础上,结合火山锥体剥蚀和保留程度显示的火山活动相对时序,暗示本区岩浆成分从碱性玄武质和粗面玄武质逐渐演化为碧玄质,岩浆可能来自软流圈,且来源逐渐变深。     

Late Devensian and Holocene relative sealevel changes at Loch nan Eala,near Arisaig,northwest Scotland

Pollen, diatom, radiocarbon and lithostratigraphical data from isolation basins in northwest Scotland are used to quantify the reference water (tide) level, indicative range and age of differenty types of isolation and connection contacts. Tendencies of sea-level movement and relative sea-level changes from the mid-Lateglacial Interstadial (11.8 ka BP) to the late Holocene are constructed from these data. Relative sea-level fell continuously from + 17.8 m OD at 11.8 ka BP to ca. + 5.2 m OD at 10.1 ka BP. From an unkown minimum between 10 ka and 9 ka BP relative sea-level then rose to +6.3 m OD at 8.3 ka BP. The maximum Holocene sea-level occurred within the range +6.6 m OD to +9.3 m OD between 6.6 ka BP and 4.0 ka BP before falling to present. Isobase, age-altitude and quantitative rebound models for northwest Scotland are tested using these sealevel data, but none of the published models shows close agreement with the new results.     

The Holocene volcanic history of Gran Canaria island: implications for volcanic hazards

Previous published data, combined with our results of 13 new radiocarbon ages and extensive geological fieldwork, indicate that during the past 11 ka 24 monogenetic basaltic eruptions occurred in the north sector of Gran Canaria. These eruptions can be grouped into three periods of eruptive activity: 1900–3200 ¹⁴C a BP; 5700–6000 ¹⁴C a BP; and an older period represented by only one eruption, El Draguillo, dated at 10 610 ± 190 ¹⁴C a BP. Archaeological studies have shown that the more recent eruptions affected prehistoric human settlements on the island. Field studies demonstrate that the eruptions typically built strombolian cones (30–250 m in height) and associated relatively long lava flows (100–10 350 m in length); a few eruptions also produced tephra fall deposits. The total erupted volume of these eruptions is about 0.388 km³ (46.1% as tephra fall, 41.8% as cinder cone deposits and 12.1% as lava flows). The relatively low eruption rate (～0.04 km³ ka^?1) during the past 11 ka is consistent with Gran Canaria's stage of evolution in the regional volcano‐tectonic setting of the Canary Archipelago. The results of our study were used to construct a volcanic hazards map that clearly delimits two sectors in the NE sector of Gran Canaria, where potential future eruptions would pose a substantial risk for densely populated areas. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radiocarbon dating from 40 to 60 ka BP at Border Cave,South Africa

We present 21 radiocarbon dates on 19 charcoal samples from the sedimentary sequence preserved in Border Cave, South Africa. The background radiocarbon activity for charcoal from the cave was determined to be 0.050±0.018 percent modern carbon, from the analysis of a radiocarbon-dead sample from unit 5WA. Radiocarbon ages for individual samples ranged from 25.2 to >58.2 ka BP.The error-weighted mean ages for successively older strata are 38.5+0.85/−0.95 ka BP for unit 1WA, 50.2+1.1/−1.0 ka BP for units 2BS.LR.A and 2BS.LR.B, 56.5+2.7/−2.0 ka BP for unit 2BS.LR.C and 59.2+3.4/−2.4 ka BP for unit 2WA. This radiocarbon chronology is consistent with independent chronologies derived from electron spin resonance and amino acid racemization dating. The results therefore provide further evidence that radiocarbon dating of charcoal by the ABOX-SC technique can yield reliable radiocarbon ages beyond 40 ka BP. They also imply that Border Cave 5, a modern human mandible, predates >58.2 ka BP and that the Middle Stone Age (Mode 3)—Later Stone Age (Mode 5) transition of Border Cave was largely effected between ∼56.5 and ∼41.6 ka ago.     

The Holocene tephrostratigraphic record of Lake Shkodra (Albania and Montenegro)

Two cores were recovered in the southeastern part of Lake Shkodra (Montenegro and Albania) and sampled for identification of tephra layers. The first core (SK13, 7.8 m long) was recovered from a water depth of 7 m, while the second core (SK19, 5.8 m long) was recovered close to the present‐day shoreline (water depth of 2 m). Magnetic susceptibility investigations show generally low values with some peaks that in some cases are related to tephra layers. Naked‐eye inspection of the cores allowed the identification of four tephra layers in core SK13 and five tephra layers in core SK19. Major element analyses on glass shards and mineral phases allowed correlation of the tephra layers between the two cores, and their attribution to six different Holocene explosive eruptions of southern Italy volcanoes. Two tephra layers have under‐saturated composition of glass shards (foiditic and phonolitic) and were correlated to the AD 472 and the Avellino (ca. 3.9 cal. ka BP) eruptions of Somma‐Vesuvius. One tephra layer has benmoreitic composition and was correlated to the FL eruption of Mount Etna (ca. 3.4 cal. ka BP). The other three tephra layers have trachytic composition and were correlated to Astroni (ca. 4.2 cal. ka BP), Agnano Monte Spina (ca. 4.5 cal. ka BP) and Agnano Pomici Principali (ca. 12.3 cal. ka BP) eruptions of Campi Flegrei. The ages of tephra layers are in broad agreement with eight ¹⁴C accelerator mass spectrometric measurements carried out on plant remains and charcoal from the lake sediments at different depths along the two cores. The recognition of distal tephra layers from Italian volcanoes allowed the physical link of the Holocene archive of Lake Shkodra to other archives located in the central Mediterranean area and the Balkans (i.e. Lake Ohrid). Five of the recognised tephra layers were recognised for the first time in the Balkans area, and this has relevance for volcanic hazard assessment and for ash dispersal forecasting in case of renewed explosive activity from some of the southern Italy volcanoes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carbon and Oxygen Stable Isotope Values and Microfossils at 41.4–4.5 ka BP in Tai Co, Tibet, China, and Their Paleoclimatic Significance

Two sedimentary sections were measured at Tai Co (Co means lake in Tibetan) in western Tibet, China. The two sections are almost all composed of clay carbonate beds except in their lower parts where there are carbonized plants at >10 cm depths and dark-colored carbonate clay and clay at 50–70 cm depths, yielding abundant gastropods, ostracods, and charophytes. The carbon and oxygen stable isotope values of carbonate, ostracods, and charophytes and ecological features of microfossil communities indicate the following climatic change in the area from 41.4 to 4.5 ka BP: at 41.4–26.2 ka BP, the climate was relatively wet; at 26.2–25.5 ka BP, it was slightly warm-dry; at 25.5–22.5 ka BP, it was warm-wet; at 22.5–21.0 ka BP, it was slightly cold-wet; at 20.5–17.5 ka BP, it became cold abruptly and slightly wet, implying the climate of the last glacial maximum; at 17.5–16.0 ka BP, it was slightly cold-dry; at 16.0–11.8 ka BP, it was slightly warm-wet; at 11.8–10.4 ka BP, it was relatively cold-dry, roughly equivalent to the climate of the Younger Dryas, and at 10.4 ka BP, the temperatures began to rise again; at 10.4–9.4 ka BP, it was slightly warm-wet; at 9.4–8.5 ka BP, there occurred short warm-wet oscillations; at 8.5–7.9 ka BP, it was slightly dry-cold, representing a strong temperature-lowering and drying event in the postglacial stage; at 7.8–6.3 ka BP, it was slightly warm-wet; at 6.3–4.5 ka BP, the climate tended to be cold-dry. 4.5 ka BP recorded the maximum aridity since the late part of the late Pleistocene.     

Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment of Gonghe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, During the Lastdeglacial: Weathering, Erosion and Vegetation Cover Affect Clay Mineral Formation

With the analysis of the sources and formation mechanism of the clay minerals in the sediment core from the Dalianhai lake in the Gonghe Basin,northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau,clay mineral composition proxies,grain-size and carbonate contents have been employed for high-resolution study in order to reconstruct East Asian Summer Monsoon （EASM） over the northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau during the lastdeglacial.The study also extended to establish a relationship between vegetation cover changes and erosion during the last 14.5 ka with pollen record and clay mineral proxies.Smectite/kaolinite and smectite/（illite＋chlorite） ratios allow us to assess hydrolysis conditions in lowlands and/or physical erosion process in highlands of the Gonghe Basin.Before 12.9 Cal ka BP,both mineralogical ratios show low values indicative of strong physical erosion in the basin with a dominant cold and dry phase.After 12.9 Cal ka BP,an increase in both mineralogical ratios indicates enhanced chemical weathering in the basin associated with a warm and humid climate.The beginning of Holocene is characterized by high smectite/（illite＋chlorite） and smectite/kaolinite ratios that is synchronous as with deposition of many peat laminae,implying the best warm and humid conditions specifically between 8.0 to 5.5 Cal ka BP.The time interval after 5.0 Cai ka BP is characterized by a return to high physical erosion and low chemical weathering with dry climate conditions in the basin.Comparing variations of clay mineral assemblages with previous pollen results,we observe a rapid response in terms of chemical weathering and physical erosion intensity to a modification of the vegetation cover in the basin.     

西藏台错沉积记录与更新世晚期—全新世气候变化

西藏西部台错湖T1阶地的两个剖面沉积中,除下部10余厘米含碳化植物和50-70 cm处为暗色碳酸盐粘土及粘土外,中、上部全系粘土碳酸盐层,含丰富的介形类和轮藻类。据碳酸盐、介形类、轮藻类的碳、氧稳定同位素值与微体古生物群落生态特征等提供的环境气候变化指标,指示该区距今41.4~4.5 ka BP间气候变化为：在41.4~26.2 ka BP气候较湿润;26.2~25.5 ka BP偏暖稍干;25.5~22.5 ka BP气候暖湿;22.5~21.0 ka BP气候偏冷湿;20.5~17.5 ka BP气候骤冷、偏湿,反映本区处于末次冰期盛冰期;17.5~16.0 ka BP偏冷偏干;16.0~11.8 ka BP气候偏暖湿,为全球间歇性暖事件的响应;11.8~10.4 ka BP气候较冷干,大致相当于新仙女木期,10.4 ka BP气温开始回升;10.4~9.4 ka BP气候偏暖湿;9.4~8.5 ka BP气候呈现短暂暖湿颤动;8.5~7.9 ka BP气候偏干冷,为冰后期强烈降温偏干事件;7.8~6.3 ka BP气候偏暖湿;6.3~4.5 ka BP气候趋向冷干,4.5 ka BP记录到晚更新世晚期以来最大的干燥期。     

The Late Holocene to Pleistocene tephrostratigraphic record of Lake Ohrid (Albania)

We present in this work a tephrostratigraphic record from a sediment piston core (JO 2004) from Lake Ohrid. Five tephra layers were recognised, all from explosive eruptions of southern Italy volcanoes. A multidisciplinary study was carried out, including stratigraphy, AMS ¹⁴C chronology and geochemistry. The five tephra layers were correlated with terrestrial proximal counterparts and with both marine and lacustrine tephra layers already known in the central Mediterranean area. The oldest is from Pantelleria Island (P11, 131 ka BP). Other three tephra layers are from Campanian volcanoes: X6, Campanian Ignimbrite-Y5 and SMP1-Y3 (107, 39 and 31 ka BP respectively). The youngest tephra layer corresponds to the FL eruption from Etna Volcano (3.4 ka BP). In three cases these recognitions confirm previous findings in the Balkans, while two of them were for the first time recognised in the area, with a significant enlargement of the previous assessed dispersal areas.     

Holocene hydrological variability of Lake Ladoga,northwest Russia,as inferred from diatom oxygen isotopes

This article presents a new comprehensive assessment of the Holocene hydrological variability of Lake Ladoga, northwest Russia. The reconstruction is based on oxygen isotopes of lacustrine diatom silica (δ¹⁸O_diatom) preserved in sediment core Co 1309, and is complemented by a diatom assemblage analysis and a survey of modern isotope hydrology. The data indicate that Lake Ladoga has existed as a freshwater reservoir since at least 10.8 cal. ka BP. The δ¹⁸O_diatom values range from +29.8 to +35.0‰, and relatively higher δ¹⁸O_diatom values around +34.7‰ between c. 7.1 and 5.7 cal. ka BP are considered to reflect the Holocene Thermal Maximum. A continuous depletion in δ¹⁸O_diatom since c. 6.1 cal. ka BP accelerates after c. 4 cal. ka BP, indicating Middle to Late Holocene cooling that culminates during the interval 0.8–0.2 cal. ka BP, corresponding to the Little Ice Age. Lake‐level rises result in lower δ¹⁸O_diatom values, whereas lower lake levels cause higher δ¹⁸O_diatom values. The diatom isotope record gives an indication for a rather early opening of the Neva River outflow at c. 4.4–4.0 cal. ka BP. Generally, overall high δ¹⁸O_diatom values around +33.5‰ characterize a persistent evaporative lake system throughout the Holocene. As the Lake Ladoga δ¹⁸O_diatom record is roughly in line with the 60°N summer insolation, a linkage to broader‐scale climate change is likely.