巴丹吉林沙漠湖相沉积的探地雷达图像及光释光年代学证据

 应用探地雷达对巴丹吉林沙漠南部高大沙丘下伏地层进行了探测,在探地雷达剖面沿线采集湖相沉积样品进行光释光测年。对探地雷达数据进行了处理与图像解译,探地雷达反射波与沉积相有相关关系,根据探地雷达数据与沉积信息重建沙丘下伏结构与沉积环境。研究发现,巴丹吉林沙漠南部该测区下伏地形平坦,流沙覆盖区的风成沙是覆盖在古湖相沉积层之上的。样品光释光测年结果反映,在MIS 5e阶段和MIS3阶段,巴丹吉林沙漠南部存在大湖期或高湖面,之后湖相沉积物或钙质胶结层与风成沙因不同的干湿环境而交替叠积; 局部流沙覆盖区甚至在距今7 ka前后还存在有浅湖-沼泽环境。质言之,在巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙丘的形成过程中,气候的多次波动是主要因素之一。     

临河凹陷晚更新世以来沉积地层的光释光年龄

河套盆地沉积有较厚的第四纪河湖相地层,大量的第四纪研究工作在该区开展,但地层划分缺乏年代数据的支撑,尤其是西部临河凹陷区,年龄数据的短缺严重影响了河套地区第四纪地层系统的对比研究。基于临河凹陷3个钻孔岩芯,分析光释光年代测定的可靠性,确定临河凹陷晚更新世以来地层年代,划定晚更新统底板埋深约150 m,顶板埋深自西向东由约9 m增到约15 m。结合钻孔岩性资料,该区气候变化为:晚更新世早期(约130～80 ka)主要为河流相沉积,气候较为干旱;晚更新世中期(约80～40 ka)为河流相与湖泊、洼地相交替沉积,气候较为湿润;晚更新世晚期(约40～10 ka)主要为河流相沉积,气候较为干旱;全新世(约10 ka)以来为湖相、洼地相沉积环境,起初气候条件略湿,逐渐转干。临河凹陷区光释光年龄的测定填补了河套盆地地层研究中绝对年代缺乏的不足,为分析环境演化与区域对比提供了年代依据。     

青海湖末次冰消期以来的湖面变化

青海湖是我国最大的内陆封闭湖泊,处在东亚季风、印度季风和西风带的交汇处,对环境变化敏感,是研究该区域及青藏高原环境变化的理想地点。前人基于其连续的湖相沉积物的多项环境指标与其四周湖成阶地、古岸堤以及表层所覆盖的风成沉积物的年代学研究,探讨了青海湖晚第四纪以来的湖面变化情况,取得了显著成果。然而由于测年材料和测年方法的不同,对于高湖面出现的年代问题依然存在着诸多争议。根据近年来已发表的测年数据、前人对青海湖湖面升降变化的研究结果和青海湖QH-2000孔介形类壳体δ18O的记录进行综合集成,构建了自14 ka以来的青海湖湖面变化曲线。在约14～12 ka,湖面在海拔约3 206 m,比现代湖面高12.3 m(以2010年3月湖面海拔3 193.4 m为基准);在约12～10 ka,湖面急剧下降到海拔约3 165 m,比现代低28.4 m;在10～9ka,湖面急剧上升到海拔约3 173 m;在9～6 ka,湖面相对稳定在海拔3 213 m;在6～4 ka,发生过一次干旱事件,湖面下降到低于现代湖面;在4～1 ka,湖面相对稳定在海拔3 193.7 m;在1 ka至今,湖面呈持续下降趋势。     

乌兰布和沙漠的形成与环境变化

在对乌兰布和沙漠进行野外考察的基础上,通过地貌学、沉积学和年代学的研究,为恢复该地区全新世以来沙漠的形成与演化找到了新的证据。乌兰布和沙漠西南部的吉兰泰盐湖周围及沙漠南部丘间低地湖相地层下部风成砂的系统OSL测年结果表明,乌兰布和沙漠的形成年代约在7 ka BP前后。此外,该沙漠腹地众多的干盐湖,大量含有蓝蚬的湖岸堤,以及丘间低地中的湖相地层和植物根系等的存在,证明了沙漠腹地大古湖的存在。乌兰布和沙漠的形成,可以归因于吉兰泰古湖面积的不断缩小和干涸,湖泊周围松散沉积物的风蚀、搬运及选择性堆积过程。     

近22 ka以来吉兰泰盐湖的环境变化及成盐过程

 根据研究区及毗邻地区第四纪地层沉积特征资料,运用层序地层学的基本方法,对吉兰泰盐湖22 ka BP以来的环境变化和成盐过程进行初步分析。同时,将其划分为6个阶段:冷干期（22.0~14.0 ka BP）,淡水湖演化阶段;冷湿期（14.0~10.0 ka BP）,仙女木期气候颤动期,湖水开始咸水化;暖湿期（10.0~7.0 ka BP）,咸水湖阶段;暖湿转干期（7.0~6.0 ka BP）,咸水湖阶段,亦是湖泊“成盐事件”的预备阶段;冷干期（6.0~4.7 ka BP）,盐湖阶段气候干湿交替,也是盐湖的成盐发展期;凉干期（4.7 ka BP至今）,是盐湖的成盐旺期,盐湖湖水不断缩减,加之周围沙漠的不断吞噬,盐湖开始由干盐湖向沙下湖发展。吉兰泰地区距今22 ka以来的古环境变化及气候转型,不仅是对全球古气候变化的响应,而且对盐湖矿产资源的成盐事件及区域可持续发展具有重要意义。     

民勤盆地东北部晚第四纪深湖亚相地层空间分布及其环境意义

民勤盆地位于石羊河下游,现今大面积地区已被风沙覆盖.前人的研究报道了在民勤盆地的东部曾经发育过一个面积巨大的"腾格里古大湖",然而尚不明确民勤盆地是否也曾被湖水覆盖.为此,本文收集整理了民勤盆地中8个水文地质钻孔的地层资料,利用GIS技术重现了研究区地表以下50 m深度内的湖相地层的空间分布特征.分析发现,在盆地的不同地区普遍发育了2~3层深湖亚相地层,部分地区甚至多达4层,各湖相层厚度介于0.5~32 m.区域地层对比结果显示,在某个时段研究区大范围地区普遍发育了深水湖泊,而其他时段则在不同地区零星发育了小湖泊.结合研究区已有的测年资料,本文认为在晚第四纪某个时段(倒数第二层深湖亚相发育阶段),整个研究区内曾经存在一个规模较大的连通湖泊;但民勤盆地晚第四纪不同阶段深湖亚相地层差异明显的空间分布特征,可能反映了湖盆沉积中心自东向西、再向北东的迁移过程.     

萨拉乌苏地区末次冰期酒坊台剖面光释光年代及其环境意义

萨拉乌苏地区位于毛乌素沙漠东南部,属于东亚季风的北部边缘区。由于萨拉乌苏地区还拥有我国非常重要的旧石器考古遗址,该地区的气候变化广受国内外学者的关注。通过野外考察发现,在萨拉乌苏河谷酒坊台地区的上部地层中,广泛沉积有两层湖相沉积物。在米浪沟湾选择剖面,共采集了8个光释光样品,以此来恢复湖泊发育的年代及环境变化。根据地层沉积相对比和年代学结果,得出在约40~30 ka毛乌素沙漠东南边缘地区发育有古湖泊,说明当时的有效湿度较高。通过区域对比,发现毛乌素沙漠和其他亚洲季风区在氧同位素3阶段(MIS3)晚期都有古湖形成或高湖面记录,说明这些湖泊的演化过程存在一定的等时性,反映当时亚洲夏季风的增强及有效湿度的增加。     

珠江河口“门”的地貌动力学初探

珠江河口由河网区与河口湾区构成,连接两部分的是珠江口独特的地貌单元“门”。末次海进盛期古珠江海湾可分为内海湾和外海湾,现代三角洲平原与河网均发育在古内海湾。内、外古海湾通过峡口相连,这些峡口演变为现代的“门”。本文根据实测水文资料、地形图、钻孔资料,应用PRD-LTMM长周期动力-沉积-形态模型对珠江河口的“门”6000年来地貌动力学进行探讨：(1) 现代“门”双向射流动力系统,(2) “门”的演进阶段,(3)“门”对古潮汐能量的集聚作用,(4) 珠江河口各“门”与相应的三角洲平原的同步耦合演进, (5)“门”对珠江河网形成的作用。     

南极菲尔德斯半岛古海蚀龛沉积的古环境记录

在西南极菲尔德斯半岛长城站地区发现有大量古海蚀龛 ,龛内保存有完整沉积剖面 ,通过对其中一个沉积剖面的粒度特征及元素组成的分析 ,确认该剖面是后期的湖相沉积 ,并据此恢复了距今 460 0年以来该地区古环境演化历史。结果表明 ,距今 40 0 0— 30 0 0年长城站区地表岩石化学风化作用较强烈 ,处于一个相对温暖的时期 ,这与湖泊沉积物、海洋沉积物等古环境记录载体的研究结果是一致的 ,证明古海蚀龛沉积可以作为研究南极无冰区和冰缘地区古环境演化历史的一种新的地质载体。     

吉兰泰盐湖的形成及指示的环境意义

选择位于季风边缘区的吉兰泰盐湖为研究对象,利用OSL和14C测年手段重建湖面波动历史,探讨盐湖形成年代与环境变化过程。通过大范围的野外调查发现,在该湖泊南部地区发育高于现代干盐滩9 m的湖滨砂沉积,上覆风成砂沉积,其中湖滨沉积物的OSL年代为6.7 ka BP前后,表明当时该湖泊处于浅水状态,此后湖水经历了快速的下降过程。对于盐湖中心剖面点盐层之下粘土层的14C测年显示,在5 500 aBP以来,集聚大量的石膏、芒硝和石盐等蒸发盐类,该湖泊进入成盐期。通过区域对比发现,吉兰泰湖面快速下降阶段与季风边缘区中全新世干旱事件发生时间相对应。研究认为,吉兰泰盐类矿物的开始沉积,反映了中全新世阿拉善高原区域环境的突然变化,可能指示着5.5 Cal ka BP前后干旱事件的发生。     

青藏高原东部黄河切开若尔盖湖盆的沉积证据与年代研究

对青藏高原东部若尔盖盆地内外实地考察,在玛曲瓶颈段黄河二级阶地前沿陡坎,发现了含有古深湖相和古河床河漫滩相地层序列的典型沉积剖面。通过沉积物粒度特征分析和光释光(optically stimulated luminescence,OSL)测年,研究结果表明：① 剖面下部淡蓝灰色古深湖相沉积层为深水厌氧环境下形成的湖相沉积物,而覆盖其上的杂色卵石层夹淡黄橙色透镜状沙层则是古河床河漫滩相沉积物,指示了强动力流水作用过程。这2组地层的不整合接触关系,是黄河切开若尔盖湖盆导致古湖水外泄的直接证据。② 剖面古深湖相沉积层顶部和古滨浅湖相沉积层底部的OSL测年结果表明,古黄河在37 ka BP切开若尔盖湖盆,导致湖水外泄,35 ka BP湖水变浅消失,黄河沟通了若尔盖盆地水系。③ 晚更新世东昆仑大断裂强烈的新构造运动和37 ka 温暖湿润气候的综合影响使得尚处于玛曲断陷谷地草原的古黄河源溯源侵蚀加剧,由西向东在玛曲城南瓶颈段切开了若尔盖古湖盆,导致古湖水外泄,从而沟通了若尔盖湖盆的水系,使之成为黄河源。该研究结果对于深入理解青藏高原东北部河湖水系演变及黄河水系的形成具有重要的科学意义。     

Persistence of Artemisia steppe in the Tangra Yumco Basin,west-central Tibet,China: despite or in consequence of Holocene lake-level changes?

The closed Tangra Yumco Basin underwent the strongest Quaternary lake-level changes so far recorded on the Tibetan Plateau. It was hitherto unknown what effect this had on local Holocene vegetation development. A 3.6-m sediment core from a recessional lake terrace at 4,700 m a.s.l., 160 m above the present lake level of Tangra Yumco, was studied to reconstruct Holocene flooding phases (sedimentology and ostracod analyses), vegetation dynamics and human influence (palynology, charcoal and coprophilous fungi analyses). Peat at the base of the profile proves lake level was below 4,700 m a.s.l. during the Pleistocene/Holocene transition. A deep-lake phase started after 11 cal ka BP, but the ostracod record indicates the level was not higher than ~4,720 m a.s.l. (180 m above present) and decreased gradually after the early Holocene maximum. Additional sediment ages from the basin suggest recession of Tangra Yumco from the coring site after 2.6 cal ka BP, with a shallow local lake persisting at the site until ~1 cal ka BP. The final peat formation indicates drier conditions thereafter. Persistence of Artemisia steppe during the Holocene lake high-stand resembles palynological records from west Tibet that indicate early Holocene aridity, in spite of high lake levels that may have resulted from meltwater input. Yet pollen assemblages indicate humidity closer to that of present potential forest areas near Lhasa, with 500–600 mm annual precipitation. Thus, the early mid-Holocene humidity was sufficient to sustain at least juniper forest, but Artemisia dominance persisted as a consequence of a combination of environmental disturbances such as (1) strong early Holocene climate fluctuations, (2) inundation of habitats suitable for forest, (3) extensive water surfaces that served as barriers to terrestrial diaspore transport from refuge areas, (4) strong erosion that denuded the non-flooded upper slopes and (5) increasing human influence since the late glacial.     

A mineral magnetic and scaled-chrysophyte paleolimnological study of two northeastern Pennsylvania lakes: records of fly ash deposition, land-use change, and paleorainfall variation

A combined mineral magnetic and scaled chrysophyte study of lake sediments from Lake Lacawac and Lake Giles in northeastern Pennsylvania was conducted to determine the effects of land-use and sediment source changes on the variation of pH, conductivity, and alkalinity inferred from biotic changes. Ten 30–40 cm long gravity cores were collected from Lake Lacawac and three from Lake Giles. Isothermal remanent magnetizations (IRMs) were given to the lake sediments in a 1.3 T magnetic field to measure magnetic mineral concentration variations. IRM acquisition experiments were conducted to identify magnetic mineralogy. The bedrock, soils and a peat bog on the shores of Lake Lacawac were also sampled for magnetic analysis to determine possible lake sediment sources. The top 10 cm of sediment collected from Lakes Lacawac and Giles was two to four times more magnetic than deeper sediment. ²¹⁰Pb dating suggests that this intensity increase commenced circa 1900. SEM images of magnetic extracts from the highly magnetic sediments indicates the presence of magnetic fly ash microspheres from fossil fuel burning electric power generation plants. The similarity in magnetic coercivity in the top 8 cm lake sediments and in the peat bog supports an atmospheric source for some of the magnetic minerals in the youngest lake sediments. The highly magnetic sediments also contain an antiferromagnetic mineral in two cores closest to Lake Lacawacs southeastern shore. This magnetic mineral is only present deep in the soil profile and would suggest erosion and significant land-use changes in the Lacawac watershed as another cause for the high magnetic intensities (concentrations) in the top 10 cm of the lake sediments. The most significant changes in the scaled chrysophyte flora occurred immediately above the 10 cm level and were used to infer a doubling of the specific conductivity between circa 1910 and 1929. These variations also support land-use changes in the Lacawac catchment at this time. A similar shift in the scaled chrysophte flora was not observed in the top of Lake Giles, however, distinct changes were found in the deeper sections of the core coupled with a smaller peak in magnetic concentration. Fourier analysis of the ²¹⁰Pb-dated lake sediment magnetics indicates the presence of a 50 year period, low amplitude variation in the Lake Lacawac, Lake Giles, and Lake Waynewood (Lott et al., 1994) magnetic concentration records. After removal of the land-use/fly ash magnetic concentration peak by Gaussian filtering, the 50 year variation correlates strongly from lake to lake even though the lakes are in different watersheds separated by up to 30 km. When this magnetic variation is compared with Gaussian-filtered rainfall variations observed in New York City and Philadelphia over the past 120–250 years there is a strong correlation suggesting that magnetic concentration variations can record regional rainfall variations with an approximately 50 year period. This result indicates that magnetics could be used to document regional variations in climatic change.     

Holocene environmental changes around Xiaohe Cemetery and its effects on human occupation,Xinjiang, China

The Xiaohe Cemetery archaeological site (Cal. 4–3.5 ka BP) is one of the most important Bronze Age sites in Xinjiang, China. Although the surrounding environment is an extremely arid desert now, abundant archaeological remains indicate that human occupation was common during certain periods in the Holocene. Field investigations and laboratory analyses of a sediment profile near the Xiaohe Cemetery indicate that while the regional environment was arid desert throughout the Holocene there were three episodes of lake formation near the site in the periods 4.8–3.5 ka BP, 2.6–2.1 ka BP and 1.2–0.9 ka BP. Geomorphic and hydrological investigations reveal that a lake or lakes formed in a low-lying area when water was derived initially from the Kongque River and then shunted into the Xiaohe River basin. Low amounts of active chemical elements in lacustrine sediment between 4.8–3.5 ka BP indicate abundant and continuous water volume in the lake; the content of active chemical elements increased between 2.6–2.1 ka BP but was still at a relatively low level, suggesting a declining amount of water and diminished inflow. Between 1.2–0.9 ka BP there was a very high content of active elements, suggesting decreased water volume and indicating that the lake was stagnate. In contrast, the general climate condition shows that there had a warm-humid stage at 8–6 ka BP, a cool-humid stage at 6–2.9 ka BP and a warm-dry stage at 2.9–0.9 ka BP in this region. The hydrological evolutions around Xiaohe Cemetery did not have one-to-one correspondence with climate changes. Regional comparison indicates that broad-scale climatic conditions played an important role through its influences on the water volume of the Tarim River and Kongque River. But, the formation of the lakes and their level were controlled by geomorphic conditions that influenced how much water volume could be shunted to Xiaohe River from Kongque River. Human occupation of the Xiaohe Cemetery and nearby regions during the Bronze Age and Han-Jin period (202 BC–420 AD) corresponded to the two earlier lake periods, while no human activities existed in the third lake period because of the decreased water volume.     

青海湖第四纪晚期沉积地震地层特征分析

青海湖是我国最大的内陆湖泊,目前的水域面积约4400 km2,流域面积约29660 km2。通过在湖内进行高分辨率浅层剖面探测(GeoPulse),发现不同发育阶段的沉积特征在地震剖面上得到很好的反映。Geopulse高分辨率浅层剖面穿透深度约60 m(分辨率为0.5 m),沉积层序在湖盆中央近水平展布,揭示沉积环境相对稳定,但也有局部的扰动或错断。尤其在南部近岸部位,上表层沉积出现弯曲,说明第四纪的晚近期,青海湖有过新的构造运动。     

Fossil plant remains at Rano Raraku, Easter Island’s statue quarry: evidence for past elevated lake level and ancient Polynesian agriculture

Previous paleoenvironmental records from the lake of Rano Raraku crater, Easter Island??s statue quarry, showed evidence of two major environmental changes, fluctuating lake levels and Polynesian forest clearance. There have been no reports, however, of former shorelines and it is not known if deforestation of the crater was for quarrying alone, or also for agriculture. We shed light on this by examining macrofossil casts of plants found in dryland iron pan deposits, and using combined analyses of pollen, phytoliths and starch in a lake sediment core and dryland soil profile. Casts of wetland taxa, namely Scirpus californicus and fern rhizomes, were identified in the iron pan deposits up to ~10?m above the current lake level, providing evidence of higher lake level during the last Glacial period. This height is near the level of the col on the western side of the crater, indicating that the lake was at its maximum possible elevation at the time, with overflow via the col. Microfossils of introduced Colocasia esculenta (taro), Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Musa (banana sp.) and possibly Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd) were identified in the core and soil profile, providing evidence of ancient Polynesian agriculture. Earliest evidence of gardening occurs at ~627?C513?cal BP, immediately after large-scale forest clearance. The core and soil profile were located on opposite sides of the catchment, suggesting that the crater was intensively multi-cropped and that widespread irrigated gardens co-existed with statue-quarrying activity.     

Holocene environmental history in northwest Finnish Lapland reflected in the multi-proxy record of a small subarctic lake

A 2.5-m-long sediment core was retrieved from Lake Somaslampi, a small lake located in a kame field on the north slope of the Scandes Mountains in Finnish Lapland. Holocene environmental changes were inferred from the lithological, geochemical, pollen, diatom and Cladocera records stored in the lake sediment. The chronology was based on six radiocarbon AMS dates supported by a palynological control chronology. The sediment profile consists of a glacial sedimentary sequence truncated by a lacustrine one. A hiatus, tentatively correlated with climate cooling and advances of glaciers during the 8.2 ka yrs BP “Finse cooling Event”, occurs between these sequences. The glacial sequence was composed of fluvioglacial clastics, smoothly changing into glacio-lacustrine diatomaceous ooze deposited in a meromictic proglacial lake that covered the kame field. The meromixis was probably caused by the greater depth of the lake, the extended ice-cover, and the microbial mats covering large areas of the lake bottom. A distinct change in the biota of the glacio-lacustrine sediments indicates higher trophic conditions than during deposition of the fluvioglacial clastics. The late-Pleistocene vegetation was characterised by subarctic birch tundra vegetation (Betula–Salix–Ericaceae) with low biodiversity gradually changing to Betula–Pinus dominance in the early Holocene. The lake was deep and had a diatom inferred pH ~ 7 indicated also by the dominance of planktonic Cladocera. The base of the lacustrine sediment sequence (6,650–6,300 cal. BP) consisted of loess-rich sediment indicating an increase in eolian activity. This is also supported by the pollen record, which is dominated by more long-distant taxa such as Alnus and Pinus, and by the increased C/N ratio of the sediment. After the initial meromictic phase of the lake, an abrupt lowering of the water level occurred. Lake Somaslampi was isolated from the larger Pre-Lake Somas basin and became holomictic, shallow, much warmer and more productive, until the deterioration of climate around 3,000 yr BP and the increased input of clastics from the tundra soils. The vegetation followed the general climatic trend by gradually changing from the dominance of Betula and Pinus to the dominance of more tundra-related vegetation like Poaceae and Cyperaceae. However, the higher frequencies of planktonic Cladocera and centric diatoms in the most recent sediments indicates higher trophic conditions, increased turbulence and a prolonged ice-free period, which can possibly be linked to the recent climate warming especially in areas of higher altitude and latitude.     

Within-basin profile variability and cross-correlation of lake sediment cores using the spheroidal carbonaceous particle record

Spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) from the high temperature combustion of fossil-fuels are stored in lake sediments and provide an unambiguous record of industrially derived atmospheric contamination. It has been assumed that a single sediment core provides an accurate representation of SCP accumulation but to date there have been no studies to determine within-lake variability of the SCP sediment record. This paper describes the SCP profiles of ten sediment cores taken from the deep water area of Loch Coire nan Arr, a remote lake in north-west Scotland, UK. Although each core shows the basic SCP profile used for sediment dating in the UK there is considerable variation between cores. The conversion of SCP concentrations to cumulative percentages resolves a great deal of this variation with the result that more accurate cross-correlation and hence date allocation is possible, especially in the post-1945 section of the cores. However, significant departures from the usual SCP profile still reduce the effectiveness of this approach. It is concluded that: (i) SCP profiles from single cores from the deepest areas of the lake usually provide an accurate representation of the historical record of atmospherically deposited pollutants and that inter-core variability or noise does not affect the temporal interpretation of that profile, and (ii) comparisons of total SCP inventories are a better way of comparing historical deposition between sites as the impact of temporary variability is considerably reduced.     

Diatom paleoecology of Laguna Zoncho,Costa Rica

We analyzed diatoms in a sediment profile from Laguna Zoncho in southern Pacific Costa Rica (lake elevation 1190 m asl, depth 2.6 m, area 0.75 ha) spanning some 3240 cal yr. Diatoms are common in the profile, which we subdivide into three zones. Zone C (3240–1020 cal yr B.P.) is dominated by Staurosira construens var. venter and Aulacoseira spp.; during this time, the lake was dilute and circumneutral. Benthic and acidophilous taxa increase gradually in the upper section of this zone. Zone B (1020–460 cal yr B.P.) almost totally lacks Aulacoseira, and instead is dominated by combinations of Eunotia minor, Encyonema lunatum, Gomphonema gracile, and Pinnularia braunii. Previous pollen and charcoal analysis indicates that this zone falls within the peak of prehistoric agricultural activity at the lake, but diatoms may also reflect climate change. During this period, the lake was likely shallower and more acidic, but not eutrophic. Finally, Zone A (460 cal yr B.P. to AD 1997) begins near a 1.5-cm tephra layer from nearby Volcán Barú; diatom assemblages are dominated by Aulacoseira spp., and suggest deepening of the lake and return to conditions similar to Zone C. This was a time of indigenous population decline and forest recovery in the Zoncho region, probably reflecting the impact of European diseases on the native population, although climate change and impacts of the tephra deposition cannot be wholly discounted.     

Inferences concerning climatic change from a deeply frozen lake on Rundfjeld,Ellesmere Island,Arctic Canada

A small lake on top of Rundfjeld, central Ellesmere Island, at an elevation of approximately 830 m, is frozen to the bottom, and the thickness of lake ice present is at least 5.45 m. Under present climatic conditions the lake does not thaw to the bottom, even during the warmest summers; i.e., 3 to 4 m of ice still floored the deepest part of the lake in mid-August 1987. A radiocarbon age determination via accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) on a sample of the filamentous green alga Mougeotia sp., recovered from the lake ice at a depth below 4 m, gave 5730±70 BP (TO-530). The date indicates that the lake was probably completely open for an unspecified period of time during the warmest part of the Hypsithermal Interval. This situation is in agreement with data derived from a variety of other sources in Ellesmere Island and adjacent Greenland.