Late Holocene high precipitation events recorded in lake sediments and catchment geomorphology, Lake Vuoksjávrátje, NW Sweden

• In this paper, we highlight the importance of combining multi-proxy analysis of lake sediments with associated catchment geomorphology to better understand the late Holocene palaeoenvironmental evolution in a high latitude Alpine lake in N Sweden. Previous studies have suggested that such lakes may be highly sensitive to variations in catchment erosion and variations in precipitation, and that this sensitivity may influence ecologically-based reconstructions of past temperature changes. Here we have analysed lake sediments covering the last 5100 years from Lake Vuoksjávrátje in NW Sweden to identify different erosional regimes in the lake catchment and to identify sediment sources and lake sedimentary processes, which ultimately affect the palaeoecological record. Methods that were used include XRF core scanning, grain size analysis and geomorphological mapping, supported by previously published chironomid, total organic carbon and carbon/nitrogen data. From the integrated results we identify time intervals when increased amounts/intensity of precipitation altered sedimentation and lake catchment erosional processes. The most prominent event in our record occurred between 3090 and 2750 cal. a BP and is interpreted to be the result of excessive precipitation in relation to the 2.8 ka event. By combining the multi-proxy analysis of a lake sediment core with a detailed catchment characterisation it is possible to reach a better understanding of the processes active within the lake catchment, the factors governing the erosional regimes and the way these are recorded in lake sediments. For future palaeoclimatological research based on lake sediments we recommend increasing the integration of catchment geomorphology, sedimentology and palaeoecology.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Holocene

Precipitation

Catchment erosion

Solifluction

Lake sediments

Geomorphology

XRF core scanning

Grain size

kvartärgeologi

Quaternary Geology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)