Environmental variability in northern Tanzania from c. AD 1000 to 1800, as inferred from diatoms and pollen in Lake Duluti

• Fossil pollen and diatoms have been analysed in a sediment sequence from a topographically closed crater lake in northern Tanzania(Lake Duluti), with the aim to reconstruct past changes in lake level and vegetation dynamics. The results contribute with a new paleoenvironmental record from equatorial Africacovering the period c. AD 1000 to AD 1800. Overall, the pollen and diatom records generate comparative stories of dry and wet periods. Dry conditions are inferred at c. AD 1040–1470, c. AD 1510–1640 and c. AD 1650–1670 with the lowest lake levels at c. AD 1260–1290 and AD 1600–1640. Wetter conditions occurred c. AD 1640–1650 and c. AD 1670–1790. The chronology is based on combined analyses of 210Pb activity and AMS 14C on bulk sediment, and a Bayesian model was applied to establish the age-depth relationship. The hydroclimatic record fromLakeDuluti shows good correlation with several East African lakes although precise comparison is hampered by dating uncertainties.

Subject headings

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

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

Keyword

Diatoms

Pollen

Crater lake

Tanzania

Palaeolimnology

Physical Geography

naturgeografi

kvartärgeologi

Quarternary Geology

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)