Environmental records of carbon in recent lake sediments

Abstract

Based on careful sampling and accurate analysis of recent sediments in Lake Chenghai, this paper discusses the staggered positive/negative correlation between organic carbon (OC) concentration and inorganic carbon (IC) concentration. The result indicates that temperature change, and its induced relative changes are the main factors affecting the relationship between IC concentration, δ13C of carbonate and OC concentration. When temperature and its induced photosynthesis strength change control autochthonous calcite precipitation, OC concentration is positively correlated with IC concentration and δ13C of carbonate. When temperature and its induced physical/chemical changes dominate, OC concentration displays negative correlation with IC concentration and δ13C of carbonate. IC concentration and δ13C of carbonate in sediments of Lake Chenghai are good proxies for climatic warm/cold changes.