Lake Regression Research Articles

Influence of Late Carboniferous–Early Permian climate change on the sedimentary evolution – a case study of the lacustrine Lower Anthracosia Shales (Intra-Sudetic Basin, SW Poland)

The Anthracosia Shales are lacustrine deposits within the volcano-sedimentary Pennsylvanian– Lower Permian succession of the Intra-Sudetic Basin. Core from the Rybnica Leśna PIG 1 borehole, which penetrated the Lower Anthracosia Shales, was analysed to explore the influence of climate on the evolution of the palaeolake, as distinct from tectonic and volcanic forcing. This reconstruction was made using mineralogical and geochemical proxies (elemental and mineralogical composition, TOC values, presence of framboidal pyrite and siderite). Based on the results, three chemically different intervals previously introduced by Wójcik-Tabol et al. (2021) are described. They represent the following stages of lake evolution: transgression (interval I), open lake (interval IIA and IIB), and termination (interval IIC and III). The initial stage of the lake (interval I) was probably related to a rise in humidity in the Late Pennsylvanian, linked to a southern Gondwana interglacial episode. Interval IIA represents the deepest facies of the Anthracosia Basin, where lake-floor anoxia prevailed. This stage was followed by a gradual lake-level fall recorded in interval IIB, with documented seasonality in humid and warm conditions. Interval IIC represents a stepwise lake regression attributed to aridification, as indicated by proxies showing a decrease in chemical weathering. Turbiditic sandy laminae in interval III reflect the terminal stage of lake infill.

A quantitative method to infer lake area changes based on an extensive survey of lake surface sediment grain size across the Inner Mongolia Plateau, and its application to understanding the evolution of Lake Wulanhushao in northern China since 18.59 cal. kyr BP

Grain size is commonly used as a proxy to reconstruct past lake hydrology; however, published research rarely links grain size with modern processes, and uncertainties exist for interpretation. In this paper, we decompose the grain size frequency distributions (GSFD) for 196 lake surface sediments from 61 lakes and 9 reservoirs across the Inner Mongolia Plateau and adjacent areas and divide them into five GSFD components. We statistically analyze the relationship between the GSFD components and influencing variables to determine the taphonomic dynamics and their environmental implications. Within individual lakes, we found that GSFD component 4 (74.00–209.30 μm) and GSFD component 5 (209.30–592.00 μm) dominate near the lake margin and reduce toward the lake center in proportions. By contrast, GSFD component 2 (2.75–15.56 μm) increases toward the lake center. Therefore, the proportions of GSFD component 2, 4, and 5 reflect the relative distance to the lakeshore and allow inferences about lake area changes. We apply this large modern dataset to a sediment core obtained from Lake Wulanhushao (WLHS) on the Inner Mongolia Plateau and link the lake surface sediment-based GSFD components to BEMMA end-members of grain size records to define their environmental implications over the last 18.59 cal. kyrs BP. We found that the Lake WLHS has responded to the orbital and suborbital climate changes since the last deglaciation. Specifically, maximum lake transgression prevailed during the early to middle Holocene (11.70–7.10 cal. kyr BP), medium lake transgression dominated during 17.05–15.80 cal. kyr BP, and weak transgression developed during 14.60–12.90 cal. kyr BP. Maximum lake regressions prevailed before 17.05 cal. kyr BP, during 15.80–14.60 cal. kyr BP and 12.90–11.70 cal. kyr BP. Our reconstructed early Holocene maximum lake area is consistent with regional abiotic proxy-based moisture records, but contrasts with the regional biotic proxy-based moisture records, which reconstruct increasing moisture conditions. Our new method to determine lake area changes will provide valuable data to understand the climate dynamics of northern China.

Radiocarbon chronology of sediments with implications for climatic events in Lop Nur, NW China

Radiocarbon dating has played a pivotal role in paleoclimate research, particularly in establishing chronological sequences for lake sediment. However, the persistent challenge of the radiocarbon reservoir effect has remained a notable concern when using 14C dating. While several methods have been developed address this issue, the spatiotemporal variability of the lake reservoir and their climatic implications on the occurrence of anomalous 14C dating results have frequently been overlooked in previous studies. Especially when dealing with lake sediments in arid regions of Central Asia, the impact of climate-induced sediment sources and watershed hydrology poses substantial challenges for 14C dating. In this study, we focused on sediment profile in the Lop Nur and established a reliable chronological framework for the late Holocene using a piecewise linear regression approach. By integrating climate data from the surrounding region and archaeological evidence, we reconstructed the hydrological and aeolian processes of Lop Nur spanning from 670 BCE to 1300 CE. Our findings suggest that the anomalies observed in dating results were closely associated with the presence of sand component with a reduced organic matter content. And the record reveals the occurrence of sandstorm events around 500 BCE and 300 BCE, with a significant increase in strength after 200 CE. This indicates a decrease in reservoir effects during the lake regression, due to increased aeolian inputs. Therefore, we proposed that the deposition of larger-sized sandstorm particles during lake regression is predominant reason for reduced absorption of surrounding aged organic matter, leading to the younger age observed.

Facies association analysis of a Toarcian siliciclastic‑carbonate lacustrine system, Sichuan Basin, China

Globally, considerable coverage has been devoted to marine environment affected by the Jenkyns Event, but little attention has been given to lacustrine system. Here, siliciclastic‑carbonate samples of the Da'anzhai Member (J1dn) were examined for petrology and geochemistry in order to evaluate lithofacies characteristics, depositional processes and environmental changes of the palaeo-Sichuan lacustrine basin contemporaneous with the Jenkyns Event. Unique sedimentological and petrological features were used to identify five principal facies associations (FA) and depositional environments, including the distal delta front, accretionary bioclastic shoals, proximal bioclastic shoal ramp, distal bioclastic shoal ramp and (semi-)deep lacustrine environment. The vertical transitions of FA reveal that J1dn forms a complete lacustrine transgressive-regressive sedimentary system during the Toarcian, which can be further divided into 3 units in combination with standard gamma logging. The lower unit is characterised by frequent intermixing of multiple FA interpreted as frequent lake-level fluctuations. The middle unit is characterised by the deposition of clay-rich mudstone and the demise of bioclastic shoals interpreted as intensive lacustrine transgression that were at times affected by storm-induced waves or oscillatory currents coinciding with the initiation of the Jenkyns Event. The upper unit is characterised by the thicker and higher proportion of biogenic carbonate-rich lithofacies interpreted as the lake regression, contemporaneous with the end of the Jenkyns Event. Overall, clay-rich lithofacies from suspension settling, turbidity current or slumping triggered by storm events were deposited during a high relative lacustrine-level, accompanied by organic carbon-rich deposition and preservation. In contrast, carbonate-rich lithofacies were mainly controlled by biogenic carbonate sedimentation, associated with a low relative lacustrine-level unconducive to organic matter accumulation. Finally, the proposed depositional evolution model at the lake-level highstand stage and lowstand stage of the palaeo-Sichuan lacustrine basin provides new insights and understanding on the changing palaeolimnological history of the Toarcian lacustrine system.

Characteristics and Geological Significance of High-Frequency Cycles in Salinized Lake Basins: The Paleogene Kumugeliemu Group in the Xinhe Area, Northern Tarim Basin

Salinized lake basins have distinctive sedimentary response characteristics, similar to marine shallow-water carbonate platforms. High-frequency cycles can also be used to reveal more sedimentological information, such as relative lake-level fluctuations, lithofacies sequence combinations, and paleogeographic evolution. In this article, a comprehensive study on the stratigraphic shelf delineation and high-frequency cycles of the Paleozoic Kumugeliemu Group in Xinhe area, northern Tarim Basin, was performed using drilling cores, logging curves, and seismic analyses. As a result of the study, the following data were obtained: the three sets of marker beds in the Kumugeliemu Group in the study area could be divided into a bottom sandstone component (E1-2 km1), a lower gypsum mudstone component (E1-2 km2), a salt rock component (E1-2 km3), and an upper gypsum mudstone component (E1-2 km4) by petrology vertical overlay combination and isochronous tracking correlation, which constituted two third-order cycles (ESQ1, ESQ2). They were further divided into seven fourth-order cycles (Esq1–Esq7). Due to the droughty and saline lacustrine depositional system background, the internal rock fabric changed frequently and showed a periodic vertical overlay pattern. Stratified gypsum salt, gypsum mud (sand) rock, and gypsum rock were used as the cycle interface. A single cycle was mainly characterized by an upward shallower depositional sequence of rapid lake transgression followed by a slow lake regression, composed of massive sandstone–lamellar mudstone–lime dolomite–gypsum rock, massive sandstone–lamellar mudstone–gypsum rock (gypsum salt), massive sandstone–massive gypsum mud (sand) rock–gypsum rock, and other cycle structure types. The complete sedimentary cycle was superposed by a single cycle and compared by the inter-well thickness difference, indicating that the study area had a paleogeomorphology pattern of “West-Low–East-High”. The thickness of the cycles decreased gradually from bottom to top vertically, and five sedimentary stages were determined, i.e., freshwater, brackish, brackish water, salt lake, and semi-saltwater, reflecting the evolutionary process of increasing salinity, lake basin filling, and gradual salinization and shrinkage.

A 5500-year record of coastal dune evolution along the shores of Lake Michigan in the North American Great Lakes: The relationship of lake-level fluctuations and climate

Dune fields line much of the ∼1750-km long shore of Lake Michigan that extends from northwestern Indiana, north along the west coast of Lower Michigan, and west across southern Upper Michigan. Numerous geomorphic studies at specific sites or defined coastal reaches have demonstrated that dune formation began during the Nipissing maximum (∼5500–4500 calendar year Before Present (cal yr BP) and continued episodically to the present. Dune formation in these geographically confined areas is linked mostly to high lake stages and periods of increased storminess. Some recent research has also invoked drought as a potential causal mechanism on a site-specific basis. Although more than 250 collective absolute carbon-14 (14C) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages have been acquired in these many studies, a comprehensive statistical assessment of this robust dataset has yet to be conducted to reconstruct a full chronological reconstruction of dune evolution.This study statistically analyzes the dataset of all known OSL (118) and 14C ages (175) acquired directly from sand dunes. Application of a kernel density estimation (KDE) algorithm function to both datasets revealed the temporal patterns in the ages. Analysis of OSL ages indicates three major periods of dune growth, beginning between ∼5.0 and 3.8 ka during the Nipissing high stand and subsequent regression. The second phase occurred between ∼3.0 and 2.0 ka during the Algoma high stand and regression. Finally, the most recent interval of dune growth transpired between ∼1.3 and 0.8 ka in the aftermath of a high lake stage at ∼1.7 ka and another, shorter peak in lake level at ∼1.0 ka. These findings indicate that major pulses of dune building mostly occur during lake regressions. They also correspond to the relatively warmer and drier conditions of the Holocene Climate Optimum, Roman Climate Optimum, and Medieval Warm Period, respectively, as well as periods of relative drought in the region. These associations indicate that drier conditions may have contributed to dune activation.Plotting of 14C data reveals no single variable, such as stability or burial, explains the timing of the four peaks in the kernel distribution of ages derived from organic remains. Intervals of higher 14C age frequencies occurred between ∼4500 and 3800 cal yr BP, ∼3500 and 2600 cal yr BP, ∼2300 and 1600 cal yr BP, and ∼700 and 200 cal yr BP. The peak at ∼4200 cal yr BP corresponds with a similar OSL pattern, indicating that 14C ages derived from weakly developed Entisols during this interval reflects their burial by eolian sand. Peaks in 14C densities within the latter intervals at ∼3200, ∼1800, and ∼400 cal Yr BP align with distinct drops in the OSL distribution. This pattern indicates that 14C ages from these intervals reflect episodes of stability and soil formation subsequent to episodes of dune building. Although this study demonstrates the general patterns of dune growth and stability, local variations in behavior likely occurred.

Identification of Reservoir Water-Flooding Degrees via Core Sizes Based on a Drip Experiment of the Zhenwu Area in Gaoyou Sag, China

In order to identify the degree of water flooding in a reservoir and to discover any remaining oil-enriched areas, in this paper, a systematic study on the water flooding of cores in obturated coring wells is carried out. With observations and testing data of the cores, based on the notion of sedimentary facies, the water-flooding degrees of 4–7 sand groups in member one of the Paleogene Sanduo Formation (E2s14–7) of the Zhenwu area in the Gaoyou Sag are determined. Overall, the results show that the study area is formed under the background of lake regression, with various sedimentary systems, mainly including delta facies, braided fluvial facies, and meandering fluvial facies. The degree of water flooding is determined using a point-by-point drip experiment of the core. Combined with the testing results of the core, the water-flooding degrees of the different sedimentary facies are quantitatively determined. Identification standards for the water-flooding degree of delta facies, braided river facies, and meandering river facies are established. The water-flooding degree of the delta sand body is generally weak, with an oil saturation rate of 24.1–40.2%, essentially indicating no water flooding or weak water flooding. The water-flooding degree of the braided fluvial sand body significantly changes, and the variation range of the oil and water saturation measurement results is also large. The water-flooding degree of the meandering fluvial sand body is weaker than that of the braided fluvial sand body, which is mostly not flooded or weakly flooded. The water-flooding degree is obviously controlled by the sedimentary rhythm and the sedimentary type. The top of the positive rhythm, the bottom of the sludge bed in the braided fluvial point bar, the deltaic front subaqueous distributary channel, and the point bar in the meandering fluvial have relatively low water-flooding degrees. They are the subjects of subsequent development adjustment and the remaining oil potential tapping.

Paleolakes, archaeology, and late Quaternary paleoenvironments in northwestern Mongolia

AbstractThe climatic, hydrographic, and environmental regimes of terminal Pleistocene and Holocene northwestern Mongolia are reconstructed using archaeological and pedological data sets at Bayan Nuur, a lake on the northwestern perimeter of the Altan Els dune field in eastern Uvs Province, Mongolia. The archaeological data consist of land-use patterns controlled for time via time-sensitive, diagnostic artifacts. The pedological data consist of soil classifications and radiocarbon dating of paleosols that track lake levels and water table. These data are combined using a geographic information system (GIS) to ascertain site and paleosol geographic relationships to modern lake levels at Bayan Nuur. They point to a more xeric Younger Dryas than previously recognized, significant Holocene lake regressions, and to Mid- to Late Holocene lake standstills/transgressions, the scale of which had previously been unrecognized. Combined, these data point to a complex late Quaternary picture of paleoclimate and paleoenvironment across the region and the importance of using multiple proxies, including archaeological data, in paleoecological reconstructions.

10Be chronology of deglaciation and ice-dammed lake regression in the vicinity of the Mylodon Cave (Cerro Benítez, Patagonia, Chile)

Located 51.5°S in the vicinity of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, Cerro Benítez and the glacial valley of Lago Sofía host several caves and rock shelters that were occupied by megafauna and humans during the Late Pleistocene, including the Mylodon Cave and two of the oldest archaeological sites in Patagonia. During the last glaciation, Cerro Benítez was alternately covered by the Patagonian Ice Sheet and surrounded by an ice-dammed lake which restricted the access to the caves and rock shelters located under its uppermost level, 155 m a.s.l. This study aims to provide a detailed chronology of the deglaciation and lake regression in Cerro Benítez. The glacial fluctuations and the variations of lake level were reconstructed from multi-scale, remote-sensing data and field geomorphological mapping. In addition, we calculated the surface exposure age of 11 erratic blocks located above and on the lacustrine erosional platform using terrestrial cosmogenic 10Be in order to date ice downwasting and lake regression, respectively. Dates of ice downwasting and lake regression events were modelled from prior surface exposure ages using Bayesian statistics. The results suggest that the Patagonian Ice Sheet locally thinned by at least 300 m during MIS 3 in the aftermath of a major glacial advance. Following deglaciation, the ice-dammed lake experienced a slow local regression (ca. 2.5 mm. a−1) until 16.9 ka B2k, interpreted as the result of lake basin tilting due to differential post-glacial isostatic rebound. This initial phase of lake regression was followed by a faster regression caused by the reversal of the lake drainage between 16.9 and 15.4 ka B2k. We assess the chronological model by comparison with uplift and lakeshore erosion rates from the literature and eventually discuss the implications for megafaunal colonisation of the area.

Soils of lake depressions in the steppe biome of West Siberia as indicators of Holocene climate rhythms

Buried Holocene soils and polygenetic pedolithocomplexes (PLCs) are found in the dried-off parts of the non-outflow lake depressions of the West Siberian steppe biome. Our research endeavored to assess the potential use of lake depression soil sand PLC as archives recording рaleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions. Sargul Lake in the period of 7.5-5.8 ka cal yr BP experienced a regression stage of water accumulation. In the period about 5.8-4 ka cal yr BP the climate humidization led to the lake transgression, followed by a prolonged and steady regression stage up to 1.0 ka cal yr BP. Then a short-term transgression was recorded in 1.0-0.6 ka cal yr BP. In the Kuchuk Lake depression, a long sub-arid warm period in the middle and late Holocene (6.0-1.5 ka cal yr BP) was followed by climate humidization and relative cooling (1.5-0.9 ka cal yr BP), which at the end of Holocene (0.9-0 ka cal yr BP) was sharply replaced by climate aridization and warming. Around the same period (1.9-0 ka cal yr BP), the Bolshoi Bagan Lake depression also underwent through the lake regression.

Geochemical characteristics, provenance and paleodepostional environment of the Lower Jurassic Huxishan Formation in the Lenghu area, northwestern Qaidam Basin, North West China: Implications for organic matter origin

The organic-rich mudstone of Lower Jurassic Huxishan Formation (J1h) in the Lenghu area is the main oil prone source rocks in the northwestern Qaidam Basin. However, the evolution of dispositional environment and the provenance of dispositional rocks and organic matter are still unclear. Based on the data of element contents, total organic carbon and biomarkers of 143 samples, this study aims to investigate the provenance, paleoclimate, paleowater environment and origin of organic matter. The samples show high contents of terrigenous elements Ti, Sc, La and Co. Moreover, the Ti/Zr–La/Sc, La–Th–Sc, SiO2–K2O/Na2O and K2O/Na2O–SiO2/Al2O3 discrimination diagrams indicate that the tectonic settings of the provenance are oceanic island arc and continental island arc. Weight ratios of Ti/Zr, La/Sc and Th/Co of the J1h samples show values of 6.86–204.08, 0.19–2.16 and 0.015–0.123, which demonstrate a common source of clasts from mafic rocks. The Co/Th–La/Sc and La/Th–Hf discrimination diagrams also indicate that the provenance is mafic rocks with background of oceanic island arc, suggests that the provenance came from different stages in the subduction of the regional ocean and land in the Early Paleozoic. The weathering indices suggest that the samples faced moderate to intense weathering, combining with climate indices, illustrate that the paleoclimate was warm and humid, and the precipitation showed an increased trend from bottom to top. The values of CaO/MgO·Al2O3 show a decreased trend, implying that the paleotemperature had a decreased trend and the average annual temperature was less than 14.2 °C. The values of Sr/Ba, Rb/K and discrimination diagram of Pr/nC17–Ph/nC18–Pr/Ph indicate that the paleowater was predominantly fresh water with occasional brackish and salt water, which also provide evidence of lower salinity of water within the lower strata and increased salinity (fresh water to salt water) within the middle and upper of the strata. The values of V/(V + Ni), V/Cr, U/Th and Pr/Ph indicate that the samples mainly deposits in weak to moderate reducing environment. The reduction degree decreased first and then increased from bottom to top with a few oxidation sections are distributed in the middle of the formation, which indicate a process of lake regression and transgression. The paleoproductivity during organic-rich mudstone sedimentation was high in terms of P/Ti, Cu + Ni + Zn and TOC (1.99%–22.59%), which have a positive trend with paleosalinity. This indicates that the water with higher salinity is more active in nutrient supply. The productivity from large to small is the middle section, the upper section and the lower section, respectively. The homologous series of C27, C28 and C29 regular steranes, main carbon number perks, maximum carbon number, Ph/nC18–Pr/nC17 and ∑nC21-/∑nC22+ all indicate that the source of the organic matter during the J1h organic-rich mudstone was mainly terrestrial higher plants, the proportion of algae and phytoplankton increased in the upper section. The results show that the organic-rich mudstones of the Huxishan Formation developed under the background of lake regression and lake transgression. The dispositional environment and organic types of huxishan formation are obviously different in different sections.

Revisiting growth and decline of late Quaternary mega-lakes across the south-central Tibetan Plateau

Lake basins record critical interactions between the hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere. Their sediments and shoreline landforms archive timing, duration, and intensity of past climatic variability and environmental impacts over a variety of timescales. Thousands of lake systems spread across the internally drained Tibetan Plateau today, of which many are only the salty remains of much more expansive paleolakes in the past. This study presents new shoreline ages integrated with quantitative digital topographic analysis and regional geomorphic evidence to reconstruct the sizes and extents of late Quaternary rift lake systems for the south-central Tibetan Plateau. This study presents optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and the first K-feldspar post-infrared infrared (pIRIR) stimulated luminescence ages for Zabuye Caka and Dawa Tso and tests if these lakes were once part of a singular Pleistocene mega-lake established across four N–S rift systems. Our new results show that two large but separate paleolake systems developed in the latest Pleistocene-earliest Holocene and no lake larger than ∼6460 km2 has existed since at least 41 ka in the Lunggar region. Early Holocene paleolakes expanded up to 7× modern (+220–335 km3) with two to four-fold asymmetric lake expansion in the west compared to the east. Findings corroborate earlier investigations, implying that dramatic runoff increase and/or evapotranspiration reduction prompted rapid earliest Holocene lake expansion. Precipitation variability, in combination with permafrost degradation, temperature and wind strength, governed paleolake moisture balance. Open-system lake behavior and evolving drainage configurations across complex topography explain delayed onsets of lake regression and punctuated lake decline. This suggests abrupt Holocene climate shifts are not necessarily required for punctuated lake decline. Lastly, unique geomorphological and paleoclimatic similarities between Tibetan and East African rift lakes highlight the potential for some Tibetan paleolakes to function as natural climate amplifiers over both short and geologic timescales.

Clumped isotope constraints on changes in latest Pleistocene hydroclimate in the northwestern Great Basin: Lake Surprise, California

AbstractDuring the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and subsequent deglaciation, the Great Basin in the southwestern United States was covered by numerous extensive closed-basin lakes, in stark contrast with the predominately arid climate observed today. This transition from lakes in the Late Pleistocene to modern aridity implies large changes in the regional water balance. Whether these changes were driven by increased precipitation rates due to changes in atmospheric dynamics, decreased evaporation rates resulting from temperature depression and summer insolation changes, or some combination of the two remains uncertain. The factors contributing to these large-scale changes in hydroclimate are critical to resolve, given that this region is poised to undergo future anthropogenic-forced climate changes with large uncertainties in model simulations for the 21st century. Furthermore, there are ambiguous constraints on the magnitude and even the sign of changes in key hydroclimate variables between the Last Glacial Maximum and the present day in both proxy reconstructions and climate model analyses of the region. Here we report thermodynamically derived estimates of changes in temperature, precipitation, and evaporation rates, as well as the isotopic composition of lake water, using clumped isotope data from an ancient lake in the northwestern Great Basin, Lake Surprise (California). Compared to modern climate, mean annual air temperature at Lake Surprise was 4.7 °C lower during the Last Glacial Maximum, with decreased evaporation rates and similar precipitation rates to modern. During the mid-deglacial period, the growth of Lake Surprise implied that the lake hydrologic budget briefly departed from steady state. Our reconstructions indicate that this growth took place rapidly, while the subsequent lake regression took place over several thousand years. Using models for precipitation and evaporation constrained from clumped isotope results, we determine that the disappearance of Lake Surprise coincided with a moderate increase in lake temperature, along with increasing evaporation rates outpacing increasing precipitation rates. Concomitant analysis of proxy data and climate model simulations for the Last Glacial Maximum are used to provide a robust means to understand past climate change, and by extension, predict how current hydroclimates may respond to expected future climate forcings. We suggest that an expansion of this analysis to more basins across a larger spatial scale could provide valuable insight into proposed climate forcings, and aid in climate model process depiction. Ultimately, our analysis highlights the importance of temperature-driven evaporation as a mechanism for lake growth and retreat in this region.

Ground Penetrating Radar Investigation of Late Pleistocene Shorelines of Pluvial Lake Clover, Elko County, Nevada, USA

Beach ridges constructed by pluvial Lake Clover in Elko County, Nevada during the Late Pleistocene were investigated with ground-penetrating radar (GPR). The primary objective was to document the internal architecture of these shorelines and to evaluate whether they were constructed during lake rise or fall. GPR data were collected with a ground-coupled 400-Mhz antenna and SIR-3000 controller. To constrain the morphology of the ridges, detailed topographic surveys were collected with a Topcon GTS-235W total station referenced to a second class 0 vertical survey point. GPR transects crossed the beach ridge built by Lake Clover at its highstand of 1725 m, along with seven other ridges down to the lowest beach at 1712 m. An average dielectric permittivity of 5.0, typical for dry sand and gravel, was calculated from GPR surveys in the vicinity of hand-excavations that encountered prominent stratigraphic discontinuities at known depths. Assuming this value, consistent radar signals were returned to a depth of ~3 m. Beach ridges are resolvable as ~90 to 150-cm thick stratified packages of gravelly sand overlying a prominent lakeward-dipping reflector, interpreted as the pre-lake land surface. Many ridges contain a package of sediment resembling a buried berm at their core, typically offset in a landward direction from the geomorphic crest of the beach ridge. Sequences of lakeward-dipping reflectors are resolvable beneath the beach face of all ridges. No evidence was observed to indicate that beach ridges were submerged by higher water levels after their formation. Instead, the GPR data are consistent with a model of sequential ridge formation during a monotonic lake regression.

The eastern shores of the Baltic Sea in the Early Holocene according to natural and cultural relict data

Exploration of the underwater landscape in Lithuanian waters, in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea, allowed identification of trees stumps in growth position, peat sediments, and traces of people that were living in the now flooded landscape. The exploration has been concentrated on localisation of the former Early Holocene coasts. Based on new data about sediment layers of the Preboreal‒Atlantis I, palynological and dendrohronological analysis, identified vegetation species, and dating of wood and peat samples by radiocarbon methods the Baltic Sea water level dynamics during the stages Yoldia Sea‒Early Litorina Sea could be identified. There are traces of the eroded coasts of the Yoldia Sea at a depth of 39–43 m, which were also observed at depths of 44 and 47 m. During the Ancylus Lake transgression, the RF‐I lagoons and small lakes with the peat layer and the surrounding forests were submerged. The water level could have even risen to 10–9 m below present sea level. The water drop during the Ancylus Lake regression is evidenced by a peat layer dated to 9,150–8,520 cal BP, and similar radiocarbon dating of an oak stump. The changes of the species composition of trees are indicative of the noticeable climate changes during the period 11,410–7,900 cal BP. Litorina transgression is marked by a tree stump found at a depth of 14.5 m dated to 7,900–7,660 cal BP. The preference of the Early Holocene population to the coastal zone is evidenced by poles driven into the seabed (one was dated to 9,510–9,460 cal BP) that were detected at a depth of 11 m and the T‐shaped antler axes dated to the Early Neolithic, washed ashore from the Litorina Sea coastal Stone Age settlements.

Late Quaternary lake-level and climate changes in arid central Asia inferred from sediments of Ebinur Lake, Xinjiang, northwestern China

AbstractArid central Asia plays an important role in global climate dynamics, but large uncertainties remain in our understanding of the region's hydroclimate variability during the Late Quaternary. Here we present a new, high-resolution record of lacustrine sediment grain-size and element chemistry from Ebinur Lake, which was used to infer lake conditions and related climate changes in the study region between ca. 39.2 and 3.6 ka. End-member modeling analysis of grain-size data and PCA of elemental data show that lake level fluctuated dramatically from 39.2 to 34.0 ka. Subsequently, Ebinur Lake experienced a high stand from 34.0 to 28.0 ka, under humid climate conditions. The subsequent period, from 28.0 to 12.0 ka, was characterized by lake regression under dry climate conditions, whereas afterward (12.0–3.6 ka), considerably higher lake levels and humid conditions again prevailed. Millennial-scale abrupt climate changes, such as Heinrich events (H3 and H1) and the Younger Dryas, which are documented in the North Atlantic region, are also detected in the sediment record from Ebinur Lake. Comparisons with other sediment records from arid central Asia generally support the claim that climate change in this region was influenced mainly by variations in North Atlantic sea surface temperatures, through the westerlies.

High-frequency redox variations of the Eocene cyclic lacustrine sediments in the Yingxi area, western Qaidam Basin, China

The mineral assemblages of lacustrine mixed sediments have vital significance for reconstructing paleo-lake environments, and typical lacustrine mixed sediments deposited during the Eocene are distributed throughout the Yingxi area in the western Qaidam Basin. Accordingly, the framboid size distributions and sulfur isotope (δ34Spy) characteristics of pyrite in addition to the carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) characteristics and redox-sensitive element ratios (Th/U, V/(V + Ni) and V/Cr) of authigenic carbonates were investigated to reconstruct the high-frequency redox variations in cyclic lacustrine sediments.Corresponding to different redox conditions, three types of mixed sediments developed during transgression and regression stages within the saline basin in the Yingxi area during the Eocene: mixed terrigenous clasts formed in oxic-dysoxic water column conditions during lake transgression, mixed carbonates formed in anoxic water column conditions during early-stages lake regression, and mixed evaporites formed in anoxic-sulfidic water column conditions during middle-late-stage lake regression. The redox proxies correlate well with the water salinity, exhibit little or no correlation with the water temperature, and show an incongruity with the water depth, suggesting that the redox conditions were predominantly controlled by the water salinity rather than the water depth or temperature. Therefore, based on the water redox condition variations and the salinity, three dynamic formation models of the high-frequency sedimentary cycles in a saline basin are established: a deep-water, low-salinity, oxic-dysoxic model (Model I), a medium-water, medium-salinity, anoxic model (Model II) and a shallow-water, high-salinity, anoxic-sulfidic model (Model III). Because the climate gradually turned dry and hot from lake transgression to regression, the continued closure of the basin enhanced evaporation and salinization. In addition, mixed terrigenous clasts, mixed carbonates and mixed evaporites deposited successively. Correspondingly, salinity stratification gradually developed within the lake water, increasing the extent of bacterial sulfate reduction in the bottom water.

Environmental evolution of western Baltic Sea in the Holocene in the light of multidisciplinary investigations of sediments cores from Arkona Basin

A multidisciplinary investigation performed on gravity cores, supplemented by a new radiocarbon dating of macrofossils, outlined the environmental evolution of Arkona Basin in the Holocene. Studies comprising the analysis of diatoms, geochemistry, grain size, and radiocarbon dating clarified the knowledge about the age and environmental changes during freshwater and marine transgressions and regressions. The acoustic profiling method allowed proper interpretation of the analysis results from sediment cores and created a proper lithostratigraphic model of the investigated basin. Baltic Ice Lake and Yoldia Sea sediment layers were identified acoustically and cores penetrated the final regression surface of the Baltic Ice Lake. The analyses of cores concentrated on Ancylus Lake and Littorina Sea sediments. Two phases of the Ancylus Lake stage were identified. The peaks of loss on ignition in the cores, observed as a strong acoustic reflector, were identified as a marker of Ancylus Lake regression between the first, high-water level phase and the second, shallow-water phase. The age of onset of Littorina transgression was estimated at around 7000–7200 cal BP and was younger than some previous estimations. The retrieved age confirmed the suggestion that the marine environment appeared first in Mecklenburg Bay and then after a few hundred years in Arkona Basin as an intensive transgression. The appearance of Littorina Sea revealed a fast shift of the environment from lacustrine to marine. The first phase of the Littorina stage was recognised as a rapidly increasing water level and high-energy environment; the second showed rapidly increasing salinity in the calmer conditions of sedimentation.

Bed II Sequence Stratigraphic context of EF-HR and HWK EE archaeological sites, and the Oldowan/Acheulean succession at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Archaeological excavations at EF-HR and HWK EE allow reassessment of Bed II stratigraphy within the Junction Area and eastern Olduvai Gorge. Application of Sequence Stratigraphic methods provides a time-stratigraphic framework enabling correlation of sedimentary units across facies boundaries, applicable even in those areas where conventional timelines, such as tephrostratigraphic markers, are absent, eroded, or reworked. Sequence Stratigraphically, Bed II subdivides into five major Sequences 1 to 5, all floored by major disconformities that incise deeply into the underlying succession, proving that simple "layer cake" stratigraphy is inappropriate. Previous establishment of the Lemuta Member has invalidated the use of Tuff IIA as the boundary between Lower and Middle Bed II, now redefined at the disconformity between Sequences 2 and 3, a lithostratigraphic contact underlying the succession containing the Lower, Middle, and Upper Augitic Sandstones. HWK EE site records Oldowan technology in the Lower Augitic Sandstone at the base of Sequence 3, within Middle Bed II. We suggest placement of recently reported Acheulean levels at FLK W within the Middle Augitic Sandstone, thus emphasizing that handaxes are yet to be found in earlier stratigraphic units of the Olduvai sequence. This would place a boundary between the Oldowan and Acheulean technologies at Olduvai in the Tuff IIB zone or earliest Middle Augitic Sandstone. A major disconformity between Sequences 3 and 4 at and near EF-HR cuts through the level of Tuff IIC, placing the main Acheulean EF-HR assemblage at the base of Sequence 4, within Upper rather than Middle Bed II. Sequence stratigraphic methods also yield a more highly resolved Bed II stratigraphic framework. Backwall and sidewall surveying of archaeological trenches at EF-HR and HWK EE permits definition of “Lake-parasequences” nested within the major Sequences that record downcutting of disconformities associated with lake regression, then sedimentation associated with lake transgression, capped finally by another erosional disconformity or hiatal paraconformity caused by the next lake withdrawal. On a relative time-scale rather than a vertical metre scale, the resulting Wheeler diagram framework provides a basis for recognizing time-equivalent depositional episodes and the position of time gaps at various scales. Relative timing of archaeological assemblage levels can then be differentiated at a millennial scale within this framework.

Depositional model for peat swamp and coal facies evolution using sedimentology, coal macerals, geochemistry and sequence stratigraphy

As one of the most important source rocks and reservoirs of unconventional natural gas, the sedimentary environment and mode of peat swamp (the predecessor of coal seam) is important to the coal seam’s spatial distribution, material composition, hydrocarbon generation potential, reservoir physical properties, etc. To reveal the depositional characteristics and history of environmental change in a terrestrial basin during a period of peat accumulation, the Middle Jurassic aged #7 coal from Gaoquan in the Qaidam Basin (NW China) was investigated using sedimentology, maceral composition, geochemistry and sequence stratigraphy. Based on identification of the sedimentary shoreline break belt, wave energy depletion point and position of wave base, the peat swamp system can be subdivided into (1) lakeside plain, (2) low energy lakeshore, (3) high energy lakeshore, and (4) shallow lake subfacies. A new method for determining coal facies is proposed based on the combination of environmental parameters including oxidation-reduction levels, energy conditions and the influence of terrigneous sediments. The evolution of the coal seam shows that peat was deposited mainly in the low energy lakeshore and lakeside plain subfacies. Five types of sequence stratigrpahic surface and two types of parasequence were identified. Forced lake regressions and normal lake regressions are attributed as the causes of sequence boundaries. The sequence stratigraphic framework comprises six sequences and corresponding system tracts, and the curve of base-level for each demonstrates a characteristic initial period of slow rising followed by fast rising and then returning to slow rising. A model indicating the relationship among base-level changes, coal facies evolution, and the environmental features in the swamp is proposed that shows the environmental features of the swamp were controlled by both base-level changes and coal facies. Accompanying depositional environment changes from a lakeside plain to lakeshore and shallow lake caused by increasing rate of base-level rise, water paleosalinity, acidity and the percentage of woody plants decrease, and the bog type alters from the low marsh to raised bog.