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Comparative 210Pb, 137Cs, and Pollen Geochronologies of Sediments from Lakes Ontario and Erie

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

J.A. Robbins ,
D.N. Edgington  and
A.L.W. Kemp
J.A. Robbins
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Research Division, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 USA
D.N. Edgington
Affiliation:
Radiological and Environmental Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne, Illinois 60649 USA
A.L.W. Kemp
Affiliation:
Process Research Division, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, P. O. Box 5050, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6
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Abstract

The distribution of 210Pb, 137Cs, and Ambrosia (ragweed) pollen in two sediment cores from Lake Ontario and in three cores from Lake Erie provides independent estimates of sediment accumulation rates. Geochronology with 210Pb is based on radioactive decay of the isotope following burial in sediments. The method can reveal with precision changes in sedimentation occurring over the past 100 yr or so. Geochronologies with 137Cs and Ambrosia are based on the occurrence of a horizon corresponding, respectively, to the onset of nuclear testing 25 yr ago and to regional forest clearance in the middle 1800s. These methods provide estimates of long-term average sediment accumulation rates. In all but one core, the distributions of 137Cs and 210Pb indicate no physical mixing of near-surface sediments. In two cores, including one from central Lake Erie collected by diver, all three estimates of sedimentation rates are in excellent agreement. In two other cores, rates based on 210Pb are significantly higher than those inferred from Ambrosia pollen profiles. Lower average rates appear to result from occasional massive losses of sediments. Such events, apparent in the distribution of 210Pb but not in pollen records, correlate with the occurrence of major storm surges on the lakes during this century. In one core from western Lake Erie, exponential distributions of both 210Pb and Ambrosia appear to be artifacts which may result from extensive biological or physical reworking of sediments in shallow water (11 m). Previous indications of increased sedimentation in Lake Erie since about 1935 based on Castanea (chestnut) pollen data are not substantiated.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , September 1978 , pp. 256 - 278
Copyright
University of Washington

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