Title: The Use of Varved Lake Sediments in Dating☆
Abstract: Varved or annually laminated lake sediments offer an incremental dating technique that also provides high-resolution climatic and environmental data and information about related forcing mechanisms. The first definition of varves by De Geer (1912) was restricted to rhythmically deposited proglacial clays. A century later the meaning was extended to include all annually laminated sediments deposited on continents and in the ocean. Varves are formed under favorable basin configurations due to the pronounced seasonal climatic forcing that controls all processes in the lake's water column and in the catchment area. In addition to their formation, the preservation of varves is important, as bioturbation often destroys all seasonal laminae. Varved lake sediments are composed of laminations with contrasting color and composition as clastic, biogenic, and evaporitic lacustrine sediments, depending on the overall climatic conditions. To establish a varve chronology, the annual character of laminations needs to be verified and possible sources of error have to be determined. The latter can best be achieved by applying the multiple dating approach. If the time frame is eventually assured, such annually laminated sediment archives provide a wealth of information and can be exploited by interdisciplinary multiproxy investigations.
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot