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The Holocene environmental history of Lake Hoare, Taylor Valley, Antarctica, reconstructed from sediment cores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2011

Bernd Wagner ,
Sabrina Ortlepp ,
Peter T. Doran ,
Fabien Kenig ,
Martin Melles  and
Andy Burkemper
Bernd Wagner*
Affiliation:
University of Cologne, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Zuelpicher Str. 49a, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
Sabrina Ortlepp
Affiliation:
University of Cologne, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Zuelpicher Str. 49a, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
Peter T. Doran
Affiliation:
University of Illinois at Chicago, Earth and Environmental Sciences, M/C 186, 845 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607-7059, USA
Fabien Kenig
Affiliation:
University of Illinois at Chicago, Earth and Environmental Sciences, M/C 186, 845 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607-7059, USA
Martin Melles
Affiliation:
University of Cologne, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Zuelpicher Str. 49a, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
Andy Burkemper
Affiliation:
University of Illinois at Chicago, Earth and Environmental Sciences, M/C 186, 845 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607-7059, USA
*
wagnerb@uni-koeln.de
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Abstract

Up to 2.3 m long sediment sequences were recovered from the deepest part of Lake Hoare in Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Sedimentological, biogeochemical, and mineralogical analyses revealed a high spatial variability of these parameters in Lake Hoare. Five distinct lithological units were recognized. Radiocarbon dating of bulk organic carbon samples from the sediment sequences yielded apparently too old ages and significant age reversals, which prevented the establishment of reliable age-depth models. However, cross correlation of the sedimentary characteristics with those of sediment records from neighbouring Lake Fryxell indicates that the lowermost two units of the Lake Hoare sediment sequences were probably deposited during the final phase of proglacial Lake Washburn, which occupied Taylor Valley during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. High amounts of angular gravel and the absence of fine-grained material imply a complete desiccation with subaerial conditions in the Lake Hoare basin in the middle of the Holocene. The late Holocene (< c. 3300 calendar yr bp) is characterized by the establishment of environmental conditions similar to those existing today. A late Holocene desiccation event, such as proposed in former studies, is not indicated in the sediment sequences recovered.

Keywords

lake level fluctuationslate QuaternaryMcMurdo Dry Valleyspalaeolimnology
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , June 2011 , pp. 307 - 319
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2011

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