Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T09:25:50.378Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A new approach for reconstructing glacier variability based on lake sediments recording input from more than one glacier

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kristian Vasskog ,
Øyvind Paasche ,
Atle Nesje ,
John F. Boyle  and
H.J.B. Birks
Kristian Vasskog*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Allégaten 55, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
Øyvind Paasche
Affiliation:
Bergen Marine Research Cluster, University of Bergen, Professor Keysers Gate 8, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
Atle Nesje
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Allégaten 55, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
John F. Boyle
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Roxby Building, Liverpool L69 7ZT, United Kingdom
H.J.B. Birks
Affiliation:
Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Allégaten 55, N-5007 Bergen, Norway Department of Biology, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, N-5020 Bergen, Norway Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, London, WC1E 6BY, UK School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
*
*Corresponding author at: Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Allégaten 55, N-5007, Norway. Fax: + 47 55589416. E-mail address:kristian.vasskog@uni.no (K. Vasskog).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We explore the possibility of building a continuous glacier reconstruction by analyzing the integrated sedimentary response of a large (440 km2) glacierized catchment in western Norway, as recorded in the downstream lake Nerfloen (N61°56’, E6°52’). A multi-proxy numerical analysis demonstrates that it is possible to distinguish a glacier component in the ~ 8000-yr-long record, based on distinct changes in grain size, geochemistry, and magnetic composition. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reveals a strong common signal in the 15 investigated sedimentary parameters, with the first principal component explaining 77% of the total variability. This signal is interpreted to reflect glacier activity in the upstream catchment, an interpretation that is independently tested through a mineral magnetic provenance analysis of catchment samples. Minimum glacier input is indicated between 6700–5700 cal yr BP, probably reflecting a situation when most glaciers in the catchment had melted away, whereas the highest glacier activity is observed around 600 and 200 cal yr BP. During the local Neoglacial interval (~ 4200 cal yr BP until present), five individual periods of significantly reduced glacier extent are identified at ~ 3400, 3000–2700, 2100–2000, 1700–1500, and ~ 900 cal yr BP.

Keywords

Glacierswestern Norwaylake sedimentsprincipal component analysisenvironmental magnetismXRF analysis
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 77 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 192 - 204
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aitchison, J., (1982). The statistical analysis of compositional data. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society B 44, 139–177.Google Scholar
Aitchison, J., (1983). Principal component analysis of compositional data. Biometrika 70, 57–65.Google Scholar
Bakke, J., Lie, Ø., Nesje, A., Dahl, S.O., Paasche, Ø., (2005). Utilizing physical sediment variability in glacier-fed lakes for continuous glacier reconstructions during the Holocene, northern Folgefonna, western Norway. The Holocene 15, 161–176.Google Scholar
Bakke, J., Dahl, S.O., Paasche, Ø., Simonsen, J.R., Kvisvik, B., Bakke, K., Nesje, A., (2010). A complete record of Holocene glacier variability at Austre Okstindbreen, northern Norway: an integrated approach. Quaternary Science Reviews 29, 1246–1262.Google Scholar
Ballantyne, C.K., (2002a). A general model of paraglacial landscape response. The Holocene 12, 371–376.Google Scholar
Ballantyne, C.K., (2002b). Paraglacial geomorphology. Quaternary Science Reviews 21, 1935–2017.Google Scholar
Beierle, B.D., Lamoureux, S.F., Cockburn, J.M.H., Spooner, I., (2002). A new method for visualizing sediment particle size distributions. Journal of Paleolimnology 27, 279–283.Google Scholar
Bickerton, R.W., Matthews, J.A., (1993). ‘Little ice age’ variations of outlet glaciers from the Jostedalsbreen ice-cap, Southern Norway: A regional lichenometric-dating study of ice-marginal moraine sequences and their climatic significance. Journal of Quaternary Science 8, 45–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birks, H.J.B., (1987). Multivariate analysis of stratigraphical data in geology: a review. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems 2, 109–126.Google Scholar
Blott, S.J., Pye, K., (2001). GRADISTAT: A grain size distribution and statistics package for the analysis of unconsolidated sediments. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 26, 1237–1248.Google Scholar
Bronk-Ramsey, C., (2009). Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51, 337–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapron, E., Fain, X., Magand, O., Charlet, L., Debret, M., Melieres, M.A., (2007). Reconstructing recent environmental changes from proglacial lake sediments in the western Alps (Lake blanc huez, 2543 m a.s.l., grandes rousses massif, france). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252, 586–600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Church, M., Ryder, J.M., (1972). Paraglacial sedimentation: a consideration of fluvial processes conditioned by glaciation. Geological Society of America Bulletin 83, 3059–3071.Google Scholar
Croudace, I.W., Rindby, A., Rothwell, R.G., (2006). ITRAX: description and evaluation of a new multi-function X-ray core scanner. Rothwell, R.G., New Techniques in Sediment Core Analysis. Special Publications 267, Geological Society, London. 193–207.Google Scholar
Dahl, S.O., Nesje, A., (1996). A new approach to calculating Holocene winter precipitation by combining glacier equilibrium-line altitudes and pine-tree limits: a case stud from Hardangerjokulen, central southern Norway. The Holocene 6, 381–398.Google Scholar
Dahl, S.O., Bakke, J., Lie, Ø., Nesje, A., (2003). Reconstruction of former glacier equilibrium-line altitudes based on proglacial sites: an evaluation of approaches and selection of sites. Quaternary Science Reviews 22, 275–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Meijer, R.J., (1998). Heavy minerals: from 'Edelstein' to Einstein. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 62, 81–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dean, W.E., (1974). Determination of carbonate and organic matter in calcareous sediments and sedimentary rocks by loss on ignition - Comparison with other methods. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 44, 242–248.Google Scholar
Desloges, J.R., Gilbert, R., (1995). The sedimentary record of Moose Lake - Implications for glacier activity in the Mount-Robson area, British-Columbia. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 32, 65–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Furbish, D.J., Andrews, J.T., (1984). The use of hypsometry to indicate long-term stability and response of valley glaciers to changes in mass-transfer. Journal of Glaciology 30, 199–211.Google Scholar
Haldorsen, S., (1983). Mineralogy and geochemistry of basal till and their relationship to till-forming processes. Norwegian Journal of Geology 63, 15–25.Google Scholar
Hatfield, R.G., Maher, B.A., (2009). Fingerprinting upland sediment sources: particle size-specific magnetic linkages between soils, lake sediments and suspended sediments. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 34, 1359–1373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jenny, H., (1994). Factors of Soil Formation - A System of Quantitative Pedology. Dover Publications, Inc., New York.Google Scholar
Jin, Z.D., Cao, J.J., Wu, J.L., Wang, S.M., (2006). A Rb/Sr record of catchment weathering response to Holocene climate change in Inner Mongolia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 31, 285–291.Google Scholar
Kaland, P.E., (1984). Holocene shore displacement and shorelines in Hordaland, western Norway. Boreas 13, 203–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karlén, W., (1976). Lacustrine sediments and tree-limit variations as indicators of Holocene climatic fluctuations in Lappland, Northern Sweden. Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography 58, 1–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karlén, W., (1981). Lacustrine sediment studies. A technique to obtain a continuous record of Holocene glacier variations. Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography 63, 273–281.Google Scholar
Lanci, L., Lowrie, W., (1997). Magnetostratigraphic evidence that `tiny wiggles' in the oceanic magnetic anomaly record represent geomagnetic paleointensity variations. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 148, 581–592.Google Scholar
Leemann, A., Niessen, F., (1994). Holocene glacial activity and climatic variations in the Swiss Alps: reconstructing a continuous record from proglacial lake sediments. The Holocene 4, 259–268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leonard, E.M., (1997). The relationship between glacial activity and sediment production: Evidence from a 4450-year varve record of neoglacial sedimentation in Hector Lake, Alberta, Canada. Journal of Paleolimnology 17, 319–330.Google Scholar
Leonard, E.M., Reasoner, M.A., (1999). A continuous Holocene glacial record inferred from proglacial lake sediments in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Quaternary Research 51, 1–13.Google Scholar
Lepš, J., Šmilauer, P., (2003). Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data using CANOCO. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lie, Ø., Dahl, S.O., Nesje, A., Matthews, J.A., Sandvold, S., (2004). Holocene fluctuations of a polythermal glacier in high-alpine eastern Jotunheimen, central-southern Norway. Quaternary Science Reviews 23, 1925–1945.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lutro, O., and Tveten, E., (1996). Geologisk kart over Norge, berggrunnskart Årdal M 1:250.000 (map). Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse.Google Scholar
Matthews, J.A., Karlen, W., (1992). Asynchronous Neoglaciation and Holocene climatic-change reconstructed from Norwegian glaciolacustrine sedimentary sequences. Geology 20, 991–994.Google Scholar
Matthews, J.A., Dahl, S.O., Nesje, A., Berrisford, M.S., Andersson, C., (2000). Holocene glacier variations in central Jotunheimen, southern Norway based on distal glaciolacustrine sediment cores. Quaternary Science Reviews 19, 1625–1647.Google Scholar
Nesje, A., (1984). KvartÆrgeologiske undersøkingar i Erdalen, Stryn, Sogn og Fjordane.“ Unpublished Cand. Scient thesis, University of Bergen, .Google Scholar
Nesje, A., (1992). A piston corer for lacustrine and marine sediments. Arctic and Alpine Research 24, 257–259.Google Scholar
Nesje, A., (2009). Latest Pleistocene and Holocene alpine glacier fluctuations in Scandinavia. Quaternary Science Reviews 28, 2119–2136.Google Scholar
Nesje, A., Dahl, S.O., Andersson, C., Matthews, J.A., (2000). The lacustrine sedimentary sequence in Sygneskardvatnet, western Norway: a continuous, high-resolution record of the Jostedalsbreen ice cap during the Holocene. Quaternary Science Reviews 19, 1047–1065.Google Scholar
Nesje, A., Matthews, J.A., Dahl, S.O., Berrisford, M.S., Andersson, C., (2001). Holocene glacier fluctuations of Flatebreen and winter-precipitation changes in the Jostedalsbreen region, western Norway, based on glaciolacustrine sediment records. The Holocene 11, 267–280.Google Scholar
Osborn, G., Menounos, B., Koch, J., Clague, J.J., Vallis, V., (2007). Multi-proxy record of Holocene glacial history of the Spearhead and Fitzsimmons ranges, southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia. Quaternary Science Reviews 26, 479–493.Google Scholar
Osmaston, H., (2005). Estimates of glacier equilibrium line altitudes by the Area x Altitude, the Area x Altitude Balance Ratio, and the Area x Altitude Balance Index methods and their validation. Quaternary International 138, 22–31.Google Scholar
Østrem, G., Dale, K., and Tandberg, K., (1988). “Atlas of Glaciers in south Norway.”. Meddelelse nr. 61 fra Hydrologisk avdeling. Norges vassdrags og energiverk Vassdragsdirektoratet.Google Scholar
Owen, G., Matthews, J.A., Albert, P.G., (2007). Rates of Holocene chemical weathering, 'Little Ice Age' glacial erosion and implications for Schmidt-hammer dating at a glacier-foreland boundary, Fabergstolsbreen, southern Norway. The Holocene 17, 829–834.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paasche, Ø., Dahl, S.O., Løvlie, R., Bakke, J., Nesje, A., (2007a). Rockglacier activity during the Last Glacial-Interglacial transition and Holocene spring snowmelting. Quaternary Science Reviews 26, 793–807.Google Scholar
Paasche, Ø., Olaf Dahl, S., Bakke, J., Løvlie, R., Nesje, A., (2007b). Cirque glacier activity in arctic Norway during the last deglaciation. Quaternary Research 68, 387–399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Blackwell, P.G., Ramsey, C.B., Buck, C.E., Burr, G.S., Edwards, R.L., Friedrich, M., Grootes, P.M., Guilderson, T.P., Hajdas, I., Heaton, T.J., Hogg, A.G., Hughen, K.A., Kaiser, K.F., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S.W., Reimer, R.W., Richards, D.A., Southon, J.R., Talamo, S., Turney, C.S.M., van der Plicht, J., Weyhenmeye, C.E., (2009). IntCal09 and Marine09 Radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51, 1111–1150.Google Scholar
Rothwell, R.G., Hoogakker, B., Thomson, J., Croudace, I.W., Frenz, M., (2006). Turbidite emplacement on the southern Balearic Abyssal Plain (western Mediterranean Sea) during Marine Isotope Stages 1–3: an application of ITRAX XRF scanning of sediment cores to lithostratigraphic analysis. Rothwell, R.G., New Techniques in Sediment Core Analysis. Special Publications 267, Geological Society, London. 65–78.Google Scholar
Rye, N., Lien, R., Nesje, A., Skjerlie, F.J., Faugli, P.E., Husebye, S., (1984). Breheimen - Stryn, Konsesjonsavgjørende geologiske undersøkelser. Geologisk institutt avd. B, Universitetet i Bergen, Bergen.Google Scholar
Snowball, I., Sandgren, P., Petterson, G., (1999). The mineral magnetic properties of an annually laminated Holocene lake-sediment sequence in northern Sweden. The Holocene 9, 353–362.Google Scholar
Snowball, I., Zillen, L., Sandgren, P., (2002). Bacterial magnetite in Swedish varved lake-sediments: a potential bio-marker of environmental change. Quaternary International 88, 13–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Støren, E.N., Dahl, S.O., Lie, Ø., (2008). Separation of late-Holocene episodic paraglacial events and glacier fluctuations in eastern Jotunheimen, central southern Norway. The Holocene 18, 1179–1191.Google Scholar
St"ren, E.N., Dahl, S.O., Nesje, A., Paasche, Ø., (2010). Identifying the sedimentary imprint of high-frequency Holocene river floods in lake sediments: development and application of a new method. Quaternary Science Reviews 29, 3021–3033.Google Scholar
Svendsen, J.I., Mangerud, J., (1997). Holocene glacial and climatic variations on Spitsbergen, Svalbard. The Holocene 7, 45–57.Google Scholar
Telford, R.J., Heegaard, E., Birks, H.J.B., (2004). The intercept is a poor estimate of a calibrated radiocarbon age. The Holocene 14, 296–298.Google Scholar
Thomas, E.K., Szymanski, J., Briner, J.P., (2010). Holocene alpine glaciation inferred from lacustrine sediments on northeastern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada. Journal of Quaternary Science 25, 146–161.Google Scholar
Tjallingii, R., Rohl, U., Kolling, M., Bickert, T., (2007). Influence of the water content on X-ray fluorescence core-scanning measurements in soft marine sediments. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 8, Q02004.Google Scholar
Torsnes, I., Rye, N., Nesje, A., (1993). Modern and Little Ice-Age Equilibrium Line Altitudes on outlet valley glaciers from Jostedalsbreen, western Norway - An evaluation of different approaches to their calculation. Arctic and Alpine Research 25, 106–116.Google Scholar
Vasskog, K., (2006). “Holosen strandforskyvning på sørlige Bømlo.”. Unpublished Master thesis, University of Bergen, .Google Scholar
Vasskog, K., Nesje, A., Støren, E.N., Waldmann, N., Chapron, E., Ariztegui, D., (2011). A Holocene record of snow-avalanche and flood activity reconstructed from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence in Oldevatnet, western Norway. The Holocene 21, 597–614.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Vasskog et al. Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material

Download Vasskog et al. Supplementary Material(PDF)
PDF 5.4 MB