Sediment magnetic properties reveal holocene climate change along the Minnesota prairie-forest ecotone

Authors: Geiss C.E.¹; Umbanhowar C.E.²; Camill P.³; Banerjee S.K.⁴

Source: Journal of Paleolimnology, Volume 30, Number 2, August 2003 , pp. 151-166(16)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

We propose a model that explains variations in magnetic parameters of lake sediments as a record of Holocene climate change. Our model is based on records from 4 lakes and incorporates the effects of erosion, dust deposition, and the authigenesis and diagenesis of the magnetic component of the sediment. Once checked against high resolution multi proxy climate records, which are currently being established for some of our study sites, it will allow us to use magnetic proxies to establish high-resolution climate reconstructions on a regional scale.

Our model utilizes a combination of concentration-dependent parameters (magnetic susceptibility, IRM) and grain-size-dependent parameters (ARM/IRM, hysteresis parameters). Magnetic mineralogy is characterized by a combination of low-temperature measurements and S-ratios, and our magnetic measurements are complemented by XRD, LOI and smearslide analyses.

During periods of forest growth within the watershed, deposition of terrigenous material is low and the sediment magnetic properties are characterized by low concentrations of mainly authigenic minerals (low values of IRM, high ratios of ARM/IRM). During the early to mid-Holocene dry period, deposition of terrigenous material increased due to intensified dust deposition and the erosion of lake margins caused by lowered water levels. Concentration of magnetic minerals increases (high IRM, ) and so does the grain-size of the magnetic fraction (low ARM/IRM). During the late-Holocene, sediment magnetic properties depend on the varied position of the site with respect to the prairie–forest ecotone.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Institute for Rock Magnetism, Newton Horace Winchell School of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota, 100 Union St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 5545, USA and Trinity College, 300 Summit St., Hartford, CT 06106, USA E-mail: christoph.geiss@trincoll.ed 2: Department of Biology, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield, MN 55057, USA 3: Department of Biology, Carleton College, 1 N. College St., Northfield, MN 55057, USA 4: Institute for Rock Magnetism, Newton Horace Winchell School of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota, 100 Union St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 5545, USA

Publication date: 2003-08-01

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• In this Subject: Geology
• By this author: Geiss C.E. ;  Umbanhowar C.E. ;  Camill P. ;  Banerjee S.K.

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