Journal of Paleolimnology

, Volume 15, Issue 1, pp 47–63 | Cite as

Early Holocene shore displacement and evidence of irregular isostatic uplift northwest of Lake Vänern, western Sweden

  • Jan Risberg
  • Per Sandgren
  • Elinor Andrén
Article
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

In the 1920's the Swedish geologist Lennart von Post found evidence of irregular early Holocene isostatic uplift in the region northwest of Lake Vänern in western Sweden. von Post based his conclusions on levellings of ancient shore lines. These were indirectly dated by pollen stratigraphical investigations in basins situated at approximately the same altitudes as the shore lines. To test von Post's hypothesis, we have adopted a different methodological approach. The sediments in twelve small lake basins, within five minor areas in this region, have been investigated with respect to when they became isolated from ancient Lake Vänern. Initially all the lake thresholds were levelled. Altitudes range between 165 and 96 m above sea level. By combining the results of mineral magnetic and diatom stratigraphical analyses it has been possible to determine the level in the sediment when the basin became isolated. The 14C age of this isolation level has been inferred from AMS dates based on the NaOH-soluble fraction of bulk sediment, partly with very low organic content. Altogether, 36 radiocarbon datings have been carried out, ranging from 10080 to 8800 14C years BP. Pollen analyses, and subsequent correspondence analysis (CA) of all pollen spectra, were carried out around the isolation level in each basin as a complement to the AMS datings.

If the region had been subject to irregular isostatic uplift, lakes at the same altitude in the five areas should have been isolated at different times. The AMS determined isolation ages, ‘corrected’ according to CA of the pollen stratigraphy and compensated for the relatively higher rebound of the northerly situated sites support von Post's conclusion, from the beginning of this century, that the region northwest of Lake Vänern has been subjected to irregular isostatic uplift.

Key words

Early Holocene irregular isostatic uplift western Sweden diatom stratigraphy magnetic stratigraphy 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Alhonen, P., 1971. The stages of the Baltic Sea as indicated by the diatom stratigraphy. Acta Bot. Fenn. 92: 1–18.Google Scholar
  2. Battarbee, R. W., 1986. Diatom analysis. In: B. E., Berglund (ed.): Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology: 527–570. John Wiley & Sons. Chichester.Google Scholar
  3. Berglund, B. E. & M., Ralska-Jasiewiczowa, 1986. Pollen analysis and pollen diagrams. In: B. E., Berglund (ed.): Handbook of Holocene Palaeoeclogy and Palaeohydrology: 455–484. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.Google Scholar
  4. Björck, S., in press. Review of the history of the Baltic Sea, 13–8 ka BP. Quat. Intern. 27, 000-000.Google Scholar
  5. Camburn, K. E. & J. C., Kingston, 1986. The genus Melosira from soft-water lakes with special reference to northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In J. P., Smol, R. W., Battarbee, R. B., Davis & J., Meriläinen (eds): Diatoms and Lake Acidity: 17–34. Dr. W. Junk Publishers. Dordrecht.Google Scholar
  6. Cholnoky, B. J., 1968. Die Ökologie der Diatomeen in Binnengewässern. 070 J. Cramer. Germany, 699 pp.Google Scholar
  7. Cleve-Euler, A., 1951–1955. Die Diatomeen von Schweden und Finnland. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar I–V. 4:e Serien 2:1 (1951): 163 pp., 3:3 (1952): 153 pp., 4:1 (1953): 158 pp., 4:5 (1953): 255 pp., 5:4 (1955): 232 pp.Google Scholar
  8. Ertmann, G., B., Berglund & J., Praglowski, 1961. An introduction to a Scandinavian pollen flora. Almqvist & Wiksell. Stockholm. 92 pp.Google Scholar
  9. Ertmann, G., Praglowski, J. & Nilsson, S., 1963. An introduction to a Scandinavian pollen flora. II. Almqvist & Wiksell. Uppsala. 89 pp.Google Scholar
  10. Hustedt, F., 1930., Die Süsswasser-flora Mitteleuropas. Heft 10: 070 Bacillariophyta (Diatomeae). Verlag von Gustav Fischer. Jena. 468 pp.Google Scholar
  11. Kromer, B. & B., Becker, 1993. German oak and pine 14C calibration, 7200–9439 BC. Radiocarbon 35: 125–135.Google Scholar
  12. Lundqvist, J., 1958. Beskrivning till Jordartskarta över Värmlands län. Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning Ca 38, 229 pp.Google Scholar
  13. Lundqvist, J., 1988. Younger Dryas-Preboreal moraines and deglaciation in southwestern Värmland. Boreas 17: 301–316.Google Scholar
  14. Magnusson, N. H. & L. von Post, 1929. Beskrivning till kartbladet Säffle. Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning Aa 167. 96 pp.Google Scholar
  15. Miller, U., 1986. Ecology and palaeoecology of brackish water diatoms with special reference to the Baltic basin. In M., Ricard (ed.): Proceedings of the Eight International Diatom Symposium, Paris 1984: 601–611. Koeltz Scientific Books. Koenigstein.Google Scholar
  16. Mölder, K. & R. Tynni, 1967–1973. Über Finnlands rezente und Subfossile Diatomeen I–VI. Comptes Rendus de la Société géologique de Finlande N:o XXXIX: 199–217 (1967), Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland 40: 151–170 (1968), Bulletin 41: 235–251 (1969), Bulletin 42: 129–144 (1970), Bulletin 43: 203–220 (1971), Bulletin 44: 141–149 (1972), Bulletin 45: 159–179 (1973).Google Scholar
  17. Moore, P. D., Webb, J. A. & M. E., Collinson, 1991. Pollen analysis. Second edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications. London, 216 pp.Google Scholar
  18. Mörner, N.-A., 1977. Past and present uplift in Sweden: glacial isostasy, tectonism and bedrock influence. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 99: 48–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Mörner, N.-A., 1991. Intense earthquakes and seismotectonics as a function of glacial isostasy. Tectonophysics 188, 407–410.Google Scholar
  20. Mörner, N.-A., 1995. Paleoseismicity — The Swedish case. Quat. Intern. 25: 75–79.Google Scholar
  21. Mörner, N.-A. & P. E., Tröften, 1993. Palaeoseismotectonics in glaciated cratonal Sweden. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 94: 107–117.Google Scholar
  22. Olsson, I. U., 1986. Radiometric dating. In B. E., Berglund (ed.), Handbook of Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology: 273–312. John Wiley & Sons. Chichester.Google Scholar
  23. Risberg, J., 1991. Palaeoenvironment and sea level changes during the early Holocene on the Södertörn peninsula, Södermanland, eastern Sweden. Stockholm University, Department of Quaternary Research. Report 20. 27 pp. (Thesis).Google Scholar
  24. Risberg, J. & P. Sandgren, in print. Shore displacement and evidence of irregular uplift during early Holocene in south-western Värmland, western Sweden. Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate. Technical Report.Google Scholar
  25. Robertsson, A.-M., 1990. The diatom flora of the Yoldia sediments in the Närke province, south central Sweden. Beiheft zur Nova Hedwigia 100: 255–262. Stuttgart.Google Scholar
  26. Sandgren, P. & J., Risberg, 1990. Magnetic mineralogy of the sediments in Lake Ådran, eastern Sweden, and an interpretation of early Holocene water level changes. Boreas 19: 57–68.Google Scholar
  27. Stabell, B., 1985. The development and succession of taxa within the genus Fragilaria Lyngbye as a response to basin isolation from the sea. Boreas 14: 273–286.Google Scholar
  28. Svensson, N. O., 1989. Late Weichselian and early Holocene shore displacement in the central Baltic, based on stratigraphical and morphological records from eastern Småland and Gotland, Sweden. LUNDQUA Thesis, Volume 25. Lund University. Department of Quaternary Geology. 195 pp.Google Scholar
  29. ter Braak, C. J. F., 1988. CANOCO — a FORTRAN program for canonical ordination by [partial] [detrended] [canonical] correspondence analysis and redundancy analysis (version 2.1) Ministerie van Landbouw en Visserij Directora — Generaal Landbouw en Voedselvoorziening Directe Landbouwkundig Onderzoek. 95 pp.Google Scholar
  30. Thompson, R. & F., Oldfield, 1986. Environmental magnetism. Allen & Unwin. London. 227 pp.Google Scholar
  31. Tynni, R., 1975–1980. Über Finnlands rezente und subfossile Diatomeen. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland 274: 55 pp. (1975), Bulletin 284: 37 pp. (1976), Bulletin 296: 55 pp. (1978), Bulletin 312: 93 pp. (1980).Google Scholar
  32. von, Post, L., 1929. Vänerbassängens strandlinjer. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 377: 199–235.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1996

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jan Risberg
    • 1
  • Per Sandgren
    • 2
  • Elinor Andrén
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Quaternary ResearchStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
  2. 2.Department of Quaternary GeologyLund UniversityLundSweden
  3. 3.Department of Geology and GeochemistryStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden

Personalised recommendations