Abstract
Evidence for lake-level changes derived from stratigraphic sequences in cores from littoral zones is reviewed in the context of lake sedimentation processes. These are illustrated with published case-studies which have used multiple-core data. Possible approaches for choosing optimum sites are examined. Sedimentation controls which may change over time are also considered; these include, wind strength and frequency, wind exposure, water depth and underwater slopes, sediment type and littoral vegetation. A final section discusses how lake-level studies can be optimised so that results can be used with confidence in paleoclimatic and paleohydrological reconstructions. Sedimentary data showing shifts in littoral vegetation along shallow underwater gradients in sheltered margins, and transitions between sediment compositions linked to specific hydrological conditions give the strongest lines of evidence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Advisory Services Branch, 1988. A detailed description of wind and weather during the passage of the storm of 15/16 October 1987 across southern England. Meteorological Magazine 117: 104–109.
Anderson, N. J., 1990. Spatial pattern of recent sediment and diatom accumulation in a small, monomictic, eutrophic lake. J. Paleolim. 3: 143–160.
Barry, R. G & R. J. Chorley, 1971. Atmosphere, weather and climate, Methuen, London, 379 pp.
Bengtsson, L. & T. Hellström, 1990. Redistribution and accumulation of sediments in Lake Erken. Aqua Fennica 20: 125–133.
Bengtsson, L., T. Hellström & L. Rakoczi, 1990. Redistribution of sediments in three Swedish lakes. Hydrobiologia 192: 167–181.
Bennett, K. D., 1986. Coherent slumping of early postglacial lake sediments at Hall Lake, Ontario, Canada. Boreas, 15: 209–215.
Bloemendal, J., F. Oldfield & R. Thompson, 1979. Magnetic measurements used to assess sediment influx at Llyn Goddionduon. Nature 200: 50–53.
Davis, M. B. M. S. Ford, 1982. Sediment focusing in Mirror Lake, New Hampshire. Limnol. Oceanogr. 27: 137–150.
Dearing, J. A., 1983. Changing patterns of sediment accumulation in a small lake in Scania, southern Sweden. Hydrobiologia 103: 59–64.
Dearing, J. A., 1986. Core correlation and total sediment influx. In B. L. Berglund (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. John Wiley, Chichester, 247–270.
Dearing, J. A., 1992. Sediment yields and sources in aWelsh upland lake-catchment during the past 800 years. Earth Surf. Proc. Landf. 17: 1–22.
Dearing, J. A. & I. D. L. Foster, 1986. Lake sediments and palaeohydrological studies. John Wiley, Chichester, 67–90.
Dearing, J. A. & I. D. L. Foster, 1993. Lake sediments and geomorphological processes: some thoughts. In J. McManus & R. W. Duck, Geomorphology and Sedimentology of Lake sand Reservoirs, John Wiley, Chichester, 5–14.
Digerfeldt, G., 1976. A Pre-boreal water-level change in Lake Lyngsjö, central Halland. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 96: 3–32.
Digerfeldt, G., 1986 Studies on past lake-level fluctuations. In B. E. Berglund (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. John Wiley, Chichester, 127–143.
Evans, R. D. & F. H. Rigler, 1980. Measurement of whole lake sediment accumulation and phosphorus retention using lead-210 dating. Can. J. Earth Sci. 37: 817–822.
Foster, I. D. L., J. A. Dearing, R. Grew & K. Orend, 1990. The sedimentary data base: an appraisal of lake and reservoir sediment based studies of sediment yield. Erosion, Transport and Deposition Processes (proc. Jerusalem Workshop, 1987), IAHS Publ. no. 189, 19–43.
Hardman, C. E., N. C. Helliwell & J. S. Hopkins, 1973. Extreme winds over the United Kingdom for periods ending 1971. Climatological Memorandum No. 50A, Meteorological Office, Bracknell, England, 39 pp.
Harrison, S. P. & G. Digerfeldt, 1993. European lakes as palaeohydrological and palaeoclimatic indicators. Quat. Sci. Reviews 12: 233–248.
Hilton, J., 1985. A conceptual framework for predicting the occurrence of sediment focusing and sediment redistribution in small lakes. Limnol. Oceanogr. 30: 1131–1143.
Häakansson, L. & M. Jansson, 1983. Principles of lake sedimentology, Springer, Berlin, 322 pp.
Johnson, T. C., 1980. Sediment redistribution by waves in alkes, reservoirs and embayments. Proc. Symp. SurfaceWater Impoundments, ASCE, Minnesota, Paper no. 7–9, 1307–1317.
Larsen, C. P. S. & G. M. MacDonald, 1993. Lake morphometry, sediment mixing and the selection of sites for fine resolution palaeoecological studies. Quat. Sci. Rev. 12: 781–792.
Lehman, J. T., 1975. Reconstructing the rate of accumulation of lake sediment: the effect of sediment focusing. Quat. Res. 5: 541–550.
Luettich, R. A., D. R. F. Harleman & L. Somlyódy, 1990. Dynamic behaviour of suspended sediment concentrations in a shall lake perturbed by episodic wind events. Limnol. Oceanogr. 35: 1050–1067.
Magny, M., 1992. Holocene lake-level fluctuations in Jura and the northern subalpine ranges, France: regional pattern and climatic implications. Boreas 21: 319–334.
McManus, J. & R. Duck, 1983. Sidescan sonar recognition of subaqueous landforms in Loch Earn, Scotland. Nature 303: 161–162.
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1970. Modern Farming and the Soil, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 119 pp.
Norrman, J. O., 1964. Lake Vättern. Investigations on shore and bottom morphology. Geogr. Ann. 1–2: 1–238.
Odgaard, B. V., 1993. Wind-determined sediment distribution and Holocene sediment yield in a small, Danish, kettle lake. J. Paleolim. 8: 3–13.
Peirce, T. J., R. T. Jarman & C. M. deTurville, 1970. An experimental study of silt scouring. Proc. Inst. Civil Eng.: 231–243.
Sly, P. G., 1978. Sedimentary processes in lakes. In A. Lerman (ed.), Lakes: chemistry, geology, physics. Springer, Berlin, 65–89.
Yu, G. & S. Harrison, 1995. Bake status records from Europe: Data Base Documentation, Paleoclimatology Publication Series Report No. 3, World Data Center, Boulder, Colorado, 451 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dearing, J.A. Sedimentary indicators of lake-level changes in the humid temperate zone: a critical review. Journal of Paleolimnology 18, 1–14 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007916210820
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007916210820