Late Holocene changes in vegetation and atmospheric circulation at Lake Uddelermeer (The Netherlands) reconstructed using lipid biomarkers and compound-specific [delta]D analysis

We reconstructed middle to late Holocene changes in atmospheric circulation patterns and vegetation in north-west Europe by applying novel geochemical techniques to the sediment record of Lake Uddelermeer (The Netherlands). A comparison of higher plant-derived leaf wax n-alkane distributions archive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of quaternary science 2018-01, Vol.33 (1), p.100
Main Authors: van den Bos, V, Engels, S, Bohncke, S J P, Cerli, C, Jansen, B, Kalbitz, K, Peterse, F, Renssen, H, Sachse, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alkanes
Atlantic Oscillation
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation patterns
Biomarkers
Circulation patterns
Deuterium
Geochemistry
Holocene
Hydrogen
Isotope composition
Lake sediments
Lakes
Leaves
North Atlantic Oscillation
Plants
Precipitation
Rainfall
Sea level changes
Sea level pressure
Sediments
Vegetation
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Summary:We reconstructed middle to late Holocene changes in atmospheric circulation patterns and vegetation in north-west Europe by applying novel geochemical techniques to the sediment record of Lake Uddelermeer (The Netherlands). A comparison of higher plant-derived leaf wax n-alkane distributions archived in the lake sediments with those in living plant material, combined with palynological analysis, indicates that the vegetation immediately surrounding the lake became more open at 3150calaBP, while the regional vegetation responded more gradually and 650 years later. Our record of the hydrogen isotopic composition of plant leaf waxes ([delta]Dwax) shows a deuterium enrichment starting from 3500calaBP, which we interpret as a change in atmospheric circulation. A similar [delta]Dwax record from nearby Meerfelder Maar (Germany) shows an opposite trend around this time, which could be explained by a change in sea-level pressure resembling a negative North Atlantic Oscillation phase. This could account for depleted [delta]D values of precipitation at Meerfelder Maar, while confounding factors related to the more maritime position of Uddelermeer cause the opposite shift there.
ISSN:0267-8179
1099-1417
DOI:10.1002/jqs.3006