Impacts of post-glacial lake drainage events and revised chronology of the Champlain Sea episode 13-9 ka

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
By: , and 

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Abstract

Lithologic, CHIRP (Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse) sonar, paleomagnetic, stable isotopic and micropaleontological analyses of sediment cores from Lake Champlain (New York, Vermont) were used to determine the age of the post-glacial Champlain Sea marine episode, the timing of salinity changes and their relationship to freshwater discharge from mid-continent glacial lakes. Calibrated radiocarbon ages on plant material provide an improved post-glacial chronology overcoming problems from shell ages caused by carbon reservoir effects up to 1500 yr. The final drainage of glacial Lake Vermont and the inception of marine conditions occurred ∼ 13.1–12.8 ka (kiloannum, calendar years) and a sharp decrease in Champlain Sea salinity from ∼ 25 to 7–8 psu (practical salinity units) occurred approximately 11.4–11.2 ka. Reduced salinity was most likely caused by rapid freshwater inflow eastward from glacial Lake Algonquin into the Champlain Basin. The timing of inferred freshwater event coincides with the widespread climatic cooling called the Preboreal Oscillation.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Impacts of post-glacial lake drainage events and revised chronology of the Champlain Sea episode 13-9 ka
Series title Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
DOI 10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.02.001
Volume 262
Issue 1-2
Year Published 2008
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 15 p.
First page 46
Last page 60
Country United States
State New York, Vermont
Other Geospatial Lake Champlain
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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