Challenges and limitations of the 210Pb sediment dating method: Results from an IAEA modelling interlaboratory comparison exercise

Barsanti, Mattia; Garcı́a-Tenorio, R.; Schirone, Antonio; Rožmarić, Martina; Ruiz-Fernández, Ana Carolina; Sanchez-Cabeza, Joan-Albert; Delbono, Ivana; Conte, Fabio; Godoy, José Marcus; Heijnis, Henk; Eriksson, Mats; Hatje, Vanessa; Laissaoui, A.; Nguyen, H.Q.; Okuku, Eric Ochieng; Al-Rousan, Saber; Uddin, Saif; Yii, Mei-Wo; Osvath, I.

doi:10.1016/j.quageo.2020.101093

Cited by 44 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…This standardized method of evaluating different chronologies will further facilitate identification of the most reliable chronological dating model where model assumptions are respected. Interestingly, Barsanti et al (2020) recently conducted an interlaboratory calibration exercise with 14 different laboratories worldwide to evaluate a single lake sediment isotopic profile, and no consensus was reached with regard to dating model selection: seven laboratories selected the CRS model, five adopted the CFCS model, another one chose the CIC model, and finally the last group selected a modified version of the CFCS model. Clearly, there is a need to standardize approaches to model selection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A framework for ²¹⁰Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates

Baud

Aulard

Ghanbari

et al. 2022

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Lake sedimentation rate represents a synthetic metric of ecosystem functioning. Many localized studies have reported a significant association between land use/land cover changes and lake sediment mass accumulation rates, with a few global syntheses echoing these findings at larger scales. In the literature, studies evaluating lead‐210 (210Pb) for establishing sediment chronologies will report at least one of three dating models, but the constant rate of supply (CRS) model is the most widely used. However, it is often unclear how or why this model is selected, despite its influence on the interpretation of many subsequent analyses about ecosystem dynamics and functioning. It would thus be advantageous to design an objective and semi‐automated way of choosing among dating models. We measured radioisotopic activities in 37 sediment cores across four ecozones of Eastern Canada and developed an approach to assess model fit for the three commonly applied dating models. The derived chronologies were then used to evaluate the spatial and temporal variation in sedimentation rates across four ecozones in Canada (covering a surface area of 2.2 × 106 km2). We observed a recent increase in lake sedimentation rates across most lakes, as has been observed globally, albeit with significant differences in the magnitude of sedimentation rates across ecozones. Across all lakes, we found that regional human population counts and mean annual air temperatures were significant temporal predictors of variation in mass accumulation rates. Overall, this analytical framework offers an objective approach for assessing fit and selecting among sediment age models, which contributes to a more robust quantification of sedimentation rates. With this first application, we provide a quantitative assessment of how lake sedimentation rates have varied across a northern lake‐rich region and have responded to environmental change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A framework for ²¹⁰Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates

Baud

Aulard

Ghanbari

et al. 2022

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…By contrast, in the last century, the rates have increased markedly to between 2-200 mm yr -1 (Bentley et al, 2014;Huirama et al, 2021;Hume and Dahm, 1992;Hunt, 2019;Swales and Hume, 1995). These studies, however, have been challenged by the limitations associated with age-dating sediments using the 14 C or 210 Pb methods (Appleby, 1998;Barsanti et al, 2020;Petchey, 2009), and therefore it is unclear how meaningful reported estimates of "average" SAR over these time spans are given the inherently incomplete nature of the stratigraphic record (Paola et al, 2018;Straub et al, 2020). Nonetheless, the distinct increase in the range of SAR through time has also brought with it shifts in the texture of substrates (i.e., sand versus mud), as well as spatially heterogeneous changes in the balance between erosion and deposition (e.g., Anderson et al, 2004;Swales et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent and historical sedimentation and sediment characteristics of Ōhiwa Harbour, New Zealand

Croix¹

2022

ERI Report

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The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is seeking to understand historical and recent sedimentation in Ōhiwa Harbour, a barrier-enclosed lagoon, to help establish sediment accumulation rates and water quality limits in accordance with the Resource Management Act (1991) and the NZ Freshwater Policy Statement. To provide sedimentation data that is independent of sediment plate data already being collected by the Council, and to supplement other historical data, a series of nine vibracores, nine box cores, and 73 surface sediment samples were collected from across Ōhiwa Harbour. Three key vibracores were analyzed for their radionuclide activity (²¹⁰Pb and ²²⁶Ra) in an attempt to determine their sediment accumulation rates. However, no rate could be established due to very low and irregular radionuclide activity through the cores. It is probable that the method did not work due to the combined effects of hydrodynamic mixing and bioturbation. Sedimentological analysis was undertaken on all nine vibracores and box cores, which indicated that the intertidal sediments consist of five distinctive depositional units: clast supported calci-gravel, ripple to cross bedded sand, bioturbated sand, laminated to rippled silt, and bioturbated silt. Recognition and interpretation of these units will be useful for future workers interested in reconstructing the evolution of sedimentation within the harbour. Grain size of core sediment and surficial sediment around the harbour was compared to historical surface sediment maps. They show clearly that Ōhiwa Harbour is becoming muddier through time, although in a non-linear and complex way with some parts of the harbour getting sandier. The perimeter of the harbour and the upper harbour are the main areas affected by a fining grain size trend. Loss-on-ignition (LOI) of sediment indicates that organic carbon is more concentrated in fine-grained sediment than coarser sediment across the harbour. No clear stratigraphic pattern of LOI could be established. However, surface sediments display larger LOI along the perimeter of the harbour where the proportion of mud is greater. Three recommendations are put forth based on the results of this study, as well as gaps in knowledge discovered during data collection and analysis. The first is that determining longer-term (decadesâ€“millennia) sediment accumulation rates may be achievable by carbondating the abundant shell material contained within cores. The second is that calculation of sediment compaction under its own weight ('autocompaction') may help determine the causes of sedimentation and erosion in the harbour. The third and final recommendation is for repeat surface sediment surveys to be undertaken regularly, at intervals no greater than every five years. These insights will together yield a more complete picture of past, present, and future sedimentation and its effects in Ōhiwa Harbour.

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“…For recent sediments (past 100 years), chronologies obtained using 210 Pb have shown to be reliable in high sediment accumulation environments (Appleby and Oldfield 1978 ; Appleby and Oldfieldz 1983 ). However, the 210 Pb ages may suffer from different biases and usually need to be verified using an independent method (Appleby 1998 ; Santschi and Rowe 2008 ; Corcho-Alvarado et al 2014 , Barsanti et al, 2020 ). For this purpose, other chronostratigraphic markers such as the global fallout radionuclides (e.g., 137 Cs, 239+240 Pu, and 241 Am) are commonly measured in sedimentary records (Appleby et al 1986 , Appleby et al 1991 , Lindahl et al 2010 , Díaz-Asencio et al 2016 , Díaz-Asencio et al, 2020c , Foucher et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and source of plutonium in sediments from the southern Gulf of Mexico

Corcho-Alvarado

Díaz-Asencio

Röllin

et al. 2022

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Here, we report on new data (75 analyses) of plutonium (Pu) isotopes to elucidate activity concentrations, inventories, sources, and their transport from the ocean surface to the seafloor from a collection of six deep-sea sediment cores (depths ranging from 257 to 3739 m) in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Sediment cores collected from the continental shelf and upper slope region of the Gulf of Mexico showed 240Pu/239Pu ratios of 0.15 to 0.26, and 239+240Pu-inventories ranging from 14.7 to 33.0 Bq m−2. Inventories and ratios are consistent with global fallout Pu for this tropical region. In contrast, sediment cores collected from the lower slope region and abyssal plain showed low 240Pu/239Pu ratios of 0.07 to 0.13 and much lower 239+240Pu inventories below 6.8 Bq m−2. This implies that only a small fraction of the expected global fallout Pu has reached the deep-sea sediments. The low 240Pu/239Pu isotope ratios indicate that fallout from the Nevada testing site was an important source of Pu in deep-sea sediments, and that this Pu was likely more efficiently scavenged from the water column than Pu from global fallout. We estimated that up to 44% of the total inventory of 239+240Pu in deep-sea sediments is due to the Nevada source. Low values and a progressive decrease of 240Pu/239Pu ratios and 239+240Pu inventories with increasing water depth have been previously reported for the Gulf of Mexico. Analysis of Pu isotopes in two sediment traps from the upper slope regions shows 240Pu/239Pu ratios comparable to those observed in global fallout. These results indicate that global fallout Pu is currently the main source of Pu in sinking particles in the water column. Therefore, a significant fraction of global fallout Pu must still be present, either in a dissolved phase, or as biologically recycled material in the water column, or scavenged on the shelf and shelf break. Our results bring to light important questions on the application of Pu isotopes to establish sediment chronologies in deep-sea sediments, since global fallout features such as the 1963 maximum are not available.

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Challenges and limitations of the 210Pb sediment dating method: Results from an IAEA modelling interlaboratory comparison exercise

Cited by 44 publications

References 35 publications

A framework for ²¹⁰Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates

A framework for ²¹⁰Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates

Recent and historical sedimentation and sediment characteristics of Ōhiwa Harbour, New Zealand

Distribution and source of plutonium in sediments from the southern Gulf of Mexico

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Challenges and limitations of the 210Pb sediment dating method: Results from an IAEA modelling interlaboratory comparison exercise

Cited by 44 publications

References 35 publications

A framework for 210Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates

A framework for 210Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates

Recent and historical sedimentation and sediment characteristics of Ōhiwa Harbour, New Zealand

Distribution and source of plutonium in sediments from the southern Gulf of Mexico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

A framework for ²¹⁰Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates

A framework for ²¹⁰Pb model selection and its application to 37 cores from Eastern Canada to identify the dynamics and drivers of lake sedimentation rates