Hillslope gullying in the Solway Firth — Morecambe Bay region, Great Britain: Responses to human impact and/or climatic deterioration?

Chiverrell, Richard; Harvey, Adrian; Foster, Gregory D.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.12.014

Cited by 70 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…The 14 C ages at 173 cm (SUERC-48906) and 198 cm show the best fit to the Bayesian model, leaving two anomalously old measurements and one more difficult to explain that is too young (SUERC-48908). Reversals in series of 14 C measurements of equivalent age have been reported for other lakes in the region (Pennington 1991;Edwards and Whittington 2001;Chiverrell 2006;Langdon et al 2004) and reflect the incorporation of 'old carbon' during periods of enhanced erosion of catchment soils (Edwards and Whittington 2001;Chiverrell et al 2007). The 1696 Pb marker strongly supports the model presented in Fig.…”

Section: The Refined Bayesian Age-depth Modelmentioning

confidence: 68%

Quantifying system disturbance and recovery from historical mining-derived metal contamination at Brotherswater, northwest England

et al. 2016

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Metal ore extraction in historical times has left a legacy of severe contamination in aquatic ecosystems around the world. In the UK, nationwide surveys of present-day pollution discharged from abandoned mines are ongoing but few assessments of the magnitude of contamination and impacts that arose during historical metal mining have been made. We report one of the first multi-centennial records of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) fluxes into a lake (Brotherswater, northwest England) from pointsources in its catchment (Hartsop Hall Mine and Hogget Gill processing plant) and calculate basin-scale inventories of those metals. The pre-mining baseline for metal contamination has been established using sediment cores spanning the past 1500 years and contemporary material obtained through sediment trapping. These data enabled the impact of 250 years of local, small-scale mining to be quantified and an assessment of the trajectory towards system recovery to be made. The geochemical stratigraphy displayed in twelve sediment cores show strong correspondence to the documented history of metal mining and processing in the catchment. The initial onset in 1696 was detected, peak Pb concentrations ([10,000 lg g -1 ) and flux (39.4 g m -2 year -1 ) corresponded to the most intensive mining episode (1863-1871) and twentieth century technological enhancements were reflected as a more muted sedimentary imprint. After careful evaluation, we used these markers to augment a Bayesian agedepth model of the independent geochronology obtained using radioisotope dating ( 14 C, 210 Pb, 137 Cs and 241 Am). Total inventories of Pb, Zn and Cu for the lake basin during the period of active mining were 15,415, 5897 and 363 kg, respectively. The postmining trajectories for Pb and Zn project a return to pre-mining levels within 54-128 years for Pb and 75-187 years for Zn, although future remobilisation of metal-enriched catchment soils and floodplain sediments could perturb this recovery. We present a transferable paleolimnological approach that highlights flux-based assessments are vital to accurately establish the baseline, impact and trajectory of mining-derived contamination for a lake catchment.

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Section: The Refined Bayesian Age-depth Modelmentioning

confidence: 68%

Quantifying system disturbance and recovery from historical mining-derived metal contamination at Brotherswater, northwest England

et al. 2016

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“…Ecosystems are not only affected by contemporary changes, but are also conditioned by changes in the past in response to different levels of disturbance (e.g. Chiverrell et al, 2007). These past changes still produce responses today and will continue to have an impact into the future.…”

Section: Geodiversity and Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Engaging with geodiversity—why it matters

Gordon

Barron

Hansom

et al. 2012

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association

126

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The Conference, 'Engaging with Geodiversity -Why it Matters', December 2010, addressed the wider relevance of geodiversity in Scotland. A key challenge is to integrate geodiversity within existing policy relating to the way we work and live, and therefore to inform better the decisions we make about a sustainable future for our environment. This will require partnership working among the geoscience, geoconservation and voluntary sectors at both national and local levels, not only to demonstrate convincingly the economic, social, cultural and environmental values and benefits of geodiversity, but also to deliver real outcomes for both people and nature. The key drivers that provide particular opportunities, as well as challenges, for the integration of geodiversity are the development of an ecosystem approach and how society responds to climate change. Addressing these will be crucial from a geoconservation perspective to develop a wider understanding of the essential environmental role played by geodiversity and for the protection of key sites, both from a policy perspective in delivering economic, social and environmental benefits, and from an academic perspective in ensuring support for geoscience. The key message -that geodiversity matters -must be communicated strongly to the highest levels of government, among key interest groups and at a local community level.

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“…For example, more intense precipitation could accelerate landscape evolution through mass movements, debris flows, soil erosion, transport of hillslopederived sediments, and channel change. Although it is difficult to monitor trends in the frequency of extreme events in remote places, increased geomorphic activity is expected with a shift in climate regime (Jones 1993a,b, Rumsby & Macklin 1994, Macklin et al 2005, Chiverrell et al 2007). However, the response to increased rainfall can be complex as sediment derived in headwaters is transferred through river catchments via intermediate sediment stores and downstream propagation of landform instability (Dadson & Church 2005).…”

Section: Geomorphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Erosion of topsoil represents a carbon loss and has importance for upland conservation status by adversely affecting sensitive ecosystems, particularly upland water bodies. Some land-use changes increase landscape sensitivity (Thomas 2001); for example, periods of active hillside gullying in NW England are only evident in the later part of the Holocene following significant woodland clearance and introduction of sheep (Chiverrell et al 2007).…”

Section: Geomorphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change in the uplands: a UK perspective on safeguarding regulatory ecosystem services

Orr¹,

Wilby

Hedger

et al. 2008

Clim. Res.

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The UK uplands are highly sensitive and significant cultural landscapes that have been created by woodland clearance for agriculture and are at threat from fire, over-grazing, mineral extraction, land drainage, air pollution and recreation. Some of these activities increase upland sensitivity to climate change, contributing to increased flood risk, or soil carbon losses. Many distinct areas of public policy impinge on the uplands, but most have yet to integrate climate change protection within their objectives. Placed within the emerging ecosystems services perspective, policies could be modified to deliver land management services to secure soil carbon stocks, and to protect the goods, services and functions that uplands deliver. There are, therefore, both new opportunities and threats to tackle. The present paper outlines climate sensitivity and change in the uplands; reviews adaptation and mitigation options; and considers available policy, information and management tools. Within an ecosystems framework, emphasis is placed on safeguarding key regulatory services. We offer a research agenda to support adaptation and outline measures that could be developed within existing regulatory frameworks, or signal where policies may need revision. Research priorities include better quantification of carbon fluxes under different soils and land management practices, techniques for up-scaling local interventions to quantify landscape-scale benefits, and the evaluation of adaptive responses in the context of sustainable land use. Potential adaptation strategies include improved spatial planning for land and water, the creation of networked habitats to enable species migration, and practical guidance on appropriate locations for intensification and extensification of land use.

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Hillslope gullying in the Solway Firth — Morecambe Bay region, Great Britain: Responses to human impact and/or climatic deterioration?

Cited by 70 publications

References 60 publications

Quantifying system disturbance and recovery from historical mining-derived metal contamination at Brotherswater, northwest England

Quantifying system disturbance and recovery from historical mining-derived metal contamination at Brotherswater, northwest England

Engaging with geodiversity—why it matters

Climate change in the uplands: a UK perspective on safeguarding regulatory ecosystem services

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