Tracking climate signals in varved lake sediments: research strategy and key sites for comprehensive process studies in the Masurian Lakeland

Abstract

Lake sediments are excellent archives of environmental and climate change. Especially important are varved sediments which can provide high-resolution (annual) records of those changes. Process studies including limnological measurements, particle flux monitoring and analyses of sediment structures give an opportunity to explain relationships between meteorological conditions, in-lake processes and varve formation. In our study, three lakes were selected in the Masurian Lakeland: Lake Żabińskie, Łazduny and Rzęśniki. These relatively small and deep lakes contain well preserved biogenic varves. The lakes are influenced by the same meteorological conditions but differ in terms of their catchment size, land use, hydrology, lake basin morphology and trophic status. To explore the relationships between different parameters and preservation/transformation of climate signals in the sediments we started systematic limnological measurements in the water column of these lakes, water sampling for hydrochemical analyses, monitoring of modern sedimentation using sediment traps and analysis of topmost varves from short sediment cores. With this comprehensive and highresolution monitoring program scheduled for at least four years we are going to verify the potential of varves to track short-term meteorological phenomena in lake sediments.

Multiparameter assessment of select metal distribution in lacustrine sediments

“…They play a significant role in the circulation of elements between various components of water and ground systems. They can also act as a natural filter and indicator of the environmental degradation degree (Burton et al 2005;Singh et al 2005;Superville et al 2014;Tylmann et al 2017). Sediments deposited recently are frequently characterized by a higher content of some contaminants in comparison with sediments accumulated several hundred years ago (Salomons and Förstner 1984).…”

A Holocene high‐resolution record of aquatic productivity, seasonal anoxia and meromixis from varved sediments of Lake Łazduny, North‐Eastern Poland: insight from a novel multi‐proxy approach

“…Lake Łazduny is covered with ice for about three months (December–March). Woodland covers ~85% of the catchment and is predominantly managed, resulting in today's dominance of coniferous trees (80%) (Tylmann et al ., 2017).…”

“…Varved lake sediments are excellent archives documenting long‐term environmental change (Tylmann et al ., 2017). Aquatic palaeoproductivity has mostly been inferred from sedimentary organic matter, stable carbon isotopes, biogenic opal and pigments (Meyers & Teranes, 2001), whereas information on past anoxia and meromixis comes from pigments, other biomarkers and redox‐sensitive metals (Gulati et al ., 2017).…”

Control of diatom and chrysophyte cyst dynamics by a meteorologically driven mixing regime in eutrophic Lake Żabińskie, northern Poland

“…The outflow drains westward into Lake Gołdopiwo (Figure 1). The catchment (24.6 km 2 ) is composed mostly of glacial tills, sands, and gravels (Tylmann et al, 2017). Elevations in the eastern part of the catchment exceed 200 m a.s.l.…”