Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative varve counting and magnetic properties of the 8400-yr sequence of an annually laminated sediment in Lake Valkiajärvi, Central Finland

  • Published:
Journal of Paleolimnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two varve counts made nearly 20 yrs apart and by different authors in the small and well sheltered meromictic lake of Valkiajärvi were compared with a view to establishing how similar, or otherwise, these two independent varve chronologies might be. The results were significant, the difference between the two varve counts being less than 2% for most of the sediment length, even though the average varve thickness was only 0.3 mm. The continuous and essentially uniform varve record - so far the longest in Finland - covers 8400 yrs and could be applied for accurate dating of palaeoenvironmental indicators in the sediment. As an example, we present a varve-dated pollen diagram for Lake Valkiajärvi.

In addition, some magnetic parameters (susceptibility, ARM, SIRM) were measured on the sediment sequence to support the stratigraphic division and correlation of the cores, and to outline the development of the basin since the last deglaciation. Magnetic variables reflected mainly the variation in minerogenic material in the sediment, and were therefore related to changes in the catchment. The magnetic parameters also showed a drastic change some 6000 yrs ago, the reason for which, unfortunately, is still not fully understood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, R. Y., W. E. Dean, J. P. Bradbury & D. Love, 1985. Meromictic lakes and varved lake sediments in North America. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1607, 19 pp.

  • Alapieti, T. & M. Saarnisto, 1981. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis of laminated sediments from Lake Valkiajärvi, Finland. Bull. Geol. Soc. Finland 53: 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alhonen, P., 1967. Palaeolimnological investigation of three inland lakes in south-western Finland. Acta Botanica Fennica 76, 59 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glückert, G., 1995. The Salpausselkä End Moraines in south-western Finland. In J. Ehlers, S. Kozarski & P. L. Gibbard (eds.), Glacial Deposits in North-East Europe. Balkema, Rotterdam: 51–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, S. M., 1993. The magnetic record of particulate pollution in a Saltmarsh, Dee Estuary, UK. The Holocene 3: 342–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koivisto, E. & M. Saarnisto, 1978. Conventional radiography, xeroradiography, tomography, and contrast enhancement in the study of laminated sediments. Preliminary report. Geografiska Annaler 60(A): 55–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukkonen, E. & R. T. Tynni, 1970. Die Entwicklung des Sees Pyhäjärvi in Südfinnland im Lichte von Sediment-und Diatomeenuntersuchungen. Acta Botanica Fennica 90: 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matisto, A., 1960. Geological map of Finland, Pre-Quaternary rocks 1: 100 000, Sheet 2213 Kuru, Maanmittaushallituksen kivipaino, Helsinki.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meriläinen, J., 1969. The diatoms of the meromictic Lake Valkiajärvi, in the Finnish Lake District. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 6: 77–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meriläinen, J., 1970. On the limnology of the meromictic Lake Valkiajärvi, in the Finnish Lake District. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 7: 29–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merkt, J., 1971. Zuverlässige Auszählungen von Jahresschichten in Seesedimenten mit Hilfe von Gross-Dünnschliffen. Arch. Hydrobiol. 69: 145–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, F., 1991. Environmental magnetism-a personal perspective. Quat. Sci. Rev. 10: 73–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, F., 1992. The source of fine-grained ‘magnetite’ in sediments. The Holocene 2: 180–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'sullivan, P. E., 1983. Annually laminated lake sediments and the study of Quaternary environmental changes-a review. Quat. Sci. Rev. 1: 245–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettersson, G., 1996. Varved sediments in Sweden: A brief review. In Kemp A. E. S. (ed.), Palaeoclimatology and Palaeoceanography from Laminated sediments. The Geological Society London, Special Publication 116: 73–77.

  • Renberg, I., 1981. Formation, structure and visual appearance of iron-rich varved lake sediments. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 21: 94–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renberg, I., 1982. Varved lake sediments-geochronological record of the Holocene. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 104: 275–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renberg, I. & U. Segerström, 1981. Application of varved lake sediments in paleoenvironmental studies. Wahlenbergia 7: 125–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renberg, I., U. Segerström & J.-E. Wallin, 1984. Climatic reflection in varved sediments. In Mörner N.-A. & W. Karlen (eds.), Climatic changes on a Yearly to Millennial Basis. D Riedel Publishing Company, Dordrecht: 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saarinen, T., 1994. Palaeomagnetic study of the Holocene sediments of Lake Päijänne (Central Finland) and Lake Paanajärvi (North-West Russia). Geological Survey of Finland, Bulletin 376, 87 pp.

  • Saarnisto, M., 1970. The history of Finnish lakes and Lake Ladoga. Commentationes Physico-Mathematicae 41: 371–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saarnisto, M., 1985. Long varve series in Finland. Boreas 14: 133–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saarnisto, M., 1986. Annually laminated lake sediments. In Berglund B. E. (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester: 313–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saarnisto, M., P. Huttunen & K. Tolonen, 1977. Annual lamination of sediments in Lake Lovojärvi, southern Finland, during the past 600 years. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 14: 35–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salonen, V.-P., T. Saarinen, A. Ojala & A. Itkonen, 1997. 21 new annually laminated lacustrine sediments sequences from Finland. 7th International Symposium on Palaeolimnology, Abstract Volume, Heiligkreuztal, Riedlingen, Germany, pp. 177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanger, J. E. & J. Gorham, 1970. The diversity of pigments in lake sediments and its ecological significance. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15: 59–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simola, H., 1979. Micro-stratigraphyof the sediment laminations deposited in a chemically-stratifying eutrophic lake during years 1913–1976. Holarc. Ecol. 2: 160–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snowball, I. F., 1993. Mineral magnetic properties of Holocene lake sediments and soils from the Kårsa valley, Lapland, Sweden, and their relevance to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Terra Nova 5: 258–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snowball, I. F., 1995. Mineral magnetic and geochemical properties of Holocene sediments and soils in the Abisko region of northern Sweden. Lundqua Thesis 34, Lund University, Department of Quaternary Geology, 26 pp.

  • Snowball, I. F., 1996. Holocene environmental change in the Abisko region of northern Sweden recorded by the mineral magnetic stratigraphy of the lake sediments. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 118: 9–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snowball, I. F. & R. Thompson, 1990. A stable chemical remanence in Holocene sediments. J. Geophys. Res. 95(B): 4471–4479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strömberg, B., 1990. A connection between the clay varve chronologies in Sweden and Finland. Annales Academiae Scientiarum Fennicae A III 154, 32 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuiver, M., A. Long & R. S. Kra, 1993. Calibration 1993. Radiocarbon 35: 1–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R., 1986. Palaeomagnetic dating. In Berglund B. E. (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester: 313–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R., R. W. Battarbee, P. E. O'sullivan & F. Oldfield, 1975. Magnetic susceptibility of lake sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr. 20: 687–698.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. & F. Oldfield, 1986. Environmental magnetism. Allen & Unwin, London, 227 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolonen, M., 1978. Palaeoecology of annually laminated sediments in Lake Ahvenainen, S. Finland. I. Pollen and charcoal analyses and their relation to human impact. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 15: 177–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troels-Smith, J., 1955. Characterisation of unconsolidated sediments. Geological Survey of Denmark, IV, 3, 73 pp.

  • Verosub, K. L. & R. B. Roberts, 1995. Environmental magnetism: Past, present and future. J. Geophys. Res. 100(B): 2175–2192.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Turku, FIN-20014, Turku, Finland

    Antti E.K. Ojala

  2. Geological Survey of Finland, P.O. Box 96, FIN-02151, Espoo, Finland

    Matti Saarnisto

Authors
  1. Antti E.K. Ojala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Matti Saarnisto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ojala, A.E., Saarnisto, M. Comparative varve counting and magnetic properties of the 8400-yr sequence of an annually laminated sediment in Lake Valkiajärvi, Central Finland. Journal of Paleolimnology 22, 335–348 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008064613031

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008064613031

Search

Navigation