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Holocene storminess inferred from sediments of two lakes on Adak Island, Alaska

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Anne C.L. Krawiec  and
Darrell S. Kaufman
Anne C.L. Krawiec
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4099, USA
Darrell S. Kaufman*
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4099, USA
*
*Corresponding author.E-mail address:Darrell.Kaufman@nau.edu (D.S. Kaufman).
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Abstract

The abundance of sedimentary organic material from two lakes was used to infer past Holocene storminess on Adak Island where frequent storms generate abundant rainfall and extensive cloud cover. Andrew and Heart Lakes are located 10 km apart; their contrasting physical characteristics cause the sedimentary organic matter to respond differently to storms. Their records were synchronized using correlated tephra beds. Sedimentation rates increased between 4.0 and 3.5 ka in both lakes. Over the instrumental period, Andrew Lake biogenic-silica content (BSi) is most strongly correlated with winter sunlight availability, which influences photosynthetic production, and river input, which influences the dilution of BSi by mineral matter. Heart Lake BSi is likely affected by wind-driven remobilization of sediment, as suggested by correlations among BSi, the North Pacific Index, and winter storminess. The results indicate relatively stormy conditions from 9.6 to 4.0 ka, followed by drying between 4.0 and 2.7 ka, with the driest conditions from 2.7 to 1.5 ka. The stormiest period was between AD 500 and 1200, then drying from 1150 to 1500 and more variable until 1850. This record of Holocene storminess fills a major gap at the center of action for North Pacific wintertime climate.

Keywords

Holocene storminessBiogenic silicaInferred chlorophyll-aAdak IslandLake sediments
Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , July 2014 , pp. 73 - 84
Copyright
University of Washington

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