Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interpretation of210Pb profiles and verification of the CRS dating model in PIRLA project lake sediment cores

  • Published:
Journal of Paleolimnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper reports results and analysis of210Pb-activity measurements in 51 lake-sediment cores from 32 lakes in the four PIRLA (Paleoecological Investigations of Recent Lake Acidification) project regions (Adirondack Mountains [New York], Northern New England, Northern Florida, and the Northern Great Lakes States). General application of the Constant Rate of Supply (Constant Flux) model for210Pb dating is valid for lakes in the PIRLA study, although application of the model is equivocal in a few lakes.210Pb inventories and profiles are replicable among closely spaced cores within a lake. Specific210Pb activity in surface sediments is negatively correlated with bulk sediment accumulation rate in seepage lakes, but not in drainage lakes. Drainage lakes with lower pH have lower unsupported210Pb inventories in sediments, but the relationship does not occur in seepage lakes.210Pb profiles in only seven of the cores, all from either the Adirondacks or the northern Great Lakes states, exhibit exponential decay curves. Deviations from an exponential profile include a flattening of the profile in the top few cm or excursions of one or a few measurements away from an exponential curve.210Pb dates typically agree with other chronostratigraphic markers, most of which are subject to greater uncertainty. Several hypotheses, including sediment mixing, hydrologic regime, sediment focusing, and acidification, are proposed to explain variation of210Pb distribution among lakes and regions. Hydrologic factors exert control on unsupported210Pb inventories in PIRLA lakes, and there is a strong focusing effect in drainage lakes but a weak focusing effect in seepage lakes.

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

  • Appleby, P. G. & F. Oldfield, 1978. The calculation of lead-210 dates assuming a constant rate of supply of unsupported210Pb to the sediment. Catena 5: 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appleby, P. G. & F. Oldfield, 1983. Assessment of210Pb from sites with varying sediment accumulation rates. Hydrobiologia 103: 29–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Backman, A. E., 1984. 1000 year record of fire-vegetation interactions in the northeastern U.S. M.S. thesis. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 99 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, L. A., P. L. Brezonik & C. R. Kratzer, 1981. Nutrient loading-trophic state relationships in Florida lakes. Florida Water Resources Research Center Pub. 56 Univ. Florida, Gainesville.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benninger, L. K., 1978.210Pb balance in Long Island Sound. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 42: 1164–1174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benninger, L. K., D. M. Lewis & K. K. Turekian, 1975. The use of natural210Pb as a heavy metal tracer in the river-estuarine system. In: T. M. Church (ed.), Marine Chemistry and the Coastal Environment. American Chemical Society, Symposium Series, No. 18: 201–210.

  • Benoit, G. & H. F. Hemond, 1987. A biogeochemical mass balance of210Po and210Pb in an oligotrophic lake with seasonally anoxic hypolimnion. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 51: 1445–1456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benoit, G. & H. F. Hemond, 1988. Comment on Dilution of210Pb by organic sedimentation in lakes of different trophic states, and application to studies of sediment-water interaction. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33: 299–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benoit, G. & H. F. Hemond, 1990.210Po and210Pb remobilization from lake sediments in relation to iron and manganese cycling. Envir. Sci. Technol. 24: 1224–1234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binford, M. W., 1990. Calculation and uncertainty analysis of210Pb dates for PIRLA project cores. J. Paleolimnol. 3: 253–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binford, M. W. & M. Brenner, 1986. Dilution of210Pb by organic sedimentation in lakes of different trophic states, and application to studies of sediment-water interactions. Limnol. Oceanogr. 31: 584–595.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binford, M. W. & M. Brenner, 1988. Reply to comment by Benoit and Hemond. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33: 304–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, R., J. T. Bennett & M. L. Peterson, 1981.210Pb activities in and fluxes to sediments of the Washington continental slope and shelf. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 45: 1155–1172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charles, D. F. & D. R. Whitehead, 1986a. The PIRLA project: palcoecological investigations of recent lake acidification. Hydrobiologia 143: 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charles, D. F. & D. R. Whitehead, 1986b. Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification: Methods and Project Description. Unpublished Electric Power Research Institute Report EA-4906, EPRI, 3412 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California.

  • Charles, D. F., M. W. Binford, E. T. Furlong, R. A. Hites, M. J. Mitchell, S. A. Norton, F. Oldfield, M. J. Paterson, J. P. Smol, A. J. Uutala, J. R. White, D. R. Whitehead & R. J. Wise, 1990. Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification in the Adirondack Mountains, N. Y. J. Paleolimnol. 3: 195–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charles, D. F., J. P. Smol, A. J. Uutala, P. R. Sweets & D. R. Whitehead, 1989. The PIRLA DataBase Management System. INQUA Commission for the Study of the Holocene, Working Group on Data Handling Methods. Newsletter 2: 3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornett, R. J., L. Chant & D. Link, 1984. Sedimentation of Pb-210 in Laurentian shield lakes. Wat. Pollut. Res. J. Can. 19: 97–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, A. O., J. N. Galloway & D. Kirk Nordstrom, 1982. Lake acidification: Its effect on lead in the sediment of two Adirondack lakes. Limnol. Oceanogr. 27: 163–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. B., 1974. Stratigraphic effects of tubificids in profundal lake sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr. 19: 466–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. B.et al., 1984.137Cs and210Pb dating of sediments from soft-water lakes in New England (U.S.A.) and Scandanavia, a failure of137Cs dating. Chem. Geol. 44: 1155–1172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. E.et al., in revision. Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification in northern New England. J. Paleolimnol.

  • Deevey, E. S., M. W. Binford, M. Brenner & Th. J. Whitmore, 1986. Sedimentary records of accelerated nutrient loading in Florida lakes. Hydrobiologia 143: 49–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, P. J., P. J. Scholer & H. E. Evans, 1986.210Pb fluxes in acidified lakes. pp. 491–499 in P. G. Sly (ed.), Sediments and Water Interactions. Springer-Verlag, New York, 521 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feichter, J., R. A. Brost & M. Heimann, 1991. Three-dimensional modeling of the concentration and deposition of210Pb aerosols. J. Geophys. Res. 96(D12): 22,447–22,460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E. D., 1963. Geochronology with210Pb. Radioactive dating. Int. Atom. Energy Ag. Vienna: 121–131.

  • Graustein, W. C. & K. K. Turekian, 1986.210Pb and137Cs in air and soils measure the rate and vertical profile of aerosol scavenging. J. Geophys. Res. 91(D13): 14,355–14,366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gubula, C. P., D. R. Engstrom & J. R. White, 1990. Effects of iron cycling on210Pb dating of sediments in an Adirondack lake, USA. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 47: 1821–1829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahl, J. S. & S. A. Norton, 1983. Impact and mobilization of metals in acid-stressed lake watersheds. Completion Report A-053-ME, Land and Water Resources Center, University of Maine at Orono, 70 pp.

  • Kingston, J. C., R. B. Cook, R. G. Kreis, Jr., K. E. Camburn, S. A. Norton, P. R. Sweets, M. W. Binford, M. J. Mitchell, S. C. Schindler, L. C. K. Shane & G. King, 1990. Paleoecological investigation of recent lake acidification in the Northern Great Lakes States. J. Paleolimnol. 4: 153–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matschullat, J., H. Heinrichs & J. Schneider, 1990. Heavy metals and water acidification - sources and behavior of pollutants in sediments of a drinking water reservoir (Western Harz Mountains, F.R.G.). Science of the Total Environment.

  • Murchie, S. L., 1985.210Pb dating and the recent geologic history of Crystal Bay, Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Limnol. Oceanogr. 30: 1154–1170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nevissi, A. E., 1985. Measurement of210Pb atmospheric flux in the pacific northwest. Health Physics 48: 169–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, S. A., 1983. The chemical role of lake sediments during lake acidification and de-acidification: Proc. 11th Nordic Symposium on Sediments, University of Oslo: 7–19.

  • Norton, S. A., 1989. Water acidification — A chromatographic process. In J. Kämäri, D. F. Brakke, A. Jenkins, S. A. Norton & R. F. Wright (eds.), Regional Acidification Models. Springer-Verlag, New York: 89–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, S. A., R. W. Bienert, jr., M. W. Binford & J. S. Kahl, 1992. Stratigraphy of total metals in PIRLA sediment cores. J. Paleolimnol. 7: 191–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, S. A., C. T. Hess, G. M. Blake, M. L. Morrison & J. Baron, 1985. Excess Unsupported210Pb in lake sediment from Rocky Mountain lakes: A groundwater effect. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 42: 1249–1254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, S. A., J. S. Kahl, A. Henriksen & R. F. Wright, 1990. Buffering of pH by sediments in streams and lakes. In S. A. Norton, S. E. Lindberg & A. L. Page, (eds.), Soils, Aquatic processes, and Lake Acidification, 4, Chapter 5, Advances in Envir. Sci., Acidic Precipitation, Springer-Verlag, New York: 133–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, S. A., M. Verta & J. S. Kahl, 1992. Relative contributions to lake sediment chemistry by atmospheric deposition. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 24: 2989–2993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nozaki, Y., D. J. DeMaster, D. M. Lewis & K. K. Turekian, 1978. Atmospheric Pb-210 fluxes determined from soil profiles. J. Geophys. Res. 83: 4047–4051.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, F. & P. G. Appleby, 1983. Empirical testing of210Pb-dating models for lake sediments. In E. W. Haworth & J. W. G. Lund (eds.), Lake Sediments and Environmental History, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis: 93–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, J. A., 1978. Geochemical and geophysical applications of radioactive lead. In J. O. Nriagu (ed.), Biogeochemistry of Lead in the Environment. Elsevier Scientific, Amsterdam: 285–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, J. A., 1982. Stratigraphic and dynamic effects of sediment reworking by Great Lakes zoobenthos. Hydrobiologia 92: 611–622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudd, J. W. M., C. A. Kelly, V. St. Louis, R. H. Hesslein, A. Furutani & M. H. Holoka, 1986. Microbial consumption of nitric and sulfuric acids in acidified north temperate lakes. Limnol. Oceanogr. 31: 1267–1280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schell, W. R., 1977. Concentrations, physicochemical states and mean residence times of210Pb and210Po in marine and estuarine waters. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 41: 1019–1031.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sly, P. G., 1978. Sedimentary processes in lakes. In A. Lerman (ed.), Lakes: Chemistry, Geology, Physics. Springer-Verlag, New York: 65–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweets, P. R., R. W. Bienert, jr., T. L. Crisman & M. W. Binford, 1990. Paleoecological investigation of recent lake acidification in North Florida lakes. J. Paleolimnol. 4: 103–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K. K., L. K. Benninger & E. P. Dion, 1983.7Be and210Pb total deposition fluxes at New Haven, Connecticut and at Bermuda. J. Geophys. Res. 88(C9): 5411–5415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K. K., Y. Nozaki & L. Benninger, 1977. Geochemistry of atmospheric radon and radon products. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 5: 227–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Geological Survey, 1988. Average annual runoff in the United States 1951–1980. Hydrological Investigations Atlas, HA-710.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, 48 Quincy Street, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Michael W. Binford

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, ME, USA

    Jeffrey S. Kahl & Stephen A. Norton

Authors
  1. Michael W. Binford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffrey S. Kahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stephen A. Norton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This is the third of a series of papers to be published by this journal following the 20th anniversary of the first application of210Pb dating of lake sediments. Dr P. G. Appleby is guest editing this series.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Binford, M.W., Kahl, J.S. & Norton, S.A. Interpretation of210Pb profiles and verification of the CRS dating model in PIRLA project lake sediment cores. J Paleolimnol 9, 275–296 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00677218

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00677218

Key words

Search

Navigation