Skip to main content

Lake Pavin Paleolimnology and Event Stratigraphy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Lake Pavin

Abstract

In this chapter we present an up-to-date database of sedimentary sequences retrieved from Lake Pavin during the last 50 years in both oxic and anoxic waters. The detailed history of this mid Holocene crater lake can be reconstructed from the correlation of radiocarbon dated sedimentary sequences retrieved from the deep central basin, a subaquatic plateau and littoral environments. High-resolution measurements of sediment composition (diffuse spectral reflectance, XRF core scanning) combined with the analysis of organic matter composition and preliminary pollen and diatom assemblages investigations on selected sediment cores are used to reconstruct (i) the evolution since ca. 7000 cal BP of Lake Pavin limnology together with its radiocarbon reservoir effect and (ii) the impact of a wide range of subaquatic slope failure events. Such a multidisciplinary approach of Lake Pavin basin fill revealed contrasted sedimentation patterns just after the volcanic eruption and following the development of a dense vegetation cover along the slopes of the crater. Pavin sedimentation is rapidly and largely dominated by organic rich and finely laminated diatomite formation, but several short periods of enhanced mineral inputs might reflect the influence of wetter periods, such as the Little Ice Age. Over the last millennium two large subaquatic mass wasting events are also identified and may have significantly impacted its limnology. Four smaller scale sedimentary events related with more limited subaquatic slope failures are in addition identified, dated and correlated with regional historical earthquakes. One slope failure event may be eventually associated with a “moderate” limnic eruption in AD 1783. Since the end of the eighteenth century, enhanced subaquatic slope instabilities (and thus a higher sensitivity to regional seismicity) may have resulted from the perturbation of subaqueous sediment pore pressure after the artificial lake level drop by ca. 4 m.

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aeschbach-Hertig W, Hofer M, Kipfer R, Imboden DM, Wieler R (1999) Accumulation of mantle gases in a permanently stratified volcanic lake (Lac Pavin, France). Geochim Cosmochim Acta 63(19–20):3357–3372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Albéric P, Jézéquel D, Bergonzini L, Chapron E, Viollier E, Massault M, Michard G (2013) Carbon cycling and organic radiocarbon reservoir effect in a meromictic crater lake (lac Pavin, Puy-de-Dôme, France). Radiocarbon 55(2–3):1029–1043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ariztegui D, Chondrogianni C, Lami A, Guilizzoni P, Lafargue E (2001) Lacustrine organic matter and the Holocene paleoenvironmental record of Lake Albano (central Italy). J Paleolimnol 26:283–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnaud F, Révillon S, Debret M, Revel M, Chapron E, Jacob J, Giguet-Covex C, Poulenard J, Magny M (2012) Lake Bourget regional erosion patterns reconstruction reveals Holocene NW European Alps soil evolution and paleohydrology. Quat Sci Rev 51:81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Augustinus P, Cochran U, Kattel G, D’Costa D, Shane P (2012) Late Quaternary paleolimnology of Onepoto maar, Auckland, New Zealand: implications for the drivers of regional paleoclimate. Quat Int 253:18–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacon C, Gardner J, Mayer L, Buktenica M, Dartnell P, Ramsey D, Robinson J (2002) Morphology, volcanism and mass wasting in Crater Lake, Oregon. Geol Soc Am Bull 114:675–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bani P, Join J-L, Cronin SJ, Lardy M, Rouet I, Garaebiti E (2009) Characteristics of the summit lakes of Ambae volcano and their potential for generating lahars. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 9:1471–1478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbierro RP, Warren GJ (2011) Rotifer communities in the Laurentian Great Lakes, 1983–2006 and factors affecting their composition. J Great Lakes Res 37:528–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behar F, Beaumont V, Penteado HL, De B (2001) Rock-Eval 6 technology: performances and developments. Oil Gas Sci Technol – Rev IFP 56(2):111–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blaauw M (2010) Methods and code for ‘classical’ age-modelling of radiocarbon sequences. Quat Geochronol 5:512–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blomqvist P (2001) Phytoplankton responses to biomanipulated grazing pressure and nutrient additions – enclosure studies in unlimed and limed Lake Njupfatet, central Sweden. Environ Pollut 111:333–348

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonhomme C, Poulin M, Vinçon-Leite B, Saad M, Groleau A, Jézéquel D, Tassin B (2011) Maintaining meromixis in Lake Pavin (Auvergne, France): the key role of sublacustrine spring. Compt Rendus Geosci 343:749–759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brauer A, Endres C, Günter C, Litt T, Stebich M, Negendank JFW (1999) High resolution sediment and vegetation responses to Younger Dryas climate change in varved lake sediments from Meerfelder Maar, Germany. Quat Sci Rev 18(3):321–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caballero M, Vazquez G, Lozano-Garcia S, Rodriguez A, Sosa-Najera S, Ruiz-Fernandez AC, Ortega B (2006) Present limnological conditions and recents (ca. 340 yr) paleolimnology of a tropical lake in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, eastern Mexico. J Paleolimnol 35:83–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camus G, Michard G, Olive P, Boivin P, Desgranges P, Jezequel D, Meybeck M, Peyrus J-C, Vinson J-M, Viollier E, Kornprobst J (1993) Risques d’éruption gazeuse carbonique en Auvergne. Bull Soc Geol Fr 164(6):767–781

    Google Scholar 

  • Caracausi A, Mario Nuccio P, Favara R, Nicolosi M, Paternoster M (2009) Gas hazard assessment at the Monticchio crater lakes of Mt. Vulture, a volcano in Southern Italy. Terra Nova 21:83–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapron E, Beck C, Pourchet M, Deconinck JF (1999) 1822 earthquake-triggered homogenite in Lake Le Bourget (NW Alps). Terra Nova 11:86–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapron E, Arnaud F, Noël H, Revel M, Desmet M, Perdereau L (2005) Rhône-river flood deposits in Lake Le Bourget: a proxy for Holocene environmental changes in the NW Alps, France. Boreas 34(4):404–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapron E, Albéric P, Jézéquel D, Versteeg W, Bourdier J-L, Sitbon J (2010) Multidisciplinary characterization of sedimentary processes in a recent maar lake (Lake Pavin, French Massif Central) and implication for natural hazards. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 10:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapron E, Ledoux G, Simonneau A, Albéric P, St-Onge G, Lajeunesse P, Boivin P, Desmet M (2012) New evidence of Holocene Mass-Wasting events in recent volcanic lakes from the French Massif Central (Lakes Pavin, Montcineyre and Chauvet) and implications for natural hazards. In: Yamada Y (ed) Submarine mass movements and their consequences, vol 31, Advances in natural and technological hazards research. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 255–264

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chassiot L, Chapron E, Di Giovanni C, Lajeunesse P, Tachikawa K, Garcia M, Bard E (2016) Historical seismicity of the Mont Dore volcanic province (Auvergne, France) unraveled by a regional lacustrine investigation: new insights about lake sensitivity to earthquakes. Sediment Geol 339:134–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cugny C, Mazier F, Galop D (2010) Modern and fossil non-pollen palynomorphs from the Basque mountains (Western Pyrenees, France): the use of coprophilous fongi to reconstruct pastoral activity. Veg Hist Archaeobotany 19:391–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debret M, Desmet M, Balsam W, Copard Y, Francus P, Laj C (2006) Spectrophotometer analysis of Holocene sediments from an anoxic fjord: Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. Mar Geol 229:15–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debret M, Chapron E, Desmet M, Rolland-Revel M, Magand O, Trentesaux A, Bout-Roumazeille V, Nomade J, Arnaud F (2010) North western Alps Holocene paleohydrology recorded by flooding activity in Lake Le Bourget, France. Quat Sci Rev 29:2185–2200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debret M, Sebag D, Desmet M, Balsam W, Copard Y, Mourier M, Susperrigui A-S, Arnaud F, Bentaleb I, Chapron E, Lallier-Vergès E, Winiarski T (2011) Spectrocolorimetric interpretation of sedimentary dynamics: the new “Q7/4 diagram”. Earth Sci Rev 109:1–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delbecque A (1898) Les lacs français. Chamerot & Renouard, Paris, 436 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Delibrias G, Guillier MT, Labeyrie J (1972) Gif natural radiocarbon measurements VII. Radiocarbon 14:280–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giresse P, Maley J, Kelts K (1991) Sedimentation and paleoenvironment in crater lake Barombi Mbo, Cameroon, during the last 25 000 years. Sediment Geol 71:151–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutowski A, van de Weyer K, Hofmann G, Doege A (eds) (2011) Makrophyten und Phytobenthos Indikatoren für den ökologischen Gewässerzustand. Druckschrift des Sächsischen Landesamts für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie des Freistaates Sachsen, Dresden, Mai 2012, 188 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Hindáková A (2009) On the occurrence of Achnanthes thermalis var. rumrichorum (Bacillariophyceae) in Slovakia. Fottea 9:193–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jézéquel D, Sarazin G, Prévot F, Viollier E, Groleau A, Michard G, Agrinier P, Albéric P, Binet S, Bergonzini L (2011) Bilan hydrique du lac Pavin. Revue des Sciences Naturelles d’Auvergne 74–75:67–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulbe T, Niederreiter RJ (2003) Freeze coring of soft surface sediments at a water depth of several hundred meters. J Paleolimnol 29:257–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert J, Levret-Arbaret A, Czitrom G, Dubie J-Y, Godefroy P (1997) Les tremblements de terre en France. Editions BRGM, Orléans, 127 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange-Bertalot H (2001) Navicula sensu stricto, 10 Genera separated from Navicula sensu lato Frustulia. Diatoms of Europe 2:526

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavrieux M, Disnar J-R, Chapron E, Bréheret J-G, Jacob J, Miras Y, Reyss J-L, Andrieu-Ponel V, Arnaud F (2013) 6700 yr sedimentary record of climatic and anthropogenic signals in Lake Aydat (French Massif Central). The Holocene 23(9):1317–1328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lotter AF, Bigler C (2000) Do diatoms in the Swiss Alps reflect the lenght of ice-cover? Aquat Sci 62:125–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magny M (2006) Holocene fluctuations of lake levels in west-central Europe: methods of reconstruction, regional patterns, palaeoclimatic significance and forcing factors. Encycl Quat Geol 3:1389–1399

    Google Scholar 

  • Magny M, Haas JN (2004) A major widespread climatic change around 5300 cal. Yr BP ago at the time of the Alpine Iceman. J Quat Sci 19:423–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magny M, Combrieu Nebout N, de Beaulieu J-L, Bout-Roumazeilles V, Colombaroli D, Desprat S, Francke A, Joannin S, Peyron O, Revel M, Sadori L, Siani G, Sicre M, Samartin S, Simonneau A, Tinner W, Vannière B, Wagner B, Zanchetta G, Anselmetti F, Brugiapaglia E, Chapron E, Debret M, Desmet M, Didier J, Essallami L, Galop D, Gilli A, Haas JN, Kallel N, Millet L, Stock A, Turon J, Wirth S (2013) North-south paleohydrological contrasts in the central Mediterraenean during the Holocene: tentative synthesis and working hypotheses. Clim Past 9:1901–1967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin J-M (1985) The Pavin crater lake. In: Stumm Y (ed) Chemical processes in lakes. Wiley, New York, pp 169–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin J-M, Meybeck M, Nijampurkar VN, Somayajulu BLK (1992) 210Pb, 226Ra and 32Si in Pavin lake (Massif Central, France). Chem Geol 94:173–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Puertas C, Brauer A, Dulski P, Brademann B (2012) Testing climate-proxy stationarity throughout the Holocene: an example from the varved sediments of Lake Meerfelder Maar (Germany). Quat Sci Rev 58:56–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miras Y, Laggoun-Defarge F, Guenet P, Richard H (2004) Multi-disciplinary approach to changes in agro-pastoral activities since the Sub-boreal in the surroundings of the “narse d’Espinasse” (Puy-de-Dôme, French Massif Central). Veg Hist Archaeobot 13:91–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monecke K, Anselmetti F, Becker A, Sturm M, Giardini D (2004) The record of historic earthquakes in lakes sediments of Central Switzerland. Tectonophysics 394:21–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mott RW, Woods AW (2010) A model of overturn of CO2 laden lakes triggered by bottom mixing. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 192(3–4):151–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder T, Cochonat P (1996) Classification of offshore mass movements. J Sediment Res 66:43–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Nomade J, Chapron E, Desmet M, Reyss JL, Arnaud F, Lignier V (2005) Reconstructing historical seismicity from lake sediments (Lake Laffrey, Western Alps, France). Terra Nova 17:350–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield F (1996) The PASICLAS project: synthesis and overview. Memoire dell’instituto italiano di Idrobiologia 55:329–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Reille M, Pons A, de Beaulieu J-L (1992) Late and postglacial vegetation, climate and human action in the French Massif Central. Laboratoire de Botanique Historique et Palynologie, Marseille

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimer PJ, Bard E, Bayliss A, Warren Beck J, Blackwell PG, Bronk Ramsey C, Buck CE, Cheng H, Lawrence Edwards E, Friedrich M, Grootes PM, Guilderson TP, Haflidason H, Hajdas I, Hatté C, Heaton TJ, Hoffmann DL, Hogg AG, Hughen KA, Felix Kaiser K, Kromer B, Manning SW, Niu M, Reimer RW, Richards DA, Scott EM, Southon JR, Staff RA, Turney CSM, van der Plicht J (2013) IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal BP Radiocarbon 55:1869-1887

    Google Scholar 

  • Rioual P, Andrieu-Ponel V, de Beaulieu J-L, Reille M, Svobodovac H, Battarbee RW (2007) Diatom responses to limnological and climatic changes at Ribains Maar (French Massif Central) during the Eemian and Early Würm. Quat Sci Rev 26:1557–1609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schettler G, Albéric P (2008) Laghi di Monticchio (Southern Italy, Region Basilicata): genesis of sediments - a geochemical study. J Paleolimnol 40:529–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schettler G, Schwab MJ, Stebich M (2007) A 700-year record of climate change based on geochemical and palynological data from varved sediments (Lac Pavin, France). Chem Geol 240:11–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Halbwachs M, Wehrli B, Wüest A (2005) Weak mixing in Lake Kivu: new insights indicate increasing risk of uncontrolled gas eruption. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 6(7):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sifeddine A, Bertrand P, Lallier−Vergès E, Patience AJ (1996) Lacustrine organic fluxes and palaeoclimatic variations during the last 15 ka: lac du Bouchet (Massif Central, France). Quat Sci Rev 15:203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigurdsson H, Devine JD, Tchua FM, Presser FM, Pringle MKW, Evans WC (1987) Origin of lethal gas burst from Lake Monoun, Cameroun. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 31:1–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simonneau A, Chapron E, Vannière B, Wirth SB, Gilli A, Di Giovanni C, Anselmetti FS, Desmet M, Magny M (2013a) Mass-movement and flood-induced deposits in Lake Ledro, Southern Alps, Italy: implications for Holocene paleohydrology and natural hazards. Clim Past 9:825–840

    Google Scholar 

  • Simonneau A, Chapron E, Courp T, Tachikawa K, Le Roux G, Baron S, Galop D, Garcia M, Di Giovanni C, Motellica-Heino M, Mazier F, Foucher A, Houet T, Desmet M, Bard E (2013b) Recent climatic and anthropogenic imprints on lacustrine systems in the Pyrenean Mountains inferred from minerogenic and organic clastic supply (Vicdessos valley, Pyrenees, France). The Holocene 23:1764–1777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simonneau A, Chapron E, Garçon M, Winiarski T, Graz Y, Chauvel C, Debret M, Motelica-Heino M, Desmet M, Di Giovanni C (2014) Tracking Holocene glacial and high-altitude alpine environments fluctuations from minerogenic and organic markers in proglacial lake sediments (Lake Blanc Huez, Western Frenc Alps). Quat Sci Rev 89:27–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stebich M, Brüchmann C, Kulbe T, Negendank JFW (2005) Vegetation history, human impact and climate change during the last 700 years recorded in annually laminated sediments of Lac Pavin, France. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 133:115–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strasser M, Anselmetti F (2008) Mass-movement events stratigraphy in Lake Zurich: a record of varying seismic and environmental impacts. Beiträge zur Geologie der Schweiz, Geotechnische Serie 95:23–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanasienko A, Yakutina O, Chumbaev A (2011) Effect of snow amount on runoff, soil los and suspended sediment during periods of snowmelt in Southern West Siberia. Catena 87:45–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thouveny N, de Beaulieu JL, Bonifay E, Creer KM, Guiot J, Icole M, Johnsen S, Jouzel J, Reille M, Williams T, Williamson D (1994) Climate variations in Europe over the past 140-Kyr deduced from rock magnetism. Nature 371:503–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Truze E, Kelts K (1993) Sedimentology and Paleoenvironment from the maar lac du Bouchet for the last climatic cycle, 0–120,000 years (Massif Central, France). In: Negendank JFW, Zolitschka B (eds) Paleolimnology of European Maar Lakes, vol 49, Lecture notes in earth sciences., pp 237–375

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dam H, Mertens A, Sinkeldam J (1994) A coded checklist and ecological indicator values of freshwater diatoms from the Netherlands. Neth J Aquat Ecol 28:117–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viollier E, Albéric P, Jezequel D, Michard G, Pèpe M, Sarazin G (1995) Geochemical study of a crater lake: the Pavin Lake, France-trace element behavior in the monimolimnion. Chem Geol 125:1–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voigt R, Grüger E, Baier J, Meischner D (2008) Seasonal variability of Holocene climate: a palaeolimnological study on varved sediments in Lake Jues (Harz Mountains, Germany). J Paleolimnol 40:1021–1052

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker IR, Paterson CG (1986) Associations of diatoms in the surficial sediments of lakes and peat pools in Atlantic Canada. Hydrobiologia 134:265–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zolitschka B, Anselmetti F, Ariztegui D, Corbella H, Francus P, Lücke A, Maidana NI, Ohlendorf C, Schäbitz F, Wastegard S (2013) Environment and climate of the last 51000 years – New insights from the Potrok Aike maar lake Sediment Archive Drilling prOject (PASADO). Quat Sci Rev 71:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study benefited from several projects funded by (i) the MEEDDAT project of the DDEA Puy-de- Dôme, (ii) the Agence de l’Eau Loire-Bretagne (AELB) project EDIFIS, (iii) the INSU project DICENTIM and (iv) the ARTEMIS facilities from INSU and INSHS for radiocarbon dating. L. Chassiot PhD grant is in addition funded by the Région Centre. We wish to thank Anaëlle Simonneau (ISTO, Orléans) for field work support and scientific discussions, Alice Recanati (LMCM, Paris) for MEB pictures and Michel Meybeck for scientific discussions. We wish to thank Prof. Marc Desmet for his constructive review of this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emmanuel Chapron .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Chassiot, L. et al. (2016). Lake Pavin Paleolimnology and Event Stratigraphy. In: Sime-Ngando, T., Boivin, P., Chapron, E., Jezequel, D., Meybeck, M. (eds) Lake Pavin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39961-4_23

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics