Skip to main content
Log in

The assessment of 210Pb data from sites with varying sediment accumulation rates

  • Part One: Method and Their Application
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The last few years have seen a dramatic growth in the use of 210Pb sediment dating. Despite this, considerable doubt still surrounds the nature of the processes by which 210Pb is deposited in lake sediments, and this has lead to a situation where there is a choice of dating models offering different interpretations of 210Pb data. In assessing 210Pb data it is therefore essential to first of all determine whether data is consistent with the assumptions of the dating model, and to then compare the 210Pb chronology with independent dating evidence. We have tested 210Pb data from a wide variety of sites, and our calculations indicate that the crs (constant rate of 210Pb supply) model provides a reasonably accurate chronology when the total 210Pb contents of cores from neighbouring locations are comparable.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Appleby, P. G., Oldfield, F., Thompson, R., Huttunen, P. & Tolonen, K., 1979. 210Pb dating of annually laminated lake sediments from Finland. Nature 280: 53–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benninger, L. K., Lewis, D. M. & Turekian, K. K., 1975. The use of natural 210Pb as a heavy metal tracer in the river estuarine system. In: T. M. Church (ed.). Marine Chemistry in the Coastal Environment. Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser. 18: 202–210.

  • Durham, R. W. & Joshi, S. R., 1980. Recent sedimentation rates, 210 Pb fluxes, and particle settling velocities in Lake Huron, Laurentian Great Lakes. Chem. Geol. 31: 53–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgington, D. N. & Robbins, J. N., 1976. Pattern of deposition of natural and fall-out radionuclides in the sediments of Lake Michigan and their relation to Limnological processes. In: Nriagu, J. O. (Ed.). Environmental Biogeochemistry, 2. Ann. Arbor Science, M.I.: 705–729.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elner, J. & Wood, C., 1980. The history of two linked but contrasting lakes in N. Wales from a study of pollen, diatoms and chemistry in sediment cores. J. Ecol. 68: 95–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E. D., 1963. Geochronology with 210Pb. In: Radioactive Dating. Int. Atom. Energy Ag. Vienna: 121–131.

  • Koide, M., Bruland, K. W. & Goldberg, E. D., 1973. Th228/ Th-232 and Pb-210 geochronologies in marine and lake sediments. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 37: 1171–1187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnaswamy, S., Lal, D., Martin, J. M. & Meybeck, M., 1971. Geochronology of lake sediments. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 11: 407–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnaswamy, S. & Lal, D., 1978. Radionuclide Limnochronology. In: Lerman, A. (Ed.). Lakes, Chemistry, Geology & Physics. Springer Verlag, N.Y.: 153–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olfield, F. & Appleby, P. G., in press. Empirical testing of 210Pb dating models for lake sediments. In: Haworth, E. Y. & Lund, J.W. G. (Eds.). Lake Sediments and Environmental History. Leicester Univ. Press.

  • Oldfield, F., Appleby, P. G. & Petit, D., 1980. A re-evaluation of lead-210 chronology and the history of total lead influx in a small South Belgian Pond. Ambio 9: 97–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, F., Appleby, P. G. & Battarbee, R. W., 1978. Alternative 210Pb dating: results from the New Guinea Highlands and Lough Erne. Nature 271: 339–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennington, W., Cambray, R. S., Eakins, J. D. & Harkness, D. D., 1975. Radionuclide dating of the recent sediments of Blelham Tarn. Freshwat. Biol. 6: 317–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petit, D., 1974. Pb-210 et isotopes stables du plomp dans des sediments lacustres. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 23: 199–205.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, J. A. & Edgington, D. N., 1975. Determination of recent sedimentation rates in Lake Michigan using 210Pb and Cs-137. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 39: 285–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, J. A., Krezoski, J. R., Mozley, S. C., 1977. Radioactivity in sediments of the Great Lakes: Post-depositional redistribution by deposit-feeding organisms. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 36: 325–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schell, W. R., 1977. Concentrations, physico-chemical states and mean residence times of 210Pb and 210Po in marine and estuarine waters. Geochem. Cosmochim. Acta. 41: 1019–1031.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Appleby, P.G., Oldfieldz, F. The assessment of 210Pb data from sites with varying sediment accumulation rates. Hydrobiologia 103, 29–35 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028424

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028424

Keywords

Navigation