Open AccessUnderstanding processes of sediment bleaching in glacial settings using a portable OSL reader
Author(s) -
King Georgina E.,
Sanderson David C. W.,
Robinson Ruth A. J.,
Finch Adrian A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/bor.12078
Subject(s) - glacial period , sediment , geology , optically stimulated luminescence , scale (ratio) , geochemistry , geomorphology , paleontology , quartz , physics , quantum mechanics
Analysis of a high‐resolution suite of modern glacial sediments from J ostedalen, southern N orway, using a portable optically stimulated luminescence ( OSL ) reader, provides insights into the processes of sediment bleaching in glacial environments at the catchment scale. High‐magnitude, low‐frequency processes result in the least effective sediment bleaching, whereas low‐magnitude, high‐frequency events provide greater bleaching opportunities. Changes in sediment bleaching can also be identified at the scale of individual bar features: tails of braid‐bars and side‐attached bar deposits have the lowest portable reader signal intensities, as well as the smallest conventional OSL residual doses. In addition to improving our understanding of the processes of sediment bleaching, portable reader investigations can also facilitate more rapid and comprehensive modern analogue investigations, which are commonly used to confirm that the OSL signals of modern glacial sediments are well bleached.