The methodological basis for fine‐resolution, multi‐proxy reconstructions of ombrotrophic peat bog surface wetness

Amesbury, M. J., Barber, K. E. & Hughes, P. D. M. 2010: The methodological basis for fine‐resolution, multi‐proxy reconstructions of ombrotrophic peat bog surface wetness. Boreas , 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00152.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. The need for Holocene peat‐based palaeoclimatic records of increased temporal resolution has been widely identified in recent research. The often rapid growth rates of ombrotrophic bogs, when combined with fine‐resolution (i.e. millimetre‐scale) sampling, provide an as yet largely unexploited potential to derive sub‐decadal palaeoclimatic data from this proxy‐archive. However, multi‐proxy, fine‐resolution analyses require changes to standard methodologies, and the application of sampling techniques that are new to peat‐based palaeoclimate research. A peat sampler was custom‐built to allow precise and replicable millimetre‐scale subsampling. Subsequent methodological testing revealed that, irrespective of sample thickness (i.e. resolution), halving the standard sample volume used for plant macrofossil (from 4 cm 3 to 2 cm 3 ) and testate amoebae (from 2 cm 3 to 1 cm 3 ) analyses and the sample weight used for peat humification analysis (from 0.2 g to 0.1 g dried peat) did not affect the interpretation of the results. A contiguous 1‐mm sampling resolution for plant macrofossil analysis was also tested, but it was found that contiguous 5‐mm samples provided a more reliable background record to fine‐resolution testate amoebae and peat humification analyses. Based on these findings, a standardized and systematic methodological approach was developed, using the custom‐built peat slicer to take millimetre‐scale samples that provide enough sample material for both testate amoebae and peat humification analyses to be performed at 1‐mm resolution. This approach will facilitate the testing of the palaeoclimatic reliability of multi‐proxy, fine‐resolution peat‐based records.