Open AccessEnvironmental reconstructions of E emian S tage interglacial marine records in the L ower V istula area, southern B altic S ea
Author(s) -
Knudsen Karen Luise,
Jiang Hui,
Gibbard Philip L.,
Kristensen Peter,
Seidenkrantz MaritSolveig,
JanczykKopikowa Zofia,
Marks Leszek
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1502-3885.2011.00232.x
Subject(s) - eemian , pollen , geology , interglacial , palynology , oceanography , stage (stratigraphy) , brackish water , foraminifera , chronology , physical geography , paleontology , quaternary , salinity , geography , ecology , benthic zone , biology
A multiproxy study of E emian S tage sediments in two core records, L icze and O brzynowo, in the G ulf of G dańsk area of northern P oland, shows that the brackish‐marine interglacial conditions were determined partly by regional environmental changes and partly by local changes of the river outflow from the V istula into the southern B altic S ea. Correlation of the sediments with the E emian is based on pollen analysis of the O brzynowo record, showing the presence of regional pollen zones ( RPAZ ) E 2– E 6, combined with previously published pollen analyses from L icze ( RPAZ E 1– E 7). A floating chronology is established on the basis of correlation with the annually laminated B ispingen sequence. Diatoms, foraminifera and ostracods are used as marine environmental proxies at both sites. An indication of marine conditions as early as pollen zone E 1 or E 2 at L icze and close to the E 2– E 3 boundary at O brzynowo reflects the rapid relative sea‐level rise in the area, which proceeded through ∼ 3000 years. A major salinity increase c . 1100 years after the beginning of the E emian (early pollen zone E 4) at both sites may be related to the opening of the D anish S traits. The O brzynowo site became isolated from the sea at c . 3500 years (early pollen zone E 5), whereas marine conditions continued at L icze until c . 7000 years, that is, throughout pollen zone E 5. Gradually shallower water after c . 5000 years presumably resulted from progradation of the rivers combined with isostatic rebound of the area before final isolation from the sea at c . 7000 years.