The application of δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels and paleoenvironments in the Thames Estuary, UK

Nicole S. Khan; Christopher H. Vane; Benjamin P. Horton; Caroline Hillier; James B. Riding; Christopher P. Kendrick

doi:10.1002/jqs.2784

The application of δ¹³C, TOC and C/N geochemistry to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels and paleoenvironments in the Thames Estuary, UK

Nicole S. Khan^*, Christopher H. Vane, Benjamin P. Horton, Caroline Hillier, James B. Riding, Christopher P. Kendrick

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We examined the use of δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sedimentary organic matter to reconstruct former sea levels and paleoenvironments in the absence of suitable microfossil data. The modern distribution of δ13C, TOC and C/N of 33 vegetation and 74 surface sediment samples collected from four coastal wetlands in the Thames Estuary and Norfolk, UK are described. The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sediments varied in relation to the input of in situ vascular vegetation versus allochthonous particulate organic matter and algae, which was controlled primarily by tidal inundation. We reviewed published and unpublished studies to produce an English database of vegetation (n=257) and sediment (n=132) δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry. Four elevation-dependent environments in the database had statistically distinct δ13C, TOC and C/N values: (1) tidal flat/low marsh (δ13C: -24.9±1.2‰ TOC: 3.6±1.7%; C/N: 9.9±0.8); (2) middle marsh/high (δ13C: -26.2±1.0‰ TOC: 9.8±6.7%; C/N: 12.1±1.8); (3) reed swamp (δ13C: -27.9±0.7‰: TOC: 36.5±11.5%; C/N: 13.9±1.2); and (4) fen carr (δ13C: -29.0±0.6‰ TOC: 41.6±5.7%; C/N: 17.4±3.1). The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry database was applied to a Holocene sediment core collected from the Thames Estuary to produce three new sea-level index points and one limiting date, illustrating the utility of δ13C, TOC and C/N values to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	417-433
Journal	Journal of Quaternary Science
Volume	30
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.2784
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2015
Externally published	Yes

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Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Research Keywords

Carbon to nitrogen ratio
Holocene sea level and paleoenvironmental reconstruction
Microfossil preservation
Stable carbon isotopes
Thames Estuary

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@article{a5f65105c1ee49de9aadc790f0ffc81d,

title = "The application of δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels and paleoenvironments in the Thames Estuary, UK",

abstract = "We examined the use of δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sedimentary organic matter to reconstruct former sea levels and paleoenvironments in the absence of suitable microfossil data. The modern distribution of δ13C, TOC and C/N of 33 vegetation and 74 surface sediment samples collected from four coastal wetlands in the Thames Estuary and Norfolk, UK are described. The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sediments varied in relation to the input of in situ vascular vegetation versus allochthonous particulate organic matter and algae, which was controlled primarily by tidal inundation. We reviewed published and unpublished studies to produce an English database of vegetation (n=257) and sediment (n=132) δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry. Four elevation-dependent environments in the database had statistically distinct δ13C, TOC and C/N values: (1) tidal flat/low marsh (δ13C: -24.9±1.2‰ TOC: 3.6±1.7%; C/N: 9.9±0.8); (2) middle marsh/high (δ13C: -26.2±1.0‰ TOC: 9.8±6.7%; C/N: 12.1±1.8); (3) reed swamp (δ13C: -27.9±0.7‰: TOC: 36.5±11.5%; C/N: 13.9±1.2); and (4) fen carr (δ13C: -29.0±0.6‰ TOC: 41.6±5.7%; C/N: 17.4±3.1). The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry database was applied to a Holocene sediment core collected from the Thames Estuary to produce three new sea-level index points and one limiting date, illustrating the utility of δ13C, TOC and C/N values to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels. {\textcopyright} 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.",

keywords = "Carbon to nitrogen ratio, Holocene sea level and paleoenvironmental reconstruction, Microfossil preservation, Stable carbon isotopes, Thames Estuary",

author = "Khan, {Nicole S.} and Vane, {Christopher H.} and Horton, {Benjamin P.} and Caroline Hillier and Riding, {James B.} and Kendrick, {Christopher P.}",

note = "Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].",

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The application of δ¹³C, TOC and C/N geochemistry to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels and paleoenvironments in the Thames Estuary, UK. / Khan, Nicole S.; Vane, Christopher H.; Horton, Benjamin P. et al.
In: Journal of Quaternary Science, Vol. 30, No. 5, 01.07.2015, p. 417-433.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The application of δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels and paleoenvironments in the Thames Estuary, UK

AU - Khan, Nicole S.

AU - Vane, Christopher H.

AU - Horton, Benjamin P.

AU - Hillier, Caroline

AU - Riding, James B.

AU - Kendrick, Christopher P.

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

PY - 2015/7/1

Y1 - 2015/7/1

N2 - We examined the use of δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sedimentary organic matter to reconstruct former sea levels and paleoenvironments in the absence of suitable microfossil data. The modern distribution of δ13C, TOC and C/N of 33 vegetation and 74 surface sediment samples collected from four coastal wetlands in the Thames Estuary and Norfolk, UK are described. The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sediments varied in relation to the input of in situ vascular vegetation versus allochthonous particulate organic matter and algae, which was controlled primarily by tidal inundation. We reviewed published and unpublished studies to produce an English database of vegetation (n=257) and sediment (n=132) δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry. Four elevation-dependent environments in the database had statistically distinct δ13C, TOC and C/N values: (1) tidal flat/low marsh (δ13C: -24.9±1.2‰ TOC: 3.6±1.7%; C/N: 9.9±0.8); (2) middle marsh/high (δ13C: -26.2±1.0‰ TOC: 9.8±6.7%; C/N: 12.1±1.8); (3) reed swamp (δ13C: -27.9±0.7‰: TOC: 36.5±11.5%; C/N: 13.9±1.2); and (4) fen carr (δ13C: -29.0±0.6‰ TOC: 41.6±5.7%; C/N: 17.4±3.1). The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry database was applied to a Holocene sediment core collected from the Thames Estuary to produce three new sea-level index points and one limiting date, illustrating the utility of δ13C, TOC and C/N values to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

AB - We examined the use of δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sedimentary organic matter to reconstruct former sea levels and paleoenvironments in the absence of suitable microfossil data. The modern distribution of δ13C, TOC and C/N of 33 vegetation and 74 surface sediment samples collected from four coastal wetlands in the Thames Estuary and Norfolk, UK are described. The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry of sediments varied in relation to the input of in situ vascular vegetation versus allochthonous particulate organic matter and algae, which was controlled primarily by tidal inundation. We reviewed published and unpublished studies to produce an English database of vegetation (n=257) and sediment (n=132) δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry. Four elevation-dependent environments in the database had statistically distinct δ13C, TOC and C/N values: (1) tidal flat/low marsh (δ13C: -24.9±1.2‰ TOC: 3.6±1.7%; C/N: 9.9±0.8); (2) middle marsh/high (δ13C: -26.2±1.0‰ TOC: 9.8±6.7%; C/N: 12.1±1.8); (3) reed swamp (δ13C: -27.9±0.7‰: TOC: 36.5±11.5%; C/N: 13.9±1.2); and (4) fen carr (δ13C: -29.0±0.6‰ TOC: 41.6±5.7%; C/N: 17.4±3.1). The δ13C, TOC and C/N geochemistry database was applied to a Holocene sediment core collected from the Thames Estuary to produce three new sea-level index points and one limiting date, illustrating the utility of δ13C, TOC and C/N values to reconstruct Holocene relative sea levels. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

KW - Carbon to nitrogen ratio

KW - Holocene sea level and paleoenvironmental reconstruction

KW - Microfossil preservation

KW - Stable carbon isotopes

KW - Thames Estuary

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DO - 10.1002/jqs.2784

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

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EP - 433

JO - Journal of Quaternary Science

JF - Journal of Quaternary Science

IS - 5

ER -