Use of lead isotopes for developing chronologies in recent salt-marsh sediments

Andrew C. Kemp; Christopher K. Sommerfield; Christopher H. Vane; Benjamin P. Horton; Simon Chenery; Shimon Anisfeld; Daria Nikitina

doi:10.1016/j.quageo.2012.05.004

Use of lead isotopes for developing chronologies in recent salt-marsh sediments

Andrew C. Kemp, Christopher K. Sommerfield, Christopher H. Vane, Benjamin P. Horton, Simon Chenery, Shimon Anisfeld, Daria Nikitina

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

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Dating of recent salt-marsh sediments is hindered by the radiocarbon plateau and the moving ~100 year window of ²¹⁰Pb accumulation histories. Introduction of anthropogenic Pb to the environment is a means to date salt-marsh sediment deposited over the last 200 years by correlating downcore changes in concentration and isotopic ratios to historical production and consumption. We investigated use of Pb as a chronometer in a core of salt-marsh sediment from New Jersey, USA. Changes in Pb concentration identified horizons at AD 1875, 1925, 1935 and 1974 that correspond to features of historic U.S Pb production and consumption. Stable lead isotopes ( ²⁰⁶Pb: ²⁰⁷Pb) constrained ages at AD 1827, 1857 and 1880, reflecting Pb production in the Upper Mississippi Valley with its unusual isotopic signature and at AD 1965 and 1980 from leaded gasoline. Confirmatory evidence for the gasoline horizons came from increased Sb concentrations caused by vehicle emissions and industrial activity. These nine chronostratigraphic markers of fixed dates provide precise constraints on sediment age in the northeastern USA and enable salt-marsh records of coastal evolution and wetland development to extend beyond the period of instrumental measurements. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	40-49
Journal	Quaternary Geochronology
Volume	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2012.05.004
Publication status	Published - Oct 2012
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical 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].

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by NICRR grant DE-FC02-06ER64298 , National Science Foundation award EAR-0951686 and NOAA grant NA11OAR4310101 (to B. Horton) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection grant SR-0111 (to D. Velinsky and C. Sommerfield). C.H. Vane and S. Chenery publish with permission of the Executive Director of British Geological Survey. This research was supported by Earthwatch Institute Student Challenge Award Programs. Kemp thanks a post-doctoral fellowship from the Yale University Climate and Energy Institute. This paper is a contribution to IGCP project 588 “Preparing for coastal change” and PALSEA.

Research Keywords

137Cs
210Pb
Lead isotopes
Salt-marsh
Sea level

Access Output

10.1016/j.quageo.2012.05.004

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

Cite this

@article{1d08b22a1e3e4d7f8e630f894afd4208,

title = "Use of lead isotopes for developing chronologies in recent salt-marsh sediments",

abstract = "Dating of recent salt-marsh sediments is hindered by the radiocarbon plateau and the moving ~100 year window of 210Pb accumulation histories. Introduction of anthropogenic Pb to the environment is a means to date salt-marsh sediment deposited over the last 200 years by correlating downcore changes in concentration and isotopic ratios to historical production and consumption. We investigated use of Pb as a chronometer in a core of salt-marsh sediment from New Jersey, USA. Changes in Pb concentration identified horizons at AD 1875, 1925, 1935 and 1974 that correspond to features of historic U.S Pb production and consumption. Stable lead isotopes ( 206Pb: 207Pb) constrained ages at AD 1827, 1857 and 1880, reflecting Pb production in the Upper Mississippi Valley with its unusual isotopic signature and at AD 1965 and 1980 from leaded gasoline. Confirmatory evidence for the gasoline horizons came from increased Sb concentrations caused by vehicle emissions and industrial activity. These nine chronostratigraphic markers of fixed dates provide precise constraints on sediment age in the northeastern USA and enable salt-marsh records of coastal evolution and wetland development to extend beyond the period of instrumental measurements. {\textcopyright} 2012 Elsevier B.V.",

keywords = "137Cs, 210Pb, Lead isotopes, Salt-marsh, Sea level",

author = "Kemp, {Andrew C.} and Sommerfield, {Christopher K.} and Vane, {Christopher H.} and Horton, {Benjamin P.} and Simon Chenery and Shimon Anisfeld and Daria Nikitina",

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].",

year = "2012",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.quageo.2012.05.004",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

pages = "40--49",

journal = "Quaternary Geochronology",

issn = "1871-1014",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Use of lead isotopes for developing chronologies in recent salt-marsh sediments

AU - Kemp, Andrew C.

AU - Sommerfield, Christopher K.

AU - Vane, Christopher H.

AU - Horton, Benjamin P.

AU - Chenery, Simon

AU - Anisfeld, Shimon

AU - Nikitina, Daria

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 - 2012/10

Y1 - 2012/10

N2 - Dating of recent salt-marsh sediments is hindered by the radiocarbon plateau and the moving ~100 year window of 210Pb accumulation histories. Introduction of anthropogenic Pb to the environment is a means to date salt-marsh sediment deposited over the last 200 years by correlating downcore changes in concentration and isotopic ratios to historical production and consumption. We investigated use of Pb as a chronometer in a core of salt-marsh sediment from New Jersey, USA. Changes in Pb concentration identified horizons at AD 1875, 1925, 1935 and 1974 that correspond to features of historic U.S Pb production and consumption. Stable lead isotopes ( 206Pb: 207Pb) constrained ages at AD 1827, 1857 and 1880, reflecting Pb production in the Upper Mississippi Valley with its unusual isotopic signature and at AD 1965 and 1980 from leaded gasoline. Confirmatory evidence for the gasoline horizons came from increased Sb concentrations caused by vehicle emissions and industrial activity. These nine chronostratigraphic markers of fixed dates provide precise constraints on sediment age in the northeastern USA and enable salt-marsh records of coastal evolution and wetland development to extend beyond the period of instrumental measurements. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

AB - Dating of recent salt-marsh sediments is hindered by the radiocarbon plateau and the moving ~100 year window of 210Pb accumulation histories. Introduction of anthropogenic Pb to the environment is a means to date salt-marsh sediment deposited over the last 200 years by correlating downcore changes in concentration and isotopic ratios to historical production and consumption. We investigated use of Pb as a chronometer in a core of salt-marsh sediment from New Jersey, USA. Changes in Pb concentration identified horizons at AD 1875, 1925, 1935 and 1974 that correspond to features of historic U.S Pb production and consumption. Stable lead isotopes ( 206Pb: 207Pb) constrained ages at AD 1827, 1857 and 1880, reflecting Pb production in the Upper Mississippi Valley with its unusual isotopic signature and at AD 1965 and 1980 from leaded gasoline. Confirmatory evidence for the gasoline horizons came from increased Sb concentrations caused by vehicle emissions and industrial activity. These nine chronostratigraphic markers of fixed dates provide precise constraints on sediment age in the northeastern USA and enable salt-marsh records of coastal evolution and wetland development to extend beyond the period of instrumental measurements. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

KW - 137Cs

KW - 210Pb

KW - Lead isotopes

KW - Salt-marsh

KW - Sea level

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84867142484&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84867142484&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.quageo.2012.05.004

DO - 10.1016/j.quageo.2012.05.004

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1871-1014

VL - 12

SP - 40

EP - 49

JO - Quaternary Geochronology

JF - Quaternary Geochronology

ER -

Use of lead isotopes for developing chronologies in recent salt-marsh sediments

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Research Keywords

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Cite this