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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Diatom Paleolimnological Record Of Holocene Climatic And Environmental Change In The Altai Mountains, Siberia, Karlyn S. Westover, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Tatyana A. Blyakharchuk, Herbert E. Wright Jan 2006

Diatom Paleolimnological Record Of Holocene Climatic And Environmental Change In The Altai Mountains, Siberia, Karlyn S. Westover, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Tatyana A. Blyakharchuk, Herbert E. Wright

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

The sedimentary diatom records of three shallow lakes in the Altai Mountains, southern Siberia, were examined to assess the nature and timing of Holocene environmental changes. Few paleoenvironmental records, especially reconstructions not based on pollen, have been reported from this region. The lakes differ in elevation, annual precipitation, and catchment vegetation. Diatom assemblages in all lakes were dominated for the entire period of record by small benthic species of Pseudostaurosira Williams & Round, Staurosira Ehrenberg, and Staurosirella Williams & Round. Planktonic taxa only occur in very low abundances (<5%). The most diverse diatom flora was found in Dzhangyskol, which is situated at the lowest elevation within a forested catchment. A lack of detailed information on the ecological preferences of the dominant taxa and the complexity of environmental drivers make direct interpretation of the diatom record difficult. However, other proxies suggest that dramatic shifts in dominance between Staurosira elliptica and Staurosirella pinnata in Grusha Ozero reflect millennial-scale variability …


Past Glacial And Interglacial Conditions In The Arctic Ocean And Marginal Seas - A Review, Dennis A. Darby, Leonid Polyak, Henning A. Bauch Jan 2006

Past Glacial And Interglacial Conditions In The Arctic Ocean And Marginal Seas - A Review, Dennis A. Darby, Leonid Polyak, Henning A. Bauch

OES Faculty Publications

Past changes in the Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas have been profound, even during the last 10,000 years. Understanding these changes, such as those occurring during the transition from glacial to interglacial climates, are important for research on modern processes, because this knowledge provides a framework and unique perspective in which to view the modern physical and biological processes. This paper discusses our current understanding of past environmental change and processes relative to those currently in progress. Special emphasis is placed on the most recent transition from a glacial state to the modern interglacial conditions.