Journal Article

PreJuSER-11908

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Southern hemispheric westerlies control the spatial distribution of modern sediments in Laguna Potrok Aike, Argentina

Kastner, S. ; Ohlendorf, C. ; Haberzettl, T. ; Lücke, A.FZJ* ; Mayr, C. ; Maidana, N. I. ; Schäbitz, F. ; Zolitschka, B.

2010
Springer Science + Business Media B.V Dordrecht [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s10933-010-9462-0

Abstract: We studied the internal lake processes that control the spatial distribution and characteristics of modern sediments at the ICDP (International Continental Scientific Drilling Program) deep drilling site in Laguna Potrok Aike, southern Patagonia, Argentina. Sediment distribution patterns were investigated using a dense grid of 63 gravity cores taken throughout the lake basin and 40 additional shoreline samples. Analysis of the surficial sediment distribution points to distinct internal depositional dynamics induced by wind-driven lake internal currents. Distribution maps illustrate that the spatial characteristics of analysed variables are linked to high erosional wave activity. Persistent wave action and littoral erosion along all shores, especially the eastern shore, is caused by prevailing Southern Hemispheric Westerlies. Several sediment variables (grain size, benthic diatoms, total inorganic carbon and calcium) indicate re-suspension of littoral sediment followed by re-distribution to profundal accumulation areas near the eastern shore. Variations within the catchment influence sediment characteristics in the north-eastern bay. That area is characterized by different mineralogical and sedimentological conditions as well as greater accumulation of pollen, inorganic carbon and diatoms. These findings are related to the influence of episodic inflow into this bay. Spatial differences in stable isotope values throughout the lake suggest that ephemeral tributaries around the lake basin may also contribute to the detected spatial sediment variations.

Keyword(s): J ; Spatial sediment distribution (auto) ; Depositional dynamics (auto) ; Geochemistry (auto) ; Stable isotopes (auto) ; Microfossils (auto) ; Argentinean Patagonia (auto)

Note: We thank all the members of the SALSA and PASADO teams who helped during coring in 2005 and 2008. We thank Sabine Stahl, Benjamin Bunning, Yvonne Bronnimann, Melanie Roos and Jost Schumski for help with sampling, sample preparation and geochemical analyses at the GEOPOLAR laboratory, University of Bremen. We are grateful to Eva Hering (University of Cologne) for providing pollen data from her diploma thesis and Thomas Chwalek (University of Munich, LMU) for isotope data from his bachelor thesis. We are much obliged to Bernd Wagner and Martin Grosjean who conscientiously improved the manuscript with their critical reviews and suggestions. We are also grateful to Mark Brenner for his detailed editorial work. This is a contribution to the project ASADO (Analysis of Sediment Areal Distribution in Laguna Potrok Aike) founded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the ICDP priority program (ZO 102/8-1,2) which contributes to the ICDP deep drilling project PASADO.

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Research Program(s):

1. Terrestrische Umwelt (P24)

Appears in the scientific report 2010

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