Testing recent chronological techniques for peat sites with contrasting anthropogenic influences

Donnelly, Caroline Margaret (2013) Testing recent chronological techniques for peat sites with contrasting anthropogenic influences. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of a study of recent radionuclide chronological techniques applied to two contrasting locations in an ombrotrophic peat bog in West Central Scotland. The locations differed in that one was undisturbed but the other had been previously forested. The study demonstrated that with a limit of detection of 5 Bq kg-1 or better, rigorous sampling technique and high resolution (2 cm) sampling increments, 210Pb dating using either the CIC method or the CRS method and 241Am dating method all gave consistent chronologies. Use of a low resolution field sampling technique gave consistent CIC but not CRS chronologies. The study indicated that neither 137Cs nor 32Si could be used to derive reliable chronologies for peat. Implied temporal variations in deposition of anthropogenic species (ash, Pb and Pb isotopes) were consistent with known historical variations and other studies of archived materials, lake sediments and peat deposits. Metal inventories were observed to be consistently higher for the unforested site than for the previously forested site, but comparison with chronologies implied that this was a long term feature of the two sites rather than an influence of the relatively short term presence of the forest. This observation highlights the limitations of extrapolating from a single core to derive information on larger scale regional deposition of contaminants.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
• Colleges/Schools: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Supervisor's Name: MacKenzie, Prof. Angus B.
• Date of Award: 2013
• Depositing User: Mrs Caroline Margaret Donnelly
• Unique ID: glathesis:2013-4102
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2013 16:42
• Last Modified: 27 Mar 2013 14:31
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/4102