Scientific article
OA Policy
English

The Upper Laacher See Tephra in Lake Geneva sediments: paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatological implications

Publication date1997
Abstract

Microstratigraphical analysis of Late glacial lacustrine sediments from Geneva Bay provided evidence of a tephra layer within the upper Allerød biozone. The layer consists of alkali feldspar, quartz, plagioclase, amphibole, pyroxene, opaques, titanite and glass shards. Electron microprobe analyses and morphological study of glass shards allowed correlation with the upper part of the Laacher See Tephra of the Laacher See volcano (Eifel Mountains, Germany). Sedimentological features of enclosing lacustrine sediments suggest that a momentary decrease in precipitation occurred in the catchment area and consequent reduction in detrital supply in the lake, after the ash fall-out. This has been interpreted as the environmental response to a momentary cooling following the Laacher See Tephra aerosols emission. Comparison with sedimentological features characterizing the Allerød-Younger Dryas transition highlights the sensitivity of Lake Geneva system in recording both short and long-terms climate-induced environmental changes.

Keywords
  • Sedimentology
  • Geochemistry
  • Tephra
  • Glass shard
  • Late glacial
  • Lake Geneva
  • Sédimentologie
  • Géochimie
  • Téphra
  • Tardiglaciaire
  • Léman (lac)
Citation (ISO format)
MOSCARIELLO, Andrea, COSTA RODRIGUEZ, Fidel. The Upper Laacher See Tephra in Lake Geneva sediments: paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatological implications. In: Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, 1997, vol. 77, n° 2, p. 175–185. doi: 10.5169/seals-58479
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0036-7699
155views
30downloads

Technical informations

Creation14/01/2022 14:03:00
First validation14/01/2022 14:03:00
Update time16/03/2023 03:23:19
Status update16/03/2023 03:23:18
Last indexation01/11/2024 01:30:58
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack