Late-glacial and Holocene record of lake levels of Mathews Pond and Whitehead Lake, northern Maine, USA

TitleLate-glacial and Holocene record of lake levels of Mathews Pond and Whitehead Lake, northern Maine, USA
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsDieffenbacher-Krall A.C, Nurse A.M
JournalJournal of Paleolimnology
Volume34
Issue3
Pagination283-310
Date PublishedOct
ISSN0921-2728
Accession NumberWOS:000231064100001
Abstract

Paleohydrology studies at Mathews Pond and Whitehead Lake in northern Maine revealed synchronous changes in lake levels from about 12,000 C-14 yrs BP to the present. We analyzed gross sediment structure, organic and carbonate content, mineral grain size, and macrofossils of six cores from each of the two lakes, and obtained 72 radiocarbon dates. Interpretation of this paleo-environmental data suggests that the lateglacial and Younger Dryas climate was dry, and lake levels were low. Early Holocene lake levels were considerably higher but declined for an interval from about 8000 to 7200 14 C yrs BP. Sediment of both lakes contains evidence of a dry period at similar to 7400 C-14 yrs BP (8200 cal yr). Lake levels of both sites declined abruptly about 4800 14 C yrs BP and remained low until 3000 14 C yrs BP. Modern lake levels were achieved only within the past 600 years. The west-to-east, time-transgressive nature of lake-level changes from several sites across northeastern North America suggests periodic changes in atmospheric circulation patterns as a driving force behind observed moisture balance changes.

DOI10.1007/s10933-005-4958-8