Elinor Andrén

Holocene history of the Baltic Sea as a background for assessing records of human impact in the sediments of the Gotland Basin

Sediment cores from the Gotland Basin were studied for their siliceous microfossil assemblages and organic carbon content to compare recent environmental changes in the Baltic Sea with its natural long-term history. Age models were constructed using 210Pb, 137Cs and corrected and calibrated 14C dates. The transgression that marks the onset of the Ancylus Lake stage is recorded in the sediments as a small increase in organic carbon coinciding with a peak in diatom abundance and increased diatom diversity. A minor occurrence of brackish-freshwater diatoms is recorded in the Ancylus Lake c. 9950–9750 cal. yr BP (c. 8900–8800 14C yr BP), correlating with the onset of the Initial Litorina Sea in the Bornholm Basin. A high-productivity event is recorded in the end of the Post-Litorina Sea and corresponds to the Mediaeval warm event. An alteration in the diatom assemblage contemporaneous with a decrease in organic carbon, interpreted as representing a deterioration in the climate, correlates with the start of the ‘Little Ice Age’ about 850–700 cal. yr BP. A change dated to ad 1950–1960 is probably an effect of increased nutrient availability in the open Baltic Sea. This effect of eutrophication was probably caused by increased discharge of nutrients deriving from fertilizers, as the responding diatom species partly indicate a cold climate rather than a warm one, as would have been expected if this had been only a response to the warmer climate documented during the last 100 years or so.

Holocene history of the Baltic Sea as recorded in a sediment core from the Gotland Deep

A 4 m long sediment core from the Gotland Deep, Baltic Sea, was investigated by means of biostratigraphical and chemical parameters and C-14 datings. This multidisciplinary approach allows us to ev ...

Development of anoxia during the Holocene fresh-brackish water transition in the Baltic Sea

One of the most pronounced environmental changes during the Holocene Baltic Sea history was the transition from the freshwater Ancylus Lake to the brackish water Litorina Sea. The establishment of ...

The Development of the Baltic Sea Basin During the Last 130 ka

During the Eemian interglacial 130–115 ka BP, the hydrology of the Baltic Sea was significantly different from the Holocene. A pathway between the Baltic basin and the Barents Sea through Karelia existed during the first ca. 2.5 ka of the interglacial. Both sea surface temperature and salinity of the SW Eemian Baltic Sea were much higher, ca. 6°C and 15‰, respectively, than at present. A first early Weichselian Scandinavian ice advance is recorded in NW Finland during marine isotope stage (MIS) 4 and the first Baltic ice lobe advance into SE Denmark is dated to 55–50 ka BP. From the last glacial maximum that was reached ca. 22 ka BP, the ice sheet retreated northward with a few still-stands and readvances; however, by ca. 10 ka BP the entire basin was deglaciated. Weak inflows of saline water were registered in the southern and central Baltic Sea ca. 9.8 ka BP with full brackish marine conditions reached at ca. 8 ka BP and the maximum Holocene salinity was recorded between 6 and 4 ka BP. The present Baltic Sea is characterized by a marked halocline preventing the vertical water exchange resulting in hypoxic bottom conditions in the deeper part of the basin.

Environmental changes of the last three centuries indicated by siliceous microfossil records from the southwestern Baltic Sea

Four short sediment cores from the southwestern Baltic Sea were analysed with respect to their content of siliceous microfossils. The aim was to detect and date changes in the composition of the diatom flora and to link these changes to variations in the anthropogenic load of nutrients during the last century. The study shows that the most significant change in the diatom assemblages occurred 130-140 years ago. The change is recorded in the sediments as a shift from periphytic diatom taxa to a predominance of planktonic taxa. This indicates that the photic layer has decreased in depth, probably due to eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, which consequently began to affect the area investigated approximately AD 1850. To support the results of a changing ratio of periphytic to planktonic diatoms, diatom accumulation rates were calculated. In general, the diatom accumulation rate data show a decrease in the periphytic accumulation rates and an increase in the planktonic accumulation rates towards the sediment surface. Some indications of a colder climate are recorded in the sediments approximately 230 years ago. These results are in accordance with the record of maximum extent of sea ice in the same area and are suggested to represent a late stage in the ‘Little Ice Age’.

Holocene palaeoecology and shoreline displacement on the Biskopsmala Peninsula, southeastern Sweden

High-resolution palaeoecological proxies of pollen, macrofossils and diatoms from an isolation lake provide a long-term record of the Holocene landscape history and shoreline displacement on the Biskopsmala Peninsula in central Blekinge, SE Sweden. During the Preboreal/Boreal transition, the peninsula was sparsely vegetated by woodlands, along with lateglacial dwarf shrub/steppe communities. The lake basin was isolated from the shallow Yoldia Sea during this time. The regional climate improved from 10 700 cal. BP, evident as progressive expansion of Pinus -dominated mixed forest with deciduous trees. The lake basin was probably connected with the Ancylus Lake during the period 10 700-10 100 cal. BP. Subsequently the basin became isolated again, corresponding to the Early Littorina Sea phase. Replacement of freshwater diatoms by those with brackish-water affinity at 8100 cal. BP indicates the initial transgression of the Littorina Sea in this basin. But not until 7500 cal. BP were brackish conditions fully established. Peaks of brackish-marine diatoms and dinoflagellates during 7500-7000 cal. BP indicate increased saltwater inflow to the Baltic Sea in response to global meltwater pulse 3. However, interactive changes in seagrass and stonewort macrofossil concentrations suggest that three minor transgressions during 5900-5300, 5000-4700 and 4400-4000 cal. BP occurred locally, associated with centennial-scale variations in regional wind pattern or coastal storminess. By 3000 cal. BP, the lake basin was finally isolated from the Baltic, and thereafter the landscape on the peninsula became gradually more influenced by human activities.

Early Holocene shore displacement and evidence of irregular isostatic uplift northwest of Lake Vänern, western Sweden

In the 1920s the Swedish geologist Lennart von Post found evidence of irregular early Holocene isostatic uplift in the region northwest of Lake Vänern in western Sweden. von Post based his conclusions on levellings of ancient shore lines. These were indirectly dated by pollen stratigraphical investigations in basins situated at approximately the same altitudes as the shore lines. To test von Posts hypothesis, we have adopted a different methodological approach. The sediments in twelve small lake basins, within five minor areas in this region, have been investigated with respect to when they became isolated from ancient Lake Vänern. Initially all the lake thresholds were levelled. Altitudes range between 165 and 96 m above sea level. By combining the results of mineral magnetic and diatom stratigraphical analyses it has been possible to determine the level in the sediment when the basin became isolated. The 14C age of this isolation level has been inferred from AMS dates based on the NaOH-soluble fraction of bulk sediment, partly with very low organic content. Altogether, 36 radiocarbon datings have been carried out, ranging from 10080 to 8800 14C years BP. Pollen analyses, and subsequent correspondence analysis (CA) of all pollen spectra, were carried out around the isolation level in each basin as a complement to the AMS datings.If the region had been subject to irregular isostatic uplift, lakes at the same altitude in the five areas should have been isolated at different times. The AMS determined isolation ages, ‘corrected’ according to CA of the pollen stratigraphy and compensated for the relatively higher rebound of the northerly situated sites support von Posts conclusion, from the beginning of this century, that the region northwest of Lake Vänern has been subjected to irregular isostatic uplift.

New insights on the Yoldia Sea low stand in the Blekinge archipelago, southern Baltic Sea

Abstract One sediment core from the Järnavik bay in Blekinge archipelago has been investigated for its content of pollen and diatoms and its chemical properties. Two levels were also dated by radiocarbon. Based on the results the sediment sequence analysed has been divided into three environmental units largely corresponding to the lithology of the sequence. A lowermost unit consisting of weakly varved and homogeneous clay was deposited during the end of the brackish phase of the Yoldia Sea at a moderate water depth. On top of this unit a gyttja-clay unit was deposited. The onset of the deposition of this unit has been dated to c. 11 100 cal. yrs. BP. An increasing organic production and increased terrestrial influence is recorded in the chemical data and a very shallow water depth is indicated in the pollen and diatom flora. These results point to conditions in a bay probably isolated from the Yoldia Sea. A local tentative shore displacement curve have been constructed and it is proposed that this unit represents the low stand at c. -18 m during the Yoldia Sea stage in this part of the Baltic Sea basin. The uppermost unit consists of homogeneous clay with a low content of organic carbon. An increasing water depth is indicated by the composition of both pollen and diatoms. The diatom flora also displays an increase in freshwater species. This environmental change was probably the result of a transgression in the beginning of the Ancylus Lake stage.

Mid-Holocene Baltic Sea transgression along the coast of Blekinge, SE Sweden ancient lagoons correlated with beach ridges

Abstract The mid-Holocene Littorina transgression in southern Scandinavia is well documented. Multiple-stratigraphic sequences in ancient Littorina lagoons in the coastal area of Blekinge, SE Sweden reveal a maximum relative sea level of 7–8 m above present sea level between 8000–6000 cal. BP. Evidence for at least two transgression waves is found within this period. In this study these are documented in one modern lake and correlated with an ancient beach-lagoon stratigraphy. Furthermore, two younger transgressions are documented at one site, altogether establishing a firm transgression chronology for the time span 8000–4000 cal. BP (sea level 5–8 m a.s.l.) as a basis for understanding the dynamics of Baltic sea-level changes. Neolithic cultural layers are correlated to regression periods, indicating more favorable conditions for beach settlement between stormy transgression periods.

Defining reference conditions for coastal areas in the Baltic Sea

The overall aim of DEFINE is to provide a methodology to define reference conditions for nutrient concentrations in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea. This will aid the national authorities that s ...