Browsing by Author "Woodward, CA"

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    Changes in hydrology and carbon cycling following Late Holocene deforestation in a New Zealand lake catchment
    (European Geosciences Union (EGU), 2018-04-13) Woodward, CA; Hua, Q; Tyler, JJ; Meredith, KT; Moss, PT; Gadd, PS; Zawadzki, A
    New Zealand was one of the last major land masses to be impacted by humans, with two waves of settlement occurring in the last 800 years. Polynesian (Maori) settlers arrived in New Zealand ca. 1250 A.D., while major European settlement occurred after 1840 A.D. A major impact of both phases of settlement was clearance of indigenous forest. An increasing number of pollen and macroscopic charcoal records reveal the timing and extent of past forest clearance in New Zealand. Only a few records explore the wider implications of this land use change in terms of catchment biogeochemical cycles and aquatic ecosystem functioning. We used multiple proxies from a lake sediment core from a cleared catchment to explore changes in catchment hydrology and carbon cycling after forest clearance. One of the most interesting findings emerged from paired radiocarbon dates on terrestrial targets (e.g. leaves and charcoal) and seeds from the aquatic plant Myriophyllum. The offset between terrestrial and aquatic radiocarbon ages increased to 1000 years and then decreased to 100 years within three centuries of local Maori forest clearance. There was a further increase in the radiocarbon age offset to 1500 radiocarbon years within decades of the start of the European forest clearance. We argue that the offset between terrestrial and aquatic radiocarbon ages results from an increased contribution of old dissolved inorganic carbon from groundwater to the lake after forest clearance. Forest clearance reduced evapotranspiration, increased aquifer recharge and increased the contribution of groundwater to the lake. This interpretation is supported by a major increase in the δ 13C of Myriophyllum seeds following Maori deforestation. At the time of abstract submission the results are pending for δ 18O analysis on Myriophyllum seeds and aquatic insects. This will provide a further test for changes in catchment hydrology following deforestation. Reviews of catchment impacts on hydrology and carbon cycling have shown an increased catchment water yield and flux of old carbon in disturbed catchments. Our study provides one of the most comprehensive records of forest clearance and provides valuable insights into the causal mechanisms and consequences of these changes. © Author(s) 2018. CC Attribution 4.0 license.
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    Comparing interglacials in eastern Australia: a multi-proxy investigation of a new sedimentary record
    (Elsevier, 2021-01-01) Forbes, MS; Cohen, TJ; Jacobs, Z; Marx, SK; Barber, E; Dodson, JR; Zamora, A; Cadd, H; Franke, A; Constantine, M; Mooney, SD; Short, J; Tibby, J; Parker, A; Cendón, DI; Peterson, MA; Tyler, JJ; Swallow, E; Haines, HA; Gadd, PS; Woodward, CA
    The widespread formation of organic rich sediments in south-east Australia during the Holocene (Marine Isotope Stage [MIS] 1) reflects the return of wetter and warmer climates following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Yet, little is known about whether a similar event occurred in the region during the previous interglacial (MIS 5e). A 6.8 m sediment core (#LC2) from the now ephemeral Lake Couridjah, Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia, provides insight into this question. Organic rich sediments associated with both MIS 1 and 5e are identified using 14C and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating techniques. Also apparent are less organic sedimentary units representing MIS 6, 5d and 2 and a large depositional hiatus. Sediment δ13C values (−34 to −26‰) suggests that C3 vegetation dominates the organic matter source through the entire sequence. The pollen record highlights the prevalence of sclerophyll trees and shrubs, with local hydrological changes driving variations in the abundance of aquatic and lake-margin species. The upper Holocene sediment (0–1.7 m) is rich in organic matter, including high concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC; 20–40%), fine charcoal and macrophyte remains. These sediments are also characterised by a large proportion of epiphytic diatoms and a substantial biogenic component (chironomids and midges). These attributes, combined with low δ13C and δ15N values, and C:N ratios of approximately 20, indicate a stable peat system in a swamp like setting, under the modern/Holocene climate. In comparison, the lower organic rich unit (MIS 5e-d) has less TOC (5–10%), is relatively higher in δ13C and δ15N, and is devoid of macrophyte remains and biogenic material. Characterisation of the organic matter pool using 13C-NMR spectroscopy identified a strong decomposition signal in the MIS 5e organic sediments relative to MIS 1. Thus the observed shifts in δ13C, δ15N and C:N data between the two periods reflects changes in the organic matter pool, driven by decompositional processes, rather than environmental conditions. Despite this, high proportions of aquatic pollen taxa and planktonic diatoms in the MIS 5e–d deposits, and their absence in the Holocene indicates that last interglacial Lake Couridjah was deeper and, or, had more permanent water, than the current one. ©2020 Elsevier Ltd.
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    A rapid sediment pulse induced by glacial melting during the MIS 8/7e transition buried well-developed karst in the Railton Valley, Tasmania, Australia
    (John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2021-08-16) Slee, A; McIntosh, PD; Woodward, CA; Wang, NS; Gadd, PS
    Recent catastrophic sinkhole collapse caused by regional water table lowering induced by quarrying has led to the partial exhumation and reactivation of a buried karst cave system in the floor of the Railton Valley in the lowlands of northern Tasmania, Australia, and widespread sinkhole development. Extensive silty sediments exposed in sinkholes, OSL dated to approximately 237 ka, are interpreted to be lacustrine deposits derived from rapidly deposited glacial outwash. The silty sediments have mineralogy consistent with derivation from a source in the upper Mersey catchment rather than locally and are interpreted to be the product of rapid melting of the Mersey Valley glacier during the MIS 8/7e transition. Thick Last Glacial alluvial fan and Holocene flood-plain deposits mantle the lacustrine sediments. Exposures of glacial erratics and weathered till in streambeds provide further evidence that the valley was impacted by earlier Pleistocene glaciations. © 2021 The Boreas Collegium. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
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    The role of earthquakes and climate in the formation of diamictic sediments in a New Zealand mountain lake
    (Elsevier, 2018-03-03) Woodward, CA; Slee, A; Gadd, PS; Zawadzki, A; Hamze, H; Parmar, A; Zahra, D
    We used Itrax XRF, magnetic susceptibility, grain size, and micro-CT scanning to provide a facies classification for a Late Holocene sediment sequence from Lake Chappa'ai in the Southern Alps, New Zealand. The record contained multiple diamictic layers and our objective was to determine the environmental significance of these deposits. Clast fabric analysis indicated that the diamicts comprise dropstones transported to the centre of the lake by ice rafting. Diamicts belonging to Facies 1 represent rock falls onto lake ice triggered by earthquakes that produced MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) > 8 shaking in the catchment. MMI >8 earthquakes may need to occur when the lake has ice cover to produce Facies 1 diamicts. MMI >8 earthquakes in the ice free season or MMI 7–8 earthquakes may also result in an increased flux of large (>1 mm) clasts to the centre of the lake, but may not produce a Facies 1 diamict. More work is required to establish the role of climate related processes on the formation of non-Facies 1 diamicts in Lake Chappa'ai. Climate change may directly lead to diamict formation by changing lake ice cover and facilitating transport of large clasts by anchor ice, or increasing the likelihood of rain on snow events in the spring. Changing ice cover conditions will also affect how mountain lakes record past earthquake events. Lakes that are ice free will not produce earthquake diamicts and lakes that have perennial ice cover may produce a single diamict representing multiple earthquakes if the lake becomes ice free. A reduction in the duration of winter ice cover will also decrease the probability of capturing primary rockfall deposits from earthquakes. Additional data, such as a diatom or chironomid record from Lake Chappa'ai may help to resolve the contribution of climate processes to diamict formation. We should consider the Lake Chappa'ai record as an indicator of minimum earthquake activity until we can disentangle the effects of climate change on non-Facies 1 diamict formation. This study highlights the multiple mechanisms that can lead to diamict formation in mountain lake sediments. These processes should always be considered before attributing the presence of diamict deposits to ice-rafted debris in a pro-glacial lake. This is particularly true in seismically active settings where earthquake triggered rockfalls may lead to diamict formation. Crown Copyright ©2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd