Methodological and practical aspects of the presentation and interpretation of microscopic charcoal data from lake sediments |
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Authors: | Mihkel Kangur |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Ecology at Tallinn Pedagogical University, Kevade 2, Tallinn, 10137 Estonia, e-mail: mihkel@eco.edu.ee, EE |
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Abstract: | Analysis of microscopic charcoal particles is a useful part of palaeoecological research and is mostly used in conjunction
with pollen analysis. However, there is considerable variation in the methodology of charcoal analyses. This paper considers
various methods for the analysis of microscopic charcoal and the presentation of charcoal data in the context of a study of
the upper sediments of two lakes Estonia. The results are evaluated by comparing both the pollen and charcoal data with documentary
evidence of forest fires over the past 60 years. Indications of fires both varying in extent and at different distances from
the lakes are evaluated in both the pollen and charcoal diagrams. The results suggest that the total area curve for charcoal
particles per unit mass of sediment dry matter (cm2 g−1) provides the best indicator of forest fires. Fires in the study area are reflected differently in the charcoal and pollen
curves. It is suggested that the charcoal data have the potential to indicate disturbance at a greater distance from the coring
site than indicated by the pollen data.
Received February 5, 2002 / Accepted August 14, 2002 |
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Keywords: | : Charcoal – Pollen – Forest fire – Lake sediments – Estonia |
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