Natural and anthropogenic impacts reflected by paleoclimate proxy parameters in a lake-forest system in Bukovina, Romania

  • Máté Karlik Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary ; Isotope Climatology and Environmental Research Centre, Institute for Nuclear Research, Debrecen, Hungary ; Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
  • Anna Vancsik Geographical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary ; ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, Budapest, Hungary
  • Zoltán Szalai Geographical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary ; ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, Budapest, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5267-411X
  • Marcel Mîndrescu Department of Geography, Faculty of History and Geography, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2291-4877
  • Ionela Grădinaru Department of Geography, Faculty of History and Geography, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0769-9403
  • Sándor Vágási Independent research worker, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Gábor Bozsó Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9518-8656
  • József Fekete Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8737-0554
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15201/hungeobull.70.4.4
Keywords: deforestation, landscape change, weathering index, n-alkanes, temperature reconstruction, paleoclimate

Abstract

The research area is located in the Eastern Carpathians, Romania. This region is rich in various formations and indicates significant potential for paleo-environmental reconstruction. The present research was carried out on sediment cores collected at lake Bolătău-Feredeu, Feredeului Mountains (Eastern Carpathians, Romania). Preliminary examination of the sediment confirmed the possibility for data analysis with high temporal resolution. The aim of the research was to clarify and supplement the findings of previous research at this site, to explore the relationships between proxy parameters and to elucidate the cause for the changes. Core dating was carried out using 210Pb and radiocarbon isotopes and indicated that sediment cores span the past 500 years. The research uses a wide range of methodologies, including organic geochemistry with calculated n alkane indices (Phw and Pwax). Based on these proxies, the changes of woody and herbaceous coverage in the catchment can be estimated. Moreover, element concentration, weathering indices and particle size distribution assist to detect climate changes in the catchment area. The data and conclusions yielded by the analysis were compared with the regional modelled temperature profile, based on which five periods were separated. In addition to natural and anthropogenic events, the main factor among the natural processes is the change in annual temperature. Based on the obtained data, several parameters were found to be suitable for monitoring past temperature changes.

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Published
2021-12-13
How to Cite
KarlikM., VancsikA., SzalaiZ., MîndrescuM., GrădinaruI., VágásiS., BozsóG., & FeketeJ. (2021). Natural and anthropogenic impacts reflected by paleoclimate proxy parameters in a lake-forest system in Bukovina, Romania. Hungarian Geographical Bulletin, 70(4), 339-351. https://doi.org/10.15201/hungeobull.70.4.4
Issue
Vol. 70 No. 4 (2021)
Section
Articles

Copyright (c) 2021 Máté Karlik, Anna Vancsik, Zoltán Szalai, Marcel Mîndrescu, Ionela Grădinaru, Sándor Vágási, Gábor Bozsó, József Fekete

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