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Centre for Past Climate Studies


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Methods

Examples of analytical methods

  • Chronology
    Chronological constraints is provided by AMS 14C-dating (AMS Laboratory, Aarhus University) and by 210Pb/137Cs measurements (at Institute of Geography and Geology, Copenhagen University) aided by the identification of tephra layers in sedimentary records.
  • Sedimentology
    Lithological description, mineralogical records (grain size, organic carbon, CaCO3 etc.), Multi-Sensor Core Logging (MSCL) as gamma-ray density and magnetic susceptibility as well as trace element composition are used to distinguish variations in the sediment composition.
  • Microfossils and geochemistry:
    Planktonic foraminifera, dinocysts, diatoms, d18O and d13C records are used to reconstruct variations in surface-water circulation, while benthic foraminifera and benthic stabile isotopes is a useful tool to detect variations of bottom-water conditions. Alkenone analyses, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), IP25 are used for sea-surface temperature and sea-ice reconstructions.
  • Pollen, TOC, C/N, stable isotopes (O, C, N) etc. in lake sediments are used for determining information on changes in vegetational cover, precipitation, evaporation etc.