Pg. Appleby et al., RADIOMETRIC DATING OF LAKE-SEDIMENTS FROM SIGNY ISLAND (MARITIME ANTARCTIC) - EVIDENCE OF RECENT CLIMATIC-CHANGE, Journal of paleolimnology, 13(2), 1995, pp. 179-191
Sediment cores from three lakes (Moss, Sombre and Heywood) in the mari
time Antarctic (Signy Island, South Orkney Islands) have been successf
ully dated radiometrically by Pb-210 and Cs-137. Th,,,, inventories of
both fallout radionuclides are an order of magnitude higher than that
which can be supported by the direct atmospheric flux at this latitud
e. The elevated values may be explained by fallout onto the catchment
during the winter being delivered directly to the lakes during the ann
ual thaw. Two of the lakes (Sombre and Heywood) show marked increases
in sediment accumulation after c. 1950. This appears to be associated
with a documented rise in temperature in the South Orkney Islands, whi
ch has caused extensive deglaciation at Signy Island.