Ja. Peck et al., A ROCK-MAGNETIC RECORD FROM LAKE BAIKAL, SIBERIA - EVIDENCE FOR LATE QUATERNARY CLIMATE-CHANGE, Earth and planetary science letters, 122(1-2), 1994, pp. 221-238
Rock-magnetic measurements of sediment cores from the Academician Ridg
e region of Lake Baikal, Siberia show variations related to Late Quate
rnary climate change. Based upon the well-dated last glacial-interglac
ial transition, variations in magnetic concentration and mineralogy ar
e related to glacial-interglacial cycles using a conceptual model. Int
erglacial intervals are characterized by low magnetic concentrations a
nd a composition that is dominated by low coercivity minerals. Glacial
intervals are characterized by high magnetic concentrations and incre
ased amounts of high coercivity minerals. The variation in magnetic co
ncentration is consistent with dilution by diatom opal during the more
productive interglacial periods. We also infer an increased contribut
ion of eolian sediment during the colder, windier, and more arid glaci
al conditions when extensive loess deposits were formed throughout Eur
ope and Asia. Eolian transport is inferred to deliver increased amount
s of high coercivity minerals as staining on eolian grains during the
glacial intervals. Variations in magnetic concentration and mineralogy
of Lake Baikal sediment correlate to the SPECMAP marine oxygen-isotop
e record. The high degree of correlation between Baikal magnetic conce
ntration/mineralogy and the SPECMAP oxygen-isotope record indicates th
at Lake Baikal sediment preserves a history of climate change in centr
al Asia for the last 250 ka. This correlation provides a method of est
imating the age of sediment beyond the range of the radiocarbon method
. Future work must include providing better age control and additional
climate proxy data, thereby strengthening the correlation of continen
tal and marine climate records.