Seasonality of modern pollen and sediment deposition in an estuarine context: the Severn Estuary Levels, southwest England

Allen, J. R. L. and Dark, P. (2008) Seasonality of modern pollen and sediment deposition in an estuarine context: the Severn Estuary Levels, southwest England. Journal of Quaternary Science, 23 (3). pp. 213-228. ISSN 0267-8179 doi: 10.1002/jqs.1138

Abstract/Summary

Recent sedimentological and palynological research on subfossil Holocene banded sediments from the Severn Estuary Levels suggested seasonality of deposition, registered by variations in mineral grain-size and pollen assemblages between different parts of the bands. Here we provide data that strengthen this interpretation from sampling of modern sediments and pollen deposition on an active mudflat and saltmarsh on the margin of the Severn Estuary, and comparison with a vegetation survey and contemporary records of climate, river and tidal regimes. The results of grain-size analysis indicate deposition of comparatively coarse-grained silts during the relatively cool and windy conditions of winter and comparatively fine-grained sediments during relatively warm and calm summer months. Pollen analysis demonstrates the significance of long-term storage of pollen grains and fern spores in the estuarine waterbody, superimposed on which seasonal variations in pollen inputs from local and regional vegetation remain detectable. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/3184
Item Type	Article
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science
Uncontrolled Keywords	seasonality pollen analysis grain-size analysis Severn Estuary SALT-MARSH SW BRITAIN COASTAL WATERS GWENT LEVELS SEA-LEVEL UK TRANSPORT SILTS MIDHOLOCENE PATTERNS
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