Deforce K. (2011): Middle and Late Holocene vegetation and landscape evolution of the Scheldt estuary. A palynological study of a peat deposit from Doel (N-Belgium). Geologica Belgica 14/3-4: 277-288. (original) (raw)

Abstract

Local and regional environmental conditions for the south-eastern Scheldt estuary during the middle and late Holocene period have been reconstructed based on pollen analysis, loss-on-ignition and radiocarbon dating of a sediment core from Doel (N-Belgium) and the comparison with existing data from other sites from the same region. Postglacial relative sea level rise resulted in the formation of alder carr vegetation in the lower parts of the landscape from c. 7640 cal BP onwards. The vegetation succession was weakly influenced by the deposition of tidal clay deposits between c. 6550 and 5650 a cal BP and eventually culminated in the development of an oligotrophic bog. Peat accumulation seems to have ceased between c. 2030 and 1220 a cal BP, well before it was covered by marine sediments in the late Middle Ages.

Figures (5)

Figure 1. Location of the sampling site (11) and other sites mentioned in the text. (1) Borsele (Van Rijn, 2001); (2) Ellewoutsdijk (Van Rijn, 2003; Van Smeerdijk, 2003); (3) Baarland (De Jong, 1986); (4) Braakman (Munaut, 1969); (5) Terneuzen (Munaut, 1967); (6) Waarde (Jelgersma, 1961); (7) Perkpolder (Vos & Van Heeringen, 1997); (8) Oude Stoof (Vos & Van Heeringen, 1997); (9) Zandvliet (Munaut, 1967); (10) Berendrecht (Mys et al., 1983); (11) Doel — NPP (this publication); (12) Doel 9 & 10 (Denys & Verbruggen 1989); (13) Doel — Deurganckdok A (Gelorini et al., 2006); (14) Doeldok (Minnaert & Verbruggen, 1986); (15) Doel — Deurganckdok B (Deforce et al., 2005); (16) Verrebroek — dok1 (Deforce et al., 2005); (17) Verrebroek — dok 2 (Deforce et al., 2005); (18) Kallo — Vrasenedok (Janssens & Fergusson, 1985); (19) Kallo — zeesluis (Kutjper, 2006); (20) Hof ten Damme (Verbruggen & Denys, 1991); (21) Kruisschans (Vanhoorne, 1951); (22) Oosterweel (Denys & Verbruggen, 1989). ABSTRACT. Local and regional environmental conditions for the south-eastern Scheldt estuary during the middle and ate Holocene period have been reconstructed based on pollen analysis, loss-on-ignition and radiocarbon dating of a sediment core from Doel (N-Belgium) and the comparison with existing data from other sites from the same region. Postglacial relative sea level rise resulted in the formation of alder carr vegetation in the lower parts of the landscape from >. 7640 cal BP onwards. The vegetation succession was weakly influenced by the deposition of tidal clay deposits between °, 6550 and 5650 a cal BP and eventually culminated in the development of an oligotrophic bog. Peat accumulation seems ‘0 have ceased between c. 2030 and 1220 a cal BP, well before it was covered by marine sediments in the late Middle A ges.

Figure 1. Location of the sampling site (11) and other sites mentioned in the text. (1) Borsele (Van Rijn, 2001); (2) Ellewoutsdijk (Van Rijn, 2003; Van Smeerdijk, 2003); (3) Baarland (De Jong, 1986); (4) Braakman (Munaut, 1969); (5) Terneuzen (Munaut, 1967); (6) Waarde (Jelgersma, 1961); (7) Perkpolder (Vos & Van Heeringen, 1997); (8) Oude Stoof (Vos & Van Heeringen, 1997); (9) Zandvliet (Munaut, 1967); (10) Berendrecht (Mys et al., 1983); (11) Doel — NPP (this publication); (12) Doel 9 & 10 (Denys & Verbruggen 1989); (13) Doel — Deurganckdok A (Gelorini et al., 2006); (14) Doeldok (Minnaert & Verbruggen, 1986); (15) Doel — Deurganckdok B (Deforce et al., 2005); (16) Verrebroek — dok1 (Deforce et al., 2005); (17) Verrebroek — dok 2 (Deforce et al., 2005); (18) Kallo — Vrasenedok (Janssens & Fergusson, 1985); (19) Kallo — zeesluis (Kutjper, 2006); (20) Hof ten Damme (Verbruggen & Denys, 1991); (21) Kruisschans (Vanhoorne, 1951); (22) Oosterweel (Denys & Verbruggen, 1989). ABSTRACT. Local and regional environmental conditions for the south-eastern Scheldt estuary during the middle and ate Holocene period have been reconstructed based on pollen analysis, loss-on-ignition and radiocarbon dating of a sediment core from Doel (N-Belgium) and the comparison with existing data from other sites from the same region. Postglacial relative sea level rise resulted in the formation of alder carr vegetation in the lower parts of the landscape from >. 7640 cal BP onwards. The vegetation succession was weakly influenced by the deposition of tidal clay deposits between °, 6550 and 5650 a cal BP and eventually culminated in the development of an oligotrophic bog. Peat accumulation seems ‘0 have ceased between c. 2030 and 1220 a cal BP, well before it was covered by marine sediments in the late Middle A ges.

Table 1. Radiocarbon dates from Doel-NPP.

Table 1. Radiocarbon dates from Doel-NPP.

Figure 3. Loss-on-ignition results and percentage pollen diagram of selected taxa (exaggeration x10) from Doel-Nuclear Power Plan (Doel-NPP).

Figure 3. Loss-on-ignition results and percentage pollen diagram of selected taxa (exaggeration x10) from Doel-Nuclear Power Plan (Doel-NPP).

*This gully can stratigaphically be correlated with the intercalated clay deposit.

*This gully can stratigaphically be correlated with the intercalated clay deposit.

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