No description available.

A palaeolimnological study was carried out on a high-resolution, 7.62 m-long core (RU188-07) from northern Lake Rotorua, North Island. The core consists predominantly of olive diatomaceous ooze, laminated in places, and contains five tephras including Tarawera (1886 A.D.), Kaharoa (c. 1314 A.D.), Taupo (c. 233 A.D.) and Whakatane (c. 5500 cal. years B.P.). The core terminated in Whakatane Tephra giving the sediment a maximum age of 5530 60 cal. years B.P. An age model for the sediment was developed using tephrochronology. Radiocarbon dates obtained on the sediment returned ages too old because of contamination by old CO2 or CH4, or both. Investigations carried out on the core included spectrophotometric, sedimentological and geochemical analyses, and diatom identifications, which provided a number of proxies from which inferences were made about lake history, catchment development, and palaeoclimate since c. 5500 cal. years B.P. The laminations, evident only in the upper, post-Kaharoa Tephra part of the record, comprise alternations of thin, dark, detrital deposits and pale, relatively fine-grained diatom assemblages. Sediment geochemistry indicates that the Rotorua catchment has undergone several changes since c. 5500 cal. years B.P., alternating between periods of variable and stable environmental conditions. Following the Whakatane and Waimihia eruptions and up to approximately 3000 cal. years B.P., the catchment surrounding Lake Rotorua was rather unstable. Fluctuations in many of the proxies during this period are likely to be associated with a variable climate with periods of storminess, coinciding with the establishment of ENSO conditions in New Zealand. A notable feature of the record is two phases of stability, the first following the Taupo eruption (from c. 1700 cal. years B.P. to c. 630 cal. years B.P.) and the second from c. 580 cal. years B.P. to c. 300 cal. years B.P. The latest, most significant event in the catchment history of Lake Rotorua was the settlement by Polynesians. M.S. McGlone implied from pollen profiles (from Holden's Bay) that initial settlement took place around the time of the Kaharoa eruption (c. 630 cal years B.P.; c. 1314 A.D.), but the sediment chemistry and erosion profiles obtained here, from the northern part of Lake Rotorua, indicate that although there may have been some early clearing in the northern catchment for tracks or buildings, large-scale clearing in the area probably did not occur until considerably later, c. 300 cal. years B.P. Also contained within the sediments are three layers of reworked tephric material that probably originate from the transfer of coarse grained tephra from shallow to deeper water during large storms at c. 1300 cal. years B.P, c. 520 cal. years B.P, and c. 220 cal. years B.P. Each event coincides with storm events inferred from records from Lake Tutira in eastern North Island. Because of Lake Rotorua's inland position, these inferred storm events probably represent only the largest cyclonic events (e.g. ex-tropical cyclones).

This study examines changes in lake-water total organic carbon (LW-TOC) and lake sediment geochemistry in two lakes, Stångtjärnen and Holtjärnen in (Dalarna, Sweden), during the Holocene and the role of the historic forest grazing and farming (fäbod-system). The aims of the study were to: 1. Discern the effects of natural processes on the lake’s biogeochemistry in different position in the landscape. 2. Identify the effects and differences in intensity of historic land-use on the lakes. A multi-proxy study was conducted encompassing multi-element (15) geochemistry, biogenic silica, LW-TOC, chlorophyll a and published pollen records. The first lake, Stångtjärnen, is shaped and influenced by surrounding mires, which developed shortly after deglaciation and stabilized the LW-TOC at 19 mg L-1 throughout most of the Holocene, while Holtjärnen, a small upland lake, changed from a productive lake (BSi: 35 %), low humic (LW-TOC: 8 mg L-1) to a less productive (BSi: 4 %) more humic lake (LW-TOC: 12 mg L-1) in 7300 BP. The intensification of agricultural land-use (e.g. hay-making) in Stångtjärnen reduced the concentrations of organic associated elements (Br, Cl) and LW-TOC and increased lithogenic elements (K, Ti), while Holtjärnen showed less anthropogenic influence. The comparison between the two lakes displayed the intensive influence of land-use on the Stångtjärnen catchment, showcased by changes in the sediment geochemistry, vegetation composition and the extent of the forest-grazing system in a landscape perspective. In response to the changes of the Holocene, Stångtjärnen’s mires became the main influence, while Holtjärnen was more sensitive to changes.

Located in the south-west region of Spencer Gulf, South Australia, a multi-million dollar aquaculture industry based on the ranching of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) contributes significantly to the regional economy. The interaction between aquaculture activities and the environment is of significant interest to industry stakeholders, management authorities and the broader science community. No studies, to the best of my knowledge, have investigated the relationships between the hydrodynamics and biogeochemistry of the system and the ability of the benthic ecosystem to deal with the increased loads of organic material from aquaculture activities. This thesis uses a multi-disciplinary approach combined with modern statistical techniques to explore the linkages between hydrodynamics, sediment geochemistry, sedimentary nutrient cycling and the aquaculture industry. Modelling results have identified that swell entering the mouth of Spencer Gulf from directly south causes the greatest swell heights in the central tuna farming zone. Winds from the north-east through to south-east generate the greatest wind-wave heights in the central tuna farming zone. This is directly related to the available fetch. The energy contained in the locally generated wind waves was the same order of magnitude as that of the dissipated oceanic swells. Yet the incoming swell poses the greatest risk to aquaculture activities as the increased wave length causes swell energy to penetrate to the seafloor. The results of this work suggest that the sediment geochemistry is tightly coupled to both the hydrodynamic regime and the buildup of silt originating from aquaculture activities. In the more exposed regions of the tuna farming zone, periodic resuspension events caused by swell propagating into the area from the Southern Ocean, resuspend fine unconsolidated sediments into the lower 10 m of the water column. This material is then advected through the region by the residual (low-frequency) currents until it settles out in areas of lower energy. This process has created two distinct provinces within the region that can either be classified as depositional or erosional. The combined effect of wave action and tidal currents have generated a heterogeneous distribution of biogeochemical properties within the sediments. Denitrification rates were measured in these heterogeneous sediments using a novel technique based on Bayesian statistics to explicitly account for the spatial variability of the sediment biogeochemistry. The denitrification rates were found to be generally low, largely due to the lack of organic matter entering the sediments. However, adjacent to aquaculture activities, the high organic loads stimulate sedimentary denitrification, with rates reaching values of up to three orders of magnitude greater than the control sites. Denitrification efficiencies were high adjacent to the aquaculture activities, with up to 95% of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen produced from the breakdown of organic matter in the sediments being removed. Variability in the denitrification efficiencies was related to the textural characteristics of the sediments, with high efficiencies in finer sediments. It is proposed that this is due to the lower permeability of these sediments restricting the advective exchange of porewater nutrients.

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Saugata Datta / Elevated levels of dissolved arsenic (As), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are seen in the shallow, anoxic groundwaters of southeast Bangladesh on the Ganges- Brahmaputra- Meghna River delta. Over the past decade the mechanisms of As release have been widely debated. It is understood that As can sorb onto Fe-bearing minerals and can be subsequently released when reactions, such as microbially driven processes, occur. This study takes a multi disciplinary approach to understand the extent of the natural reactive barrier along the Meghna River and to evaluate the role of the natural reactive barrier in As sequestration and release in groundwater aquifers. River water and groundwater interactions occur in the hyporheic zone, which is defined as the transient subsurface region where river water and groundwater mix. The natural reactive barrier can develop within the hyporheic zone, where Fe-bearing minerals accumulate with a potential for As sorption, along with reworking and re-deposition of sediments along the riverbank. Shallow sediment cores, and groundwater and river water samples were collected from the east and west banks of the Meghna River in Jan. 2016. Groundwater and river water samples were tested for total dissolved Fe, Mn, and As concentrations; δ₂H, δ₁₈O isotopic ratios. Fluorescence spectroscopic characterization of groundwater organic matter provided insight into the hydro-geochemical reactions active in the groundwater and the hyporheic zone. Eight sediment cores of ~1.5 m depth were collected ~10 m away from the edge of the river. Vertical solid-phase concentration profiles of Fe, Mn, and As were measured by four different methods (hand-held XRF, and ICP-OES analysis of 3 digestions: aquaregia (HNO₃: HCl 1:3), 1.2 M HCl, and 1 M NaH₂PO₄ + 1 M L-ascorbic acid extractions). Enrichment of solid phase Fe, Mn, and As and the presence of possible Fe and Mn oxides in the sediments illustrate the existence of an natural reactive barrier at this reach of the Meghna. HCl extractions of sediment revealed solid-phase As accumulation along the west riverbank reaching concentrations of ~1500 mg/kg. Aqueous geochemical results showed the highest dissolved As concentrations in shallow wells (<30 m depth), where organic matter was fresh, humic-like, and aromatic. Humic-like dissolved organic matter present in the groundwater may enhance Fe oxide dissolution. Microbial reduction of organic matter prompts the reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺, causing As to mobilize into groundwater. This study quantified the extent of As accumulation in the sediments along a 1 km stretch of the Meghna River. These findings contribute to the understanding of geochemical processes involved in As release into groundwaters from sediments within a fluvial deltaic environment.

Over the last decades, fast urban sprawl and accelerated land use change have drastically increased the pressure on water resources of the capital Brasília and its surrounding area. The water supply of the metropolitan region of Brasília depends largely on surface water collected in reservoirs. There are increasing concerns regarding water shortages due to sediment aggradations, and of water quality due to geochemical modification of sediments from human activities. The complexity of various socio-environmental problems, such as non-point source pollution, soil erosion or silting of water reservoirs within urban catchments evoked the need for more effective and sustainable strategies to use land and water resources. Accurate identification and management of sediment source areas, however, is hampered by the lack of reliable information on the primary sources of sediment and on sediment geochemistry. The fingerprinting approach and a multivariate mixing model have been proven to be a valuable sediment source tracing technique across the globe and for various environmental settings. A multi-component methodology, including geochemical and geophysical analyses of representative sediment source and alluvial sediment samples, statistical analyses and a multivariate mixing model, was utilized to obtain the impact of different anthropogenic activities on sediment and water quality and to identify the major sources of sediments within the Lago Paranoá catchment. However, sediment source appointment and geochemical signatures of sediments in urbanized tropical regions, such as the Lago Paranoá catchment in the DF, are hampered by severe challenges; (i) the presence of various types of land use and heavy urbanized areas, (ii) large differences between sub-catchments and (iii) model structural failures in representing the sediment source contribution within urban tropical river basins. The present cumulative thesis addresses the challenges in geochemical analyses of different types of source and alluvial sediments, and in sediment source appointment for the Lago Paranoá catchment and it´s five sub-catchments. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of chemical elements and geochemical/physical properties of potential sediment sources in the Lago Paranoá catchment. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to investigate the influence of different land use types on the geochemistry of sediments. Geochemical fingerprints of anthropogenic activities were developed based on the results of the cluster analysis grouping. The anthropogenic input of land use specific geochemical elements was examined and quantified by the calculation of enrichment factors using the local geological background as reference. The existing findings suggest a strong relationship between land use and quantifiable features of sediment geochemistry, and identified the combined effects of specific anthropogenic activities and metal enrichment in source and alluvial sediments. Through comparison of the geochemical signature of potential sediment sources and alluvial sediments of the Lago Paranoá and sub-catchments, the relative contribution of land use specific sediment sources to the sediment deposition of the main water reservoir were estimated. This assessment indicated that urban land use had the greatest responsibility for recent silting in the Lago Paranoá. In fact, one of the most challenging issues within the scope of IWRM is to quantify the contribution of sediment sources within fast urbanizing, mixed used, tropical catchments. Therefore, statistically verified composite fingerprints and a modified multivariate mixing model have been used to identify the main land use specific sources of sediment deposited in the silting zones of the Lago Paranoá, Central Brazil. Because of the great variability of urban land use types within the Lago Paranoá sub-catchments, the fingerprinting approach was additionally undertaking for the Riacho Fundo sub-catchment. This sediment source tracing technique provides valuable information on the response of the main sediment sources in a fast growing agglomeration with respect to specific land uses and human activities and allowed to examine the uncertainty in model prediction. The main contributions from individual source types (i.e. surface materials from residential areas, constructions sites, road deposited sediment, cultivated areas, pasture, farm tracks, woodland and natural gullies) varied between the whole catchment and the Riacho Fundo sub-catchment, reflecting the different proportions of land uses. The sediments deposited in the silting zones of the Lago Paranoá originate largely from urban sources (85±4%). Areas with (semi-) natural vegetation and natural gullies contribute 10±2% of the sediment yield. Agricultural sites have only a minor sediment contribution of about 5±4 % within the whole catchment. However, there is no mechanism considered to reflect seasonality in the tropics, e.g. phenological change of the vegetation between wet and dry season, or and temporal changes in land use, e.g. construction sites, which influence model estimates. Nevertheless, the study reveals that even 58 % of the land remains in (semi-) natural state, the main sediment source are urban areas. Beside the analyses of sediments, it was found that metal concentrations in surface water of the main tributaries to the Lago Paranoá are generally low, but show seasonal variability. Terrestrial inputs of metals occur during the rainy season and depend largely on the influence of urban land use. The present thesis shows the great influence of anthropogenic activities on sediment generation, and at least to some degree, on sediment associated pollution loads. It depicts region specific challenges, but also provides essential information to guide management responses towards more effective sediment source-reduction strategies.:Contents Declaration of the candidate i Acknowledgements iii Abstract v Zusammenfassung vii Contents ix List of Figures xi List of Tables xiii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Sediments in urbanized river basins: impact of land use changes on sediment dynamic and geochemistry 1 1.2 Sources of sediments and associated contaminants within urbanized catchments 4 1.3 Sediment issues in the tropics 6 1.4 Research area 10 2 Objectives and research questions 16 2.1 Sediment geochemistry and sediment sources 16 2.2 Sediment associated “metal” loads and water quality 18 2.3 List of publications 19 3 Material and Methods 20 4 Geochemical signature and properties of sediment sources and alluvial sediments within the Lago Paranoá catchment, Brasília DF: a study on anthropogenic introduced chemical elements in an urban river basin 22 5 Assessment and evaluation of metal contents in sediment and water samples within an urban watershed – an analysis of anthropogenic impacts on sediment and water quality in Central Brazil 45 6 Sediments in urban river basins: Identification of sediment sources within the Lago Paranoá catchment, Brasília DF, Brazil - using the fingerprint approach 73 7 Summarizing discussion and conclusion 95 7.1 Sediment properties and geochemistry 95 7.2 Relationship between urban land use and metal concentrations in surface water samples 98 7.3 Sediment source identification 99 7.3.1 Sediment source discrimination 99 7.3.2 Sediment source appointment 101 7.4 Future research questions and tasks 103 References 106 / Im Gebiet des Bundesdistrikts Brasilien ist ein erheblicher Druck auf die Wasserressourcen zu beobachten, der vorwiegend durch starkes Bevölkerungswachstum, ungeplante Suburbanisierung und Landnutzungsänderungen innerhalb der letzten Jahrzehnte ausgeübt wird. Die Wasserversorgung der jungen Hauptstadt Brasília und seiner suburbanen Räume wird im Wesentlichen durch in Stauseen gesammeltes Oberflächenwasser gewährleistet. Durch die voranschreitende Ausdehnung von urbanen und landwirtschaftlichen Flächen spielen insbesondere Sedimenteinträge in die Stauanlagen sowie sedimentgebundene Stoffbelastungen durch anthropogene Aktivitäten für die verfügbare Wasserquantität und Wasserqualität eine bedeutende Rolle. Damit verbundene negative Umweltauswirkungen sowie die daraus resultierenden sozioökonomische Konsequenzen erfordern daher dringend wirksame und nachhaltige Strategien im Land-und Wasserressourcenmanagement. Eine deutliche Minimierung der Sedimenteinträge und Stoffbelastungen in das Gewässernetz ist jedoch nur mit Kenntnis der Primärquellen von Sedimenten und der Sedimentgeochemie zu erreichen. Der "Fingerprinting"-Ansatz und der Einsatz eines "Multivariate Mixing-Modell", sind geeignete Werkzeuge um den Einfluss anthropogener Eingriffe in das landschaftsökologische Prozessgefüge der Sedimentgenerierung zu klären. Die vorliegende kumulative Dissertation zeigt dies anhand der Anwendung einer Multikomponenten-Methodik. Diese beinhaltet sowohl geochemische und geophysikalische Analysen repräsentativer Sedimentproben der Sedimentquellen und der finalen Senken (Auenbereiche und Bereiche der Zuflüsse zum Lago Paranoá) als auch umfassende statistische Analysen sowie die Anwendung eines modifizierten "Multivariate Mixing-Modells". Der Einsatzder "Fingerprinting" Methodik in urbanen Einzugsgebieten der wechselfeuchten Tropen, wie das des Lago Paranoá in Zentralbrasilien, ist jedoch mit erheblichen Herausforderungen verbunden. Das betrifft insbesondere die Heterogenität der Landnutzungstypen innerhalb einer Landnutzungsklasse (urban, landwirtschaftlich, semi-natürlich) und die Unterschiede der Landnutzungsanteile zwischen den einzelnen Teileinzugsgebieten als auch modelstruktureller Unzulänglichkeiten bei der Sedimentherkunftsberechnung für urbane Einzugsgebiete. Eine Hauptkomponentenanalyse und hierarchische Clusteranalyse wurden verwendet, um den Einfluss der verschiedenen Landnutzungstypen auf der Geochemie der Sedimente zu untersuchen. Geochemische Fingerprints verschiedener anthropogener Aktivitäten wurden auf der Grundlage der Ergebnisse der Clusteranalyse ("grouping") entwickelt. Die Berechnung von Anreicherungsfaktoren ("Enrichmentfactors") auf Basis der gemessenen Elementgehalte, mit dem lokalen geologischen Hintergrundwerten als Referenz, ermöglichte die Quantifizierung des Einflusses der verschiedenen Landnutzungen auf die Metalleinträge in die Sedimente. Die vorhandenen Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass eine direkte Beziehung zwischen Landnutzung und quantifizierbarer Merkmale der Sedimentgeochemie existiert. Ein Vergleich der geochemischen Signatur von potentiellen Sedimentquellen und mit jenen der alluvialen Sedimente unterstützt die Hypothese, dass urbane Gebiete einen beachtlichen Beitrag zur Sedimentgenerierung und letztendlich zur Sedimentablagerung in den Auen- und Zuflussbereichen des Lago Paranoá leisten. Da diese relative Betrachtung von Elementzusammensetzungen der Sedimente keine quantitativen Aussagen zur Bedeutung der einzelnen Sedimentquellen zulässt, wurden statistisch verifizierte "composite fingerprints" und ein an urbane Bedingungen modifiziertes multivariate mixing-Modell (Hybrid) entwickelt und angewendet. Die Modellberechnungen erfolgten für das gesamte Einzugsgebiet des Lago Paranoá und separat für das Riacho Fundo Teileinzugsgebiet, welches Die angepassten Modellschätzungen zeigten, dass die in den Verlandungszonen des Lago Paranoá abgelagerten Sedimente weitgehend aus urbane Räumen (85 ± 4%) generiert wurden. Dahingegen stammen nur 10 ± 2% der Sedimente aus Gebieten mit (semi-) natürlicher Vegetation, obwohl 58 % der gesamten Einzugsgebietsfläche des Lago Paranoá stets (semi-) natürliche Verhältnisse aufweist. Landwirtschaftliche Gebiete haben generell nur einen geringen Anteil von etwa 5 ± 4% am Sedimenteintrag. Die Unterschiede in den Sedimentbeträgen sowohl zwischen den verschiedenen Sedimentquelltypen als auch zwischen den einzelnen Teileinzugsgebieten scheinen maßgeblich von den Flächennutzungsanteilen (urban, landwirtschaftlich, semi-natürlich) in dem jeweiligen Teileinzugsgebiet abhängig zu sein. Trotz umfassender Probennahme, Probenanalytik, Modellanpassung und Unsicherheitsanalyse sind die Ergebnisse nur für den Beprobungszeitraum, für die analysierte Stoffgruppe (organische Stoffeinträge sind im Rahmen dieser Dissertation nicht erfasst) und für die ausgewählten Lokalitäten repräsentativ. Zeitliche Einflussgrößen wie die Saisonalität in den Tropen oder Änderungen der Landnutzung, wie z.B. temporäre Baustellen, konnten mit den hier verwendeten Methoden nicht erfasst werden. Um die hohe räumliche und zeitliche Variabilität der Sedimentdynamik und eine deutliche Minimierung der Sedimenteinträge in das Gewässernetz zu erzielen, sind demnach die Einrichtung und der Betrieb eines langfristigen Monitoring-Netzwerkes für Sedimente im Einzugsgebiet des Lago Paranoá von hoher Priorität. Die vorliegende Dissertation bringt neue Einsichten in verschiedene wichtige Aspekte der geochemischen Beeinflussung von Sedimenten durch anthropogene Aktivitäten und liefert erstmalig quantitative Aussagen zu den Sedimentquellgebieten im Einzugsgebiet des Lago Paranoá. Sie stellt regionsspezifische Herausforderungen heraus, liefert gleichzeitig aber auch wichtige Informationen zu Sedimentbelastungen und -Einträgen und damit einen wichtigen Beitrag als Entscheidungsunterstützung im Rahmen eines Sedimentmanagementplans.:Contents Declaration of the candidate i Acknowledgements iii Abstract v Zusammenfassung vii Contents ix List of Figures xi List of Tables xiii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Sediments in urbanized river basins: impact of land use changes on sediment dynamic and geochemistry 1 1.2 Sources of sediments and associated contaminants within urbanized catchments 4 1.3 Sediment issues in the tropics 6 1.4 Research area 10 2 Objectives and research questions 16 2.1 Sediment geochemistry and sediment sources 16 2.2 Sediment associated “metal” loads and water quality 18 2.3 List of publications 19 3 Material and Methods 20 4 Geochemical signature and properties of sediment sources and alluvial sediments within the Lago Paranoá catchment, Brasília DF: a study on anthropogenic introduced chemical elements in an urban river basin 22 5 Assessment and evaluation of metal contents in sediment and water samples within an urban watershed – an analysis of anthropogenic impacts on sediment and water quality in Central Brazil 45 6 Sediments in urban river basins: Identification of sediment sources within the Lago Paranoá catchment, Brasília DF, Brazil - using the fingerprint approach 73 7 Summarizing discussion and conclusion 95 7.1 Sediment properties and geochemistry 95 7.2 Relationship between urban land use and metal concentrations in surface water samples 98 7.3 Sediment source identification 99 7.3.1 Sediment source discrimination 99 7.3.2 Sediment source appointment 101 7.4 Future research questions and tasks 103 References 106

Over the last decades, fast urban sprawl and accelerated land use change have drastically increased the pressure on water resources of the capital Brasília and its surrounding area. The water supply of the metropolitan region of Brasília depends largely on surface water collected in reservoirs. There are increasing concerns regarding water shortages due to sediment aggradations, and of water quality due to geochemical modification of sediments from human activities. The complexity of various socio-environmental problems, such as non-point source pollution, soil erosion or silting of water reservoirs within urban catchments evoked the need for more effective and sustainable strategies to use land and water resources. Accurate identification and management of sediment source areas, however, is hampered by the lack of reliable information on the primary sources of sediment and on sediment geochemistry. The fingerprinting approach and a multivariate mixing model have been proven to be a valuable sediment source tracing technique across the globe and for various environmental settings. A multi-component methodology, including geochemical and geophysical analyses of representative sediment source and alluvial sediment samples, statistical analyses and a multivariate mixing model, was utilized to obtain the impact of different anthropogenic activities on sediment and water quality and to identify the major sources of sediments within the Lago Paranoá catchment. However, sediment source appointment and geochemical signatures of sediments in urbanized tropical regions, such as the Lago Paranoá catchment in the DF, are hampered by severe challenges; (i) the presence of various types of land use and heavy urbanized areas, (ii) large differences between sub-catchments and (iii) model structural failures in representing the sediment source contribution within urban tropical river basins. The present cumulative thesis addresses the challenges in geochemical analyses of different types of source and alluvial sediments, and in sediment source appointment for the Lago Paranoá catchment and it´s five sub-catchments. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of chemical elements and geochemical/physical properties of potential sediment sources in the Lago Paranoá catchment. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to investigate the influence of different land use types on the geochemistry of sediments. Geochemical fingerprints of anthropogenic activities were developed based on the results of the cluster analysis grouping. The anthropogenic input of land use specific geochemical elements was examined and quantified by the calculation of enrichment factors using the local geological background as reference. The existing findings suggest a strong relationship between land use and quantifiable features of sediment geochemistry, and identified the combined effects of specific anthropogenic activities and metal enrichment in source and alluvial sediments. Through comparison of the geochemical signature of potential sediment sources and alluvial sediments of the Lago Paranoá and sub-catchments, the relative contribution of land use specific sediment sources to the sediment deposition of the main water reservoir were estimated. This assessment indicated that urban land use had the greatest responsibility for recent silting in the Lago Paranoá. In fact, one of the most challenging issues within the scope of IWRM is to quantify the contribution of sediment sources within fast urbanizing, mixed used, tropical catchments. Therefore, statistically verified composite fingerprints and a modified multivariate mixing model have been used to identify the main land use specific sources of sediment deposited in the silting zones of the Lago Paranoá, Central Brazil. Because of the great variability of urban land use types within the Lago Paranoá sub-catchments, the fingerprinting approach was additionally undertaking for the Riacho Fundo sub-catchment. This sediment source tracing technique provides valuable information on the response of the main sediment sources in a fast growing agglomeration with respect to specific land uses and human activities and allowed to examine the uncertainty in model prediction. The main contributions from individual source types (i.e. surface materials from residential areas, constructions sites, road deposited sediment, cultivated areas, pasture, farm tracks, woodland and natural gullies) varied between the whole catchment and the Riacho Fundo sub-catchment, reflecting the different proportions of land uses. The sediments deposited in the silting zones of the Lago Paranoá originate largely from urban sources (85±4%). Areas with (semi-) natural vegetation and natural gullies contribute 10±2% of the sediment yield. Agricultural sites have only a minor sediment contribution of about 5±4 % within the whole catchment. However, there is no mechanism considered to reflect seasonality in the tropics, e.g. phenological change of the vegetation between wet and dry season, or and temporal changes in land use, e.g. construction sites, which influence model estimates. Nevertheless, the study reveals that even 58 % of the land remains in (semi-) natural state, the main sediment source are urban areas. Beside the analyses of sediments, it was found that metal concentrations in surface water of the main tributaries to the Lago Paranoá are generally low, but show seasonal variability. Terrestrial inputs of metals occur during the rainy season and depend largely on the influence of urban land use. The present thesis shows the great influence of anthropogenic activities on sediment generation, and at least to some degree, on sediment associated pollution loads. It depicts region specific challenges, but also provides essential information to guide management responses towards more effective sediment source-reduction strategies. / Im Gebiet des Bundesdistrikts Brasilien ist ein erheblicher Druck auf die Wasserressourcen zu beobachten, der vorwiegend durch starkes Bevölkerungswachstum, ungeplante Suburbanisierung und Landnutzungsänderungen innerhalb der letzten Jahrzehnte ausgeübt wird. Die Wasserversorgung der jungen Hauptstadt Brasília und seiner suburbanen Räume wird im Wesentlichen durch in Stauseen gesammeltes Oberflächenwasser gewährleistet. Durch die voranschreitende Ausdehnung von urbanen und landwirtschaftlichen Flächen spielen insbesondere Sedimenteinträge in die Stauanlagen sowie sedimentgebundene Stoffbelastungen durch anthropogene Aktivitäten für die verfügbare Wasserquantität und Wasserqualität eine bedeutende Rolle. Damit verbundene negative Umweltauswirkungen sowie die daraus resultierenden sozioökonomische Konsequenzen erfordern daher dringend wirksame und nachhaltige Strategien im Land-und Wasserressourcenmanagement. Eine deutliche Minimierung der Sedimenteinträge und Stoffbelastungen in das Gewässernetz ist jedoch nur mit Kenntnis der Primärquellen von Sedimenten und der Sedimentgeochemie zu erreichen. Der "Fingerprinting"-Ansatz und der Einsatz eines "Multivariate Mixing-Modell", sind geeignete Werkzeuge um den Einfluss anthropogener Eingriffe in das landschaftsökologische Prozessgefüge der Sedimentgenerierung zu klären. Die vorliegende kumulative Dissertation zeigt dies anhand der Anwendung einer Multikomponenten-Methodik. Diese beinhaltet sowohl geochemische und geophysikalische Analysen repräsentativer Sedimentproben der Sedimentquellen und der finalen Senken (Auenbereiche und Bereiche der Zuflüsse zum Lago Paranoá) als auch umfassende statistische Analysen sowie die Anwendung eines modifizierten "Multivariate Mixing-Modells". Der Einsatzder "Fingerprinting" Methodik in urbanen Einzugsgebieten der wechselfeuchten Tropen, wie das des Lago Paranoá in Zentralbrasilien, ist jedoch mit erheblichen Herausforderungen verbunden. Das betrifft insbesondere die Heterogenität der Landnutzungstypen innerhalb einer Landnutzungsklasse (urban, landwirtschaftlich, semi-natürlich) und die Unterschiede der Landnutzungsanteile zwischen den einzelnen Teileinzugsgebieten als auch modelstruktureller Unzulänglichkeiten bei der Sedimentherkunftsberechnung für urbane Einzugsgebiete. Eine Hauptkomponentenanalyse und hierarchische Clusteranalyse wurden verwendet, um den Einfluss der verschiedenen Landnutzungstypen auf der Geochemie der Sedimente zu untersuchen. Geochemische Fingerprints verschiedener anthropogener Aktivitäten wurden auf der Grundlage der Ergebnisse der Clusteranalyse ("grouping") entwickelt. Die Berechnung von Anreicherungsfaktoren ("Enrichmentfactors") auf Basis der gemessenen Elementgehalte, mit dem lokalen geologischen Hintergrundwerten als Referenz, ermöglichte die Quantifizierung des Einflusses der verschiedenen Landnutzungen auf die Metalleinträge in die Sedimente. Die vorhandenen Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass eine direkte Beziehung zwischen Landnutzung und quantifizierbarer Merkmale der Sedimentgeochemie existiert. Ein Vergleich der geochemischen Signatur von potentiellen Sedimentquellen und mit jenen der alluvialen Sedimente unterstützt die Hypothese, dass urbane Gebiete einen beachtlichen Beitrag zur Sedimentgenerierung und letztendlich zur Sedimentablagerung in den Auen- und Zuflussbereichen des Lago Paranoá leisten. Da diese relative Betrachtung von Elementzusammensetzungen der Sedimente keine quantitativen Aussagen zur Bedeutung der einzelnen Sedimentquellen zulässt, wurden statistisch verifizierte "composite fingerprints" und ein an urbane Bedingungen modifiziertes multivariate mixing-Modell (Hybrid) entwickelt und angewendet. Die Modellberechnungen erfolgten für das gesamte Einzugsgebiet des Lago Paranoá und separat für das Riacho Fundo Teileinzugsgebiet, welches Die angepassten Modellschätzungen zeigten, dass die in den Verlandungszonen des Lago Paranoá abgelagerten Sedimente weitgehend aus urbane Räumen (85 ± 4%) generiert wurden. Dahingegen stammen nur 10 ± 2% der Sedimente aus Gebieten mit (semi-) natürlicher Vegetation, obwohl 58 % der gesamten Einzugsgebietsfläche des Lago Paranoá stets (semi-) natürliche Verhältnisse aufweist. Landwirtschaftliche Gebiete haben generell nur einen geringen Anteil von etwa 5 ± 4% am Sedimenteintrag. Die Unterschiede in den Sedimentbeträgen sowohl zwischen den verschiedenen Sedimentquelltypen als auch zwischen den einzelnen Teileinzugsgebieten scheinen maßgeblich von den Flächennutzungsanteilen (urban, landwirtschaftlich, semi-natürlich) in dem jeweiligen Teileinzugsgebiet abhängig zu sein. Trotz umfassender Probennahme, Probenanalytik, Modellanpassung und Unsicherheitsanalyse sind die Ergebnisse nur für den Beprobungszeitraum, für die analysierte Stoffgruppe (organische Stoffeinträge sind im Rahmen dieser Dissertation nicht erfasst) und für die ausgewählten Lokalitäten repräsentativ. Zeitliche Einflussgrößen wie die Saisonalität in den Tropen oder Änderungen der Landnutzung, wie z.B. temporäre Baustellen, konnten mit den hier verwendeten Methoden nicht erfasst werden. Um die hohe räumliche und zeitliche Variabilität der Sedimentdynamik und eine deutliche Minimierung der Sedimenteinträge in das Gewässernetz zu erzielen, sind demnach die Einrichtung und der Betrieb eines langfristigen Monitoring-Netzwerkes für Sedimente im Einzugsgebiet des Lago Paranoá von hoher Priorität. Die vorliegende Dissertation bringt neue Einsichten in verschiedene wichtige Aspekte der geochemischen Beeinflussung von Sedimenten durch anthropogene Aktivitäten und liefert erstmalig quantitative Aussagen zu den Sedimentquellgebieten im Einzugsgebiet des Lago Paranoá. Sie stellt regionsspezifische Herausforderungen heraus, liefert gleichzeitig aber auch wichtige Informationen zu Sedimentbelastungen und -Einträgen und damit einen wichtigen Beitrag als Entscheidungsunterstützung im Rahmen eines Sedimentmanagementplans.

Multiple proxies derived from the Lake Loitsana sediment sequence (NE Finland) are employed to determine the timing of deglaciation, characterise an early Holocene proglacial lake stage and reconstruct Holocene lake development. Local-scale processes causing shifts in biological assemblages are identified and the most likely Holocene mean July air temperature (Tjul) development is assessed. The study area was deglaciated shortly prior to 10 700 cal. a BP. The sediment record reflects four local events; the presence of a glacial lake, glacial lake drainage and formation of Lake Loitsana, changes in fluvial input due to progressive wetland expansion, and gradual lake infilling. The results suggest that local events have driven changes in biological assemblages through various processes, and that biotic proxies reflect changes in environmental parameters in a highly individual manner. Furthermore, biological assemblages can themselves act as important drivers, influencing the composition of other assemblages. It is suggested that future studies should consider macrophyte abundance and food-web interactions as equally important factors when assessing changes in biological assemblages. Quantitative Tjul reconstructions based on biotic proxies display contrasting trends. While Tjul reconstructions based on pollen found in the Loitsana sequence display relatively low early Holocene values, plant macrofossil and chironomid data reflect warm summer conditions also during the early Holocene, i.e. at the peak of summer insolation. The early Holocene Tjul recorded by terrestrial pollen are affected by local factors possibly combined with a delayed response of the terrestrial ecosystem compared to the aquatic one. This study emphasises the importance of using multiple proxies in palaeoenvironmental studies and shows that local factors have a potential to drive changes in biological assemblages that can affect transfer-function based temperature reconstructions. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Epub ahead of print. Paper 2: Accepted. Paper 3: Manuscript.</p>