Sedimentary and Palynological Indicators of Holocene Paleoenvironment in Okak Bay, Labrador

Sediment cores obtained from Okak Bay, Labrador have been examined to determine how terrestrial and marine conditions have changed throughout the Holocene, and to evaluate if anthropogenically induced environmental change is discernable in sedimentary proxy records in the Labrador Sea region of the North Atlantic. Cores have been analyzed for ¹⁴C, ²¹⁰Pb, and ¹³⁷Cs geochronology, magnetic susceptibility, sediment density, grain size, XRF, and pollen concentrations. To date, observations suggest a trend towards increasing terrestrial sediment input to the Bay throughout the latest Holocene, with fluctuations towards higher magnetic susceptibility values over the last 5000 years. Relatively stable density and grain size values show that the style of sediment delivery has changed very little throughout the Holocene. Preliminary pollen data indicate a possible vegetation shift in the region, as conifer genera are more prevalent at the top of the core, and Alnus sp. dominates at the base of the core. This higher influx of tree pollen may be indicative of late Holocene warming and more favorable conditions to support forest growth. Sphagnum moss appears to show a drier period during the mid-Holocene, with increasing wetness in the late-Holocene to present day.