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A Probabilistic Study of Major Hydrological Events Recorded in the Saguenay Fjord and Lower Estuary of St. Lawrence (2001)

Due to these locations' very high sedimentation rates, the project was able to provide a unique data set that can be used to identify major hydrological and climate events over the past millennia. Cores from the International Marine Global Studies (IMAGES) program of July 1999 were examined to reconstruct a time series of climate/hydrological events over the last six millennia, with decadal resolution.

A Probabilistic Study of Major Hydrological Events Recorded in the Saguenay Fjord and Lower Estuary of St. Lawrence. The Saguenay Fjord and the lower estuary of the St. Lawrence, because of their very high sedimentation rates, are able to provide a unique data set that can be used to identify major hydrological and climate events over the past millennia. Cores from the International Marine Global Studies (IMAGES) program of July 1999 were examined to reconstruct a time series of climate/hydrological events over the last six millennia, with decadal resolution. The time-series was then analysed relative to the occurrence of extreme events, and for natural variations or other forcing (landslides, earthquakes) of these events, and anthropogenic effects (deforestation, paper mills). 210Pb measurements were used for a chronology of the last 100 years, 14C for the 1000 year chronology, and grain size analysis to distinguish flooding and earthquake events.

The sediment core analysis with respect to variability, trends and extreme events was very successful. Exceptional events (floods) have been documented in the Saguenay Fjord core. Additional research (already underway through thesis work) needs to be undertaken to define the frequency of hydrological and seismic events. Trends recorded in the lower Estuary identify increases in anthropogenic fluxes and decreases in salinity (indicator of precipitation variations in the drainage basin). While oscillations have been identified in the surface waters, these observations need to be extended to bottom water measurements. Additional analysis needs to be undertaken to better understand the nature of the climate and hydrological variability that can be identified in this very important sediment record.

Information dated October 25th, 2001 and found here

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