<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
A series of laboratory experiments was performed to determine the carbon stable isotopic composition of different combustion/pyrolysis (B/P) products. Variation in the δ13C values of the products was observed, up to 4‰. The differences in the carbon isotopic compositions of the B/P products were dependent on temperature, time and wood type. Comparison of the results for fresh and fossil oak wood suggested that the δ13C differences were the effect of selective decomposition of some wood components during the fossilization process. The temperature dependence of the carbon isotopic composition was linked to variation in the carbon isotopic composition of the main wood components, which each had different levels of thermal stability. Isotopes exchange reactions in between different products can be also considered as possible source of variation of δ13C on temperature. Both these hypotheses were supported by molecular simulations of cellulose and lignin B/P. The results confirm that B/P should be treated as a continuous process, where the results depend on the degree of process development. Natural burning processes are dynamic and burning conditions change rapidly and it is necessary to take care when using combustion products as a paleoenvironmental proxy or as an isotopic characteristic for the identification of source material.</abstract>

Carbon isotopes in wood combustion/pyrolysis products: experimental and molecular simulation approaches

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Deposition Rate of Lake Sediments Under Different Alternative Stable States</title>Sediments of five shallow lakes in Polesie Lubelskie region (Eastern Poland), representing a wide range of nutrient concentration, were dated by Pb-210 method and reliable age-depth models were constructed. These models were a base for studies of relationship between status of lake biocenoses and rate of sedimentation in the lakes.The sedimentation rate does not depend on ecological status of studied lakes. The highest mean sedimentation rate was found in phytoplankton-dominated (Lake Syczyńskie) and phytoplankton-macrophyte-dominated (Lake Sumin) lakes. Macrophyte-dominated lakes represented intermediate values of deposition rate. Lake depth, area and hydrology are more important factors controlling sedimentation rate. The sedimentation rate was rather stable or changed over the time, depending on human management in the lakes' drainage basins.</abstract>

Deposition Rate of Lake Sediments Under Different Alternative Stable States

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The determination of gamma dose rates is of prior importance in the field of luminescence dating methods. In situ measurements are usually performed by the insertion of dosimeters or a portable gamma spectrometer cell in sediments. In this paper, Monte-Carlo simulations using the Geant4 toolkit allow the development of a new technique of insitu gamma dose rate evaluations: a spectrometer cell is placed on the surface of sediments under excavation to acquire successive spectra as sediments are removed by excavations. The principle of this non-invasive technique is outlined and its potential is discussed, especially in the case of environments in which radioelements are heterogeneously distributed. For such cases, a simple method to reconstruct gamma dose rate values with surface measurements using an attenuator is discussed, and an estimation of errors is given for two simple cases. This technique appears to be applicable, but still needs experimental validation.</abstract>

Field gamma spectrometry, Monte Carlo simulations and potential of non-invasive measurements

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Chronology of Cauvery Delta Sediments from Shallow Subsurface Cores Using Elevated-Temperature Post-IR IRSL Dating of Feldspar</title>We present the results of luminescence dating of sediments from two cores from the Cauvery Delta in south-east India. Since all natural quartz OSL signals except one sample were in saturation, the elevated temperature post-IR IRSL protocol for K-feldspar was applied to establish a chronology. Internal dose rates of K-feldspar grains were calculated from the measured internal content of potassium, uranium, thorium and rubidium in the bulk of K-feldspar grains using solution ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis. A substantial scatter in single-aliquot <italic>De</italic> values was observed which is most probably due to the effect of incomplete bleaching of fluvial sediments before burial. A minimum age model was applied to extract possible depositional ages. The study revealed that except an upper layer of Holocene sediments (&lt; 5m), the majority of the upper ~50m of Cauvery delta sediments were deposited between marine isotope stage MIS-5 and MIS-10 or older. The feldspar luminescence ages also indicate the existence of a period of non deposition or erosion in the upper part of the cores.</abstract>

Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG), Section S3: Geochronology and Isotope Hydrology, Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany

Department of Earth Sciences, School of Physical Chemical and Applied Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry - 605 014, India

Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, India

Chronology of Cauvery Delta Sediments from Shallow Subsurface Cores Using Elevated-Temperature Post-IR IRSL Dating of Feldspar

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Chronology of the Last Deglaciation in the Southeastern Baltic Region on the Basis of Recent OSL Dates</title>The study of the deglaciation chronology in the south-eastern Baltic Region belonging to the outer zone of the last Pleistocene glaciation has a long history. The Finnish investigator H. Hausen (1913) who worked in the north-western portion of the East-European Plain at the beginning of the 20th century was the first to attempt a reconstruction of the course of glacial retreat during the last glaciation. At that time investigators had no physical dating methods and the time scale based on varvometric method, introduced by the Swedish geologist G. de Geer (1912) who divided the deglaciation history of Scandinavia into Daniglacial, Gotiglacial and Finiglacial, each of which had different palaeoglaciological conditions. During last decades different dating methods, including 14C, ESR, luminescence methods and 10Be techniques have been used, but they could not help essentially improve the existing stratigraphical charts and many problems of topical interest in the history of deglaciation have not been solved yet. During last years the first two authors have studied the suitability of OSL method for the geochronological purposes, paying the most attention to the waterlaid sediments. In the first step they have found the most promising genetical varieties of glaciofluvial sediments (glaciofluvial deltas and sandurs) and in this paper they widened the study area to all three Baltic states with close cooperation with Latvian and Lithuanian colleagues. The obtained results demonstrated, that not all mineral grains in the uppermost glaciofluvial and glaciolacustrine sediments were fully bleached during the last deglaciation. Probably the older sediments also influenced to the luminescence results. It means, that stratigraphic conclusions based on single dates or their small sets are inadmissible and in each case luminiscence dating requires a verification using other methods.</abstract>

Iinstitute of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia

Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Makow Polnych 16, 61-606 Poznan, Poland

Department of Geomorphology and Geomatics, University of Latvia, Rainis Blvd. 19, LV 1586 Riga, Latvia

Institute of Geology and Geography, T. Shevcenkos 13, 03223 Vilnius, Lithuania

Chronology of the Last Deglaciation in the Southeastern Baltic Region on the Basis of Recent OSL Dates

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>In this paper, a detailed overview of the Holocene evolution of the North Dvina river (ND) delta (southern White Sea) is presented; it is based on radiocarbon dating, geomorphological and other field surveys, and plant macrofossil and palynological data. We have identified three main stages of the delta evolution: estuary erosional (Allerød — 5700 cal BC), lagoon or tidal-marsh (5700 cal BC — 3700 cal BC) and fan-delta accumulative (3700 cal BC — present). These stages are correlated with local climatic curves, sea level changes, glacioisostatic raise curve and Baltic Sea stages. A variety of landforms has been identified and dated within the delta. These results help to explain the spatial and temporal patterns in the prehistoric human occupation of this area.</abstract>

Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky per., 7, Moscow, 119017, Russia

Geography Faculty, Moscow State University n.a. M.V. Lomonosov, Vorobiovy Gory, Moscow, 119992, Russia

The North Dvina river delta development over the Holocene: Geochronology and palaeoenvironment

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The article presents the results of a collective analysis of 181 radiocarbon and 38 luminescence dating results from the time range 50–11.7 cal kBP for samples originating in fluvial sedimentary environment in Łódź region (central Poland), south of the last glacial maximum (LGM) line. Four sites were selected for a general of fluvial deposits and the obtained dating results Struga Żłobnicka, Parchliny, Warenka, and Swędów regions. Based on the summed probability density function (PDF) curves, the study demonstrates the response of the fluvial sedimentary environment to events of overregional scale. The collective analysis of the radiocarbon age determinations from the Łódź region allows for observing the correlation between local environmental changes and large-scale changes recorded in the NGRIP core. The warming periods Greenland interstadials (GI)-3, GI-4, and GI-5.1, the cooling event GI-1b within the warming GI-1, as well as the transition between GI-1a and Greenland stadials (GS)-1, were most prominently recorded in the PDF curves. The collective analysis of the luminescence age determinations reflects a change in the river valleys, expressed by a strong aggradation during the cold maximum of the studied period.
</abstract>

Impacts of Large-Scale Climate Oscillations on Fluvial Sediments in Central Poland: Evidence from Geochronological Analysis

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This article aims to compare the molar fraction of atmospheric CO2 measured in southern Poland, specifically in Gliwice (an urban area), Kraków (an urban area), and Kasprowy Wierch (a mountain environment) from August 2022 to March 2023. The study examines diurnal, monthly and seasonal variations in the molar fraction of CO2. Monthly and diurnal average CO2 air mole fraction data are reported for Gliwice, Kraków, and Kasprowy Wierch during the specified period. The results reveal greater fluctuations in CO2 amplitude in urban areas compared to the mountain environment. Significant differences in diurnal, nocturnal, monthly and seasonal variabilities of atmospheric CO2 are observed in the urban sites. The findings suggest that the biosphere may act as a dominant source of local CO2 in summer and fall, while other local or regional anthropogenic sources could impact CO2 levels during winter and early spring, prior to the vegetation period. Additionally, this paper discusses challenges encountered during the use of a low-cost system (CARBOCAP GMP-343) for measuring CO2 levels in the urban area of Gliwice in 2022.
</abstract>

Insights From the Last Year’s Atmospheric CO2 Measurements in the Urban Atmosphere and the Natural Ecosystem in Southern Poland

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Carbon black (CB) is produced through the incomplete combustion of biomass or thermal decomposition in an oxygen-deprived environment. Technical carbon black (TCB) primarily consists of elemental carbon and comes in various grades distinguished by surface area and nanostructure morphologies. However, TCB production raises sustainability concerns due to its reliance on non-renewable feedstock, significant CO2 emissions and high energy consumption. TCBs find extensive use as reinforcing fillers in the tire and rubber industries. Recent studies underscore the importance of eco-friendly alternatives. This research was carried out to monitor the renewability of the TCB samples by determining the 14C isotope concentration. Liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon techniques were employed for measuring the 14C isotope concentration, while isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) corrected standardised isotope fractionation correction. The investigation revealed that the examined TCB samples contain extremely low 14C concentrations, measuring &lt;1 per cent modern carbon (pMC). This finding raises concerns regarding potential environmental ramifications.
</abstract>

Technical Carbon Black and Green Technology

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
To examine the associations existing between elevation and tree growth, tree-ring width chronologies of Schrenk spruce (<italic>Picea schrenkiana</italic>) were developed from sampling sites at different elevations in the Wusun Mountain, Yili region, Xinjiang, northwest China. The radial growth of high-elevation trees was observed to be primarily influenced by meteorological factors in the non-growth season of the previous year. The radial growth of mid-elevation trees was mainly affected by temperature. The radial growth of low-elevation trees was mainly affected by both temperature and relative humidity. About climate change, the radial growth of Schrenk spruce at different elevations showed a non-uniform response to climate variables. Under the condition of intensified drought stress in the future, the forest ecosystem is likely to be greatly affected, and the radial growth of Schrenk spruce at low elevations will be especially inhibited.
</abstract>

Responses to Climate Factors in the Radial Growth of Schrenk Spruce (<italic>Picea Schrenkiana</italic>) in the Yili Region, Northwest China

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Sediments in Józefów were deposited in a small lake in the Eemian Interglacial and Early Vistulian (MIS 5). They were then covered by periglacial mineral sediments during the Upper Pleniglacial and the Late Vistulian (MIS 2). These sediments were deformed by gelifluction and thermokarst processes. There is no traces of deposition from MIS 4 and MIS 3. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating confirmed the age of the sediments and enabled the reconstruction of the deposition phases and deformation of the lake infilling.
</abstract>

Lithostratigraphy and Chronology of Vistulian Periglacial Deposits in Józefów (Central Poland) Based on Luminescence Dating

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This paper presents comprehensive investigations of the morphological, sedimentological, and stratigraphic features in the lower Prosna River valley infill, situated in west-central Poland. At the Rokutów site, we identified two meander generations and an anastomosing system. Fluvial changes observed depict the response of the extraglacial river system to climate fluctuations post-last glaciation. Following valley aggradation, scouring erosion, reaching depths of 9–10 m, likely occurred during the Bølling Interstadial. ‘Great meanders’ emerged during the Allerød-Younger Dryas, persisting for around 1000 years, with an uncommon upstream rotation influenced by the sub-Quaternary surface slope. A lengthy stabilization phase, lasting 8000–10,000 years, characterized by an anastomosing system with gradual aggradation, followed the great meandering period. About 3600–3900 years ago, the valley shifted back to a fluvial system with small meanders, lasting 600–900 years. Subsequently, the River Prosna reverted to an anastomosing system, remaining so until the 19th–20th centuries when it transformed into a single-channel system through regulatory manipulation. Our research suggests that the evolution of the Prosna River differed from other rivers across Western and Central Europe, exhibiting a blend of anastomosing and meandering phases.
</abstract>

Morphology, Sedimentology and OSL Chronology of the Lower Prosna River System Evolution – A Case Study in Rokutów, West-Central Poland

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Using a set of modern/young (0 to about 200 years old) dust samples collected from the Chinese Loess Plateau the bleachability of IRSL measured at 50°C (IR50) and post-IR50 elevated temperature IRSL (measured at 225°C and at 290°C) is investigated by measuring the apparent (residual) doses recorded by these signals. Doses recorded by quartz OSL are used as a reference. Allowing for differences in dose rates it seems that both IRSL and post-IR IRSL signals yield residual doses that are significantly larger than the doses measured in quartz. These residual doses can be largely explained by thermal transfer caused by preheating. Nevertheless, we advise against the use of a low temperature preheat (&lt;200°C) with IR50 to date loess samples because, as has been reported before, the signal appears to be thermally unstable. In general, we conclude that it may not be advisable to apply post-IR IRSL dating to Chinese loess samples where residuals of up to ∼20 Gy are a significant fraction of the total dose. However, these residuals quickly become unimportant when dating older samples, and this is the age range in which post-IR IRSL dating is likely to be most useful.</abstract>

Nordic Laboratory for Luminescence Dating, Department of Earth Sciences, Aarhus University, Risø DTU, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark

Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark

Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, S3: Geochronology and Isotope Hydrology, 30655, Hannover, Germany

Laboratory of Mineralogy and Petrology, Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium

School of Geographical and Oceanographical Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China

IRSL and post-IR IRSL residual doses recorded in modern dust samples from the Chinese Loess Plateau

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The newly developed lexsyg system by Freiberg Instruments is a versatile luminescence reader, suited for research on the luminescence of materials, fundamental research in luminescence dating, but also for routine mass measurements in retrospective dosimetry as well as in dating application. The 80 sample storage wheel is disconnected from the measurement chamber and therefore crosstalk of optical stimulation is absent and cross-irradiation is negligible from the α- and β-sources, which are providing very uniform irradiations, with the latter especially designed for radiofluores-cence (RF) measurement. Optical excitation sources and filter wheels to vary detection wavelengths can be programmed to change at almost any time within measurement sequences, including the auto-mated change of an optional wheel holding up to four different detectors. Thermoluminescence meas-urements and preheating are possible with a versatile heater, which can be programmed for linear or non-linear heating or cooling, as well as holding a temperature constant. Rates as well as durations can be varied, together with individual ramping, staging and cooling for an almost unlimited number of steps. Violet- and IR-lasers, green and blue LED-arrays can be operated in continuous (CW) or modulated mode (linear/non-linear), and optionally for pulsed as well as time resolved luminescence detection. Six arrays of power LEDs allow the simulation of different bleaching regimes (‘solar simu-lator’), while luminescence detection can be achieved by a variety of photomultiplier tubes and by CCD cameras for spatially resolved measurements and luminescence spectra.</abstract>

Freiberg Instruments GmbH, Delfterstr. 6, 09599, Freiberg, Germany

Geographisches Institut, LS Geomorphologie, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany

Lexsyg — A new system for luminescence research

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Quartz has been the main mineral used for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of sediments over the last decade. The quartz OSL signal, however, has been shown to saturate at relatively low doses of ∼200–400 Gy, making it difficult to be used for dating beyond about 200 thou-sand years (ka), unless the environmental dose rate is low. The infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) from feldspars has been shown to continue to grow to higher dose levels than quartz OSL. The application of IRSL dating of feldspars, however, has long been hampered by the anomalous fading effect. Recent progress in understanding anomalous fading of the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals in potassium-feldspar has led to the development of post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) protocols and also a multiple elevated temperature (MET) stimulation (MET-pIRIR) protocol. These procedures have raised the prospect of isolating a non-fading IRSL component for dating Quaternary deposits containing feldspars. In this study, we review the recent progress made on (1) overcoming anomalous fading of feldspar, and (2) the development of pIRIR dating techniques for feldspar. The potential and problems associated with these methods are discussed.</abstract>

Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

Review and assessment of the potential of post-IR IRSL dating methods to circumvent the problem of anomalous fading in feldspar luminescence

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The Holocene delivers a unique possibility to establish climatic stratigraphic boundaries based on detailed chronostratigraphy reflected in various facies of continental sediments, in their lithological parameters and organic remains. These sediments are dated by the 14C method in the case of organic remains, by counting annual laminations in lacustrine facies, and by dendrochronological method in the case of fluvial sediments.The existence of well dated profiles enables to reconstruct various climatic parameters like amplitudes of seasonal temperatures, types and frequency of extreme rainfalls and floods and, finally, to distinguish rare rapid changes and most frequent gradual ones. This reconstruction is based on the analogous effects of various types of present-day rainfalls.The current authors present a critical review of existing chronostratigraphic divisions starting from simple millennial division by Mangerud based on Scandinavian palynological stratigraphy of peat-bogs and Starkel’s concept based on fluctuations in rainfall and runoff regime reflected in fluvial and other facies of continental deposits.In the last decades, the calibration of 14C dates allowed a new approach to be used for the construction of the probability distribution function of these dates in various facies or types of sediments, which formed a background for distinguishing and correlating climatic phases and defining boundaries between them. These approaches have been creating new opportunities for revision of the existing chronostratigraphy.The aim of this paper is to present a revised version of chronostratigraphic division based on climatic fluctuations reflected in various facies of sediments on the territory of Poland and discuss their correlation with other European regions and global climatic changes.</abstract>

Department of Geomorphology and Hydrology of Mountains and Uplands PAS, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Św. Jana 22, 31-018, Krakow, Poland

GADAM Centre of Excellence, Institute of Physics, Silesian University of Technology, Krzywoustego 2, 44-100, Gliwice, Poland

Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH, University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Kraków, Poland

Institute of Nature Conservation PAS, Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland

W. Szafer Institute of Botany PAS, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland

Progress in the holocene chrono-climatostratigraphy of Polish territory

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Recent work has identified IR stimulated luminescence signals at elevated temperature from both potassium- and sodium-rich feldspars that have much lower anomalous fading rates than the conventional signal measured using IR stimulation at 50°C. This paper examines the stability of these signals for potassium-rich sedimentary feldspars. We show that the natural post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) signal from a 3.6 Ma old sample is in apparent saturation on a laboratory generated dose response curve, i.e. it does not show detectable fading in nature although a low fading rate is observed on laboratory time scales. We show that the pIRIR signal has a greater thermal stability than the IRSL signal and that the trend in increasing thermal stability is mirrored by a decreasing fading rate. We also investigate the effect of preheat temperature and IR stimulation power on the decay shape and conclude that the data can be explained in terms of either a single- or multiple-trap model. We present evidence that may suggest that at least part of pIRIR signal is derived from a high temperature trap (∼550°C thermoluminescence (TL) peak), although again the data can also be explained in terms of a single-trap model. Finally, we present dose response curves and characteristic curvature constants (D0) values for various IRSL signals and conclude that the more stable signals saturate more quickly than the less stable signals and that the initial and final signals saturate at approximately the same level.</abstract>

Stability of IRSL signals from sedimentary K-feldspar samples

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Effects of Feldspar Contamination on Equivalent dose and the Shape of Growth Curve for OSL of Silt-Sized Quartz Extracted from Chinese Loess</title>This study examines the effects of feldspar contamination of different extent (by fluorosilicic acid etching for different time periods and mixing pure quartz with different percentage of unetched grains) on blue-light stimulated luminescence (BLSL) of quartz (38-63 μm) for Chinese loess. In particular, the De values and the shape of growth curves will be examined. The results show that: (1) The De determined using feldspar in Chinese loess is obviously underestimated, and infra-red stimulated luminescence (IRSL) has a greater underestimation than BLSL. For aliquots with no fluorosilicic acid etching, an IRSL De underestimation of ∼30% is observed for a sample with an expected age of ∼22 ka, ∼19% underestimation for BLSL, and ∼10% for post-IR BLSL. For quartz BLSL, the contamination of feldspar, which has not dissolved by fluorosilicic acid etching, will inevitably lead to age underestimation. We suggest that the IR-checking should be performed for every single aliquot. An aliquot should be excluded from the final De calculation if obvious IRSL signal was observed. (2) For the sample under examination blue LED stimulation can reset both IRSL and BLSL signals of feldspars, while IR stimulation cannot reset the BLSL of feldspars. (3) For multiple-mineral aliquot the growth curve shape of the post-IR BLSL is different from that of the IRSL, and within 25 Gy it is identical to that of the pure quartz BLSL. The contamination of feldspars in quartz will change the shape of a growth curve for quartz BLSL.</abstract>

Luminescence Dating Laboratory, QingHai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, XiNing 810008, P.R. China

Faculty of Geography, University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany

Effects of Feldspar Contamination on Equivalent dose and the Shape of Growth Curve for OSL of Silt-Sized Quartz Extracted from Chinese Loess

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