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The late Quaternary sedimentary infill of Lake Annecy (northwestern Alps): an overview from two seismic-reflection surveys

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Abstract

The sedimentary fill of Lake Annecy (northwestern Alps) - related to the last glacial/post-glacial episode - was investigated through high resolution (sparker) and very high resolution (2.5 kHz) seismic-reflection surveys. A seismostratigraphic approach led to subdivision of a 150 m-thick pile (maximum thickness in axial part) into five units. Basal units (1 and 2) represent an imbrication of subglacial and glacio-lacustrine deposits, close to the grounding line of the glaciers' fronts (respectively at the northern and southern terminations of the lake). The first acoustically well-stratified unit (3) developed during a fast retreat of the glaciers fronts far from the lake basin, and a progradational alluvial regime, with abundant underflows, in a lake larger than the present one. Unit 4 represents the progressive decrease of this clastic input mixed with the progressive development of in situ bio-induced production. As in many other alpine lakes, a topmost unit (5), relatively thin (about 8-10 m) and with a conspicuous drape configuration, is the signature of the Holocene interglacial climatic conditions with a sedimentation rate of about 1 mm/yr. On the lacustrine basin slopes, slumps and debris flow occurred mainly within Unit 3; they may be due to, either climate-induced high rate terrigenous sedimentation, or/and to a period of increased seismo-tectonic activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géodynamique des Chaînes Alpines, U.M.R. C.N.R.S, Université de Savoie, 5025, 73 376 Le, Bourget-du-Lac Cedex, France

    Christian Beck & Frédéric Manalt

  2. Renard Centre of Marine Geology, University of Ghent, Krijgslaan, 281 S8, B-9000, Gent, Belgium

    Pieter Van Rensbergen & Marc De Batist

  3. Department of Petroleum Geosciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, 2028, Darussalam, Brunei

    Pieter Van Rensbergen, Fernand Berthier & Serge Lallier

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  1. Christian Beck
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  2. Pieter Van Rensbergen
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  3. Marc De Batist
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  4. Fernand Berthier
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  5. Serge Lallier
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  6. Frédéric Manalt
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Beck, C., Van Rensbergen, P., De Batist, M. et al. The late Quaternary sedimentary infill of Lake Annecy (northwestern Alps): an overview from two seismic-reflection surveys. Journal of Paleolimnology 25, 149–161 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008175728826

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