THE VEGETATION RECORD OF EARLY HOLOCENE CLIMATE IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE

The transition from Late-Glacial to Holocene climates and variability in early Holocene climates can be inferred from changes in the percent organic matter of lake sediments at sites in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine. High-resolution chironomid analysis at two sites (Surplus Pond-625m and Speck Pond-1047m) and less detailed analysis at three other sites (Lake of the Clouds-1542m, Deer Lake Bog-1325m, and Lost Pond-629m) record changes in summer surface water temperatures during this period. To provide another early Holocene proxy record of climate we have done high-resolution pollen analysis at all five sites. Changes in the pollen percentages provided a record of both regional and local vegetation change. The lack of datable material and the plateau in radiocarbon-dates at the Late-glacial/ Holocene boundary can limit use of radiocarbon dating in high-resolution studies. The regional pollen record provides stratigraphic markers that enabled us to test for synchronous climate changes at all elevations. We also compared the records of the three proxies, percent organic matter, chironomids, and local pollen at intervals of 2 cm or less through the beginning of the Holocene. This allowed us to identify lags in vegetation to climate change.