Guanabara bay sedimentation rates based on 210Pb dating: Reviewing the existing data and adding new data

Abstract

Three sediment cores were taken from Guanabara Bay. Two of them yielded 210Pb profiles that could be applied for dating purposes. Actual sedimentation rates of approximately 1 cm year-1 (five times higher than the baseline values) were observed for both sediment cores, which agree with the reviewed existing data in the literature related to Guanabara Bay sedimentation rates based on 210Pb. Dating validation was carried out based on the chromium, copper and lead profiles, on the 210Pb flux and on the historical record of the main physical interventions occurring in the last century, such as embankment, the channeling of main rivers and the construction of express roads. At the end of this process, only one sediment core dating could be adequately validated. © 2012.