TY - JOUR TI - Characterization of groundwater discharge sites using remote sensing and wetland cores, Lake Eyasi basin, Tanzania DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3ZS2V4M PY - 2013 AB - Lakes in arid regions commonly dry up creating gaps in the sediment records. Groundwater discharge (GWD) sites are sourced from aquifers that may be recharged, at great distances and unaffected by local precipitation levels. GWD occurs as surface springs and seeps supporting continuously aggrading wetlands with the potential to record environmental and climatic change. The study site is the NE margin of Lake Eyasi in the Eastern Gregory Rift of Northern Tanzania. Landsat and GoogleEarth images were analyzed to locate GWD. In July 2011 sites were visited and 7 cores collected. All cores underwent initial analyses (magnetic susceptibility, density, and physical description), and Core 1A selected for radiocarbon dating and sedimentological, geochemical, and biological analysis. All cores contained 2 intervals distinguishable by color and content. The base of the upper interval (28-29 cm depth) of Core 1A was AMS dated to 270 +/- 30 yrs BP (conventional radiocarbon age) using seeds. The lower interval, light (Munsell: 5Y 4/1) organic-poor clay, impoverished microfauna, 5% organic matter, low total organic carbon (