Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The limnogeology-ETH coring system

  • Published:
Swiss journal of hydrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Various methods are available for coring in lakes. We have developed an integrated coring system based on a modified Kullenberg poston-corer principle which is particularly useful for multiple coring in deep lakes. The selection of sites is guided by concurrent high-resolution (3.5 kHz) continuous seismic profiling.

The system is modular for simple transport, and includes a very reliable tripweight gravity corer which uses the same plastic liners as the piston corer. Piston-core lengths are variable in 2, 4, or 5 m sections up to 16 m.

This system has been successfully deployed in glacially deepened perialpine lakes (Lakes Zürich, Zug, Greifensee, Lucerne, Walensee, Constance, Murten, Neuchâtel, Geneva, Thun, Brienz, Maggiore, Lugano, Iseo, Garda, d'Annecy, Bourget and Ammersee), deep rift lakes of Africa (Turkana, Albert, Edward, Kiwu), Lake Ohrid (Jugoslavia), Lake Van (Turkey), Qinghai Lake (China), and in very shallow hypersaline lakes Urmia (Iran) and Great Salt Lake (USA).

Following numerous requests, this paper describes the system concept and constructional features that have been refined over the last 12 years. Development has stressed increasing simplification and increased reliability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barton, C.E., and Burden, F.R.: Modifications to the Mackereth corer. Limnol. Oceanogr.24 (5), 979–983 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bouma, A.H.: Methods for the Study of Sedimentary Structures, p. 458. Wiley Interscience (1969).

  3. Bouma, A. H., and Boerma, J. A. K.: Vertical disturbances in piston cores. Marine Geol6, 231–241 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Burns, R.: Free-Fall Behaviour of small, light-weight gravity Corers, Marine Geol.4, 1–9 (1964).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Davond, E.: Contributions a l'étude géochimique et sédimentologique de depots lacustres récents (lac de Morat, Suisse). Thèse Nr. 1745 Univ. Genève, 127 p. (1976).

  6. Degens, E., Von Herzen, R., Wong, H. K., Deusser, W., and Jannasch, H.: Lake Kivu: Structure, chemistry, and biology of an East African rift lake. Geol. Rdsch.62, 245–277 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Degens, E., Wong, H. K., Kempe, S., and Kurtman, F.: A geological study of Lake Van, Eastern Turkey. Geol. Rdsch.73 (2), 701–734 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Emery, G. R., and Broussard, D. E.: A modified Kullenberg Piston Corer. Soc. Econ. Pet. Min.24, 207–211 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Finckh, P.: Wärmeflussmessungen in Randalpenseen. Diss. ETH Zürich, Nr. 5787, 135 p. (1976).

  10. Finckh, P., Kelts, K., and Lambert, A.: Seismic stratigraphy and rock depths of perialpine lakes. Bull. geol. Soc. Am.95, 1118–1128 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Giger, W., Sturm, M., Schaffner, C., Bonani, G., Balzer, R., Hofmann, H.J., Morenzoni, E., Nessi, M., Suter, M., and Wölfli, W.: 14C/12C-ratios in organic matter and hydroacarbons extracted from dates lake sediments. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Res. (B)5, 394–397 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Giovanoli, F.: Die remanente Magnetisierung von Seesedimenten. Diss. ETH Zürich Nr. 6350 (1979).

  13. Kelts, K.: Geological and sedimentary evolution of lakes Zürich and Zug, Switzerland. Diss. ETH Zürich Nr. 6146, 242 p. (1978).

  14. Kelts, K., and Hsü, K. J.: Resedimented facies of 1875 Horgen slump in lake Zürich and a process model of longitudinal transport of turbidity currents, Eclogae geol. Helv.73 (1), 271–281 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kelts, K., and Shahrabi, M.: Holocene sedimentology of hypersaline Lake Urmia, NW Iran. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimat. Palaeoecol.54, 105–130 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kernabou, A., Blavier, P., Cortis, V., and Delauze H.: The ‘Sphincter’ Corer. Marine Geol.4, 149–162 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kullenberg, B.: The piston core sampler. Svenska Hydrog.-biol. Komm. Skr.1 (2), 1–46 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lambert, A.: Über die klastische Sedimentation im Walensee. Diss. ETH Zürich, Nr. 5717, 117 p. (1976).

  19. Matter, A., and Sturm, M.: Sedimentuntersuchungen in den grossen Berner Seen: Brienzer-, Thuner-, Bielersee, Mitt. natf. Ges. Bern [N.F.]39, 59–73 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Reineck, H. E.: Ein Kolbenlot mit Plastik-Rohren. Senck. Leth.18, (3–4), 285–289 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Richards, A. F., and Keller, G. H.: A plastic/barrel sediment corer. Deep Sea Res.7, 306–312 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Roelofs, A. K., and Kilham, P.: The diatom stratigraphy and palaeoecology of lake Ohrid, Yugoslavia. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimat., Palaeoecol.43, 225–245 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schneider, J., et al.: Sedimentary history of the last 15,000 years-oligotrophic Attersee. Proc. IVth int. Symp. Paleolimnology, Ossiach, Austria (in press).

  24. Silverman, M., and Whaley, R. C.: Adaptation of the piston coring device to shallow water sampling. Soc. Econ. Petr. Min.22, 11–16 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Spencer, R. M., Baedecker, M., Eugster, H., Forester, H., Goldhaber, M., Jones, B., Kelts, K., McKenzie, J., Madsen, P., Rettig, S., Rubin, M., and Bowser, C. The Great Salt Lake and precursors: the last 30 000 years: Contr. Min. Petrol.86, 321–334 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sturm, M.: Origin and composition of clastic varves, Moraines and Varves (ed. Schlüchter, Ch.). Proc. INQUA Symposium Zürich, p. 281–285 (1978).

  27. Sturm, M., and Matter, A.: Turbidites and Varves in Lake Brienz (Switzerland). Deposition of clastic detritus by density currents, Modern and Ancient Lake Sediments (ed. Matter, A., and Tucker, M. E. Spec. Publ. Int. Assoc. Sedimentology2, 147–168 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sturm, M., and Müller, J.: Die Untersuchungen langer Sedimentprofile und die Verbreitung von Turbiditen im Traunsee, Oberösterreich. Landesreg. Limnologische Unters. Traunsee12, 97–131 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Von Herzen, R. P., Finckh, P., and Hsü, K. J.: Heat flow measurements in Swiss lakes. J. Geoph. Res.40, 141–172 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Weber, H. P.: Geologie und Sedimentologie vom Greifensee mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Karbonate-Ausfällungsbilanz. Diss. ETH Zürich, Nr. 6811 (1981).

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. U. Briegel, K. Ghilardi & K. Hsu

    Present address: Geological Institute, ETH-Z, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland

  2. K. Kelts

    Present address: EAWAG, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Institute, ETH-Z, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland

    K. Kelts

Authors
  1. K. Kelts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. U. Briegel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Ghilardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Hsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kelts, K., Briegel, U., Ghilardi, K. et al. The limnogeology-ETH coring system. Schweiz. Z. Hydrol 48, 104–115 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02544119

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02544119

Keywords

Search

Navigation