Dataset
Data Publication
Geochemical Composition of Tephra Layers Found in Varved Sediment Records Globally
Wilkinson-Rowe, Eloise | Beckett, Anna | Blanchet, Cécile | Brauser, Alexander | Ehrmann, Holger | Kearney, Rebecca | Martin-Puertas, Celia | Matthews, Ian | McLean, Danielle | Palmer, Adrian | Brauer, Achim
GFZ Data Services
(2026)
Descriptions
The database contains major and trace element compositions associated with tephra layers found in varved sediment records globally. Associated with each sediment record and tephra layer are metadata relating to site parameters and analytical conditions. Analyses of secondary standards, where published, are incorporated as well. This was collated in order to facilitate improved correlation and synchronisation of distal annually resolved records, expanding the current database to global scope and covering the period 125 ka BP to present. The data are collected from published scientific literature as a comprehensive addition to the Varved Sediments Database (VARDA).
In total, 160 tephra layers with known correlations are collated from 48 marine and lacustrine sites with annually laminated records. The chemical compositions of an additional ~415 tephra layers with ‘unknown’ correlation and/or source are reported. Several lakes sites act as key varved tephrostratotype sites, with Lago Grande di Monticchio [Italy], Suigetsu [Japan], and Lögurinn [Iceland] contributing over 100 tephras between them. The Vedde Ash and Laacher See Tephra, alongside Askja 1875, remain the most widespread isochrons, allowing correlation between ≥8 sites each across Europe, while Towada-a and Baegdusan-Tomakomai correlate distal sites in East Asia.
This project is funded by the Past Global Changes (PAGES) Data Stewardship Scholarship in facilitate the collation of a dataset of tephra geochemical data used to characterise and identify tephra layers found in varved sediment records globally.
Keywords
MSL enriched keywords
unconsolidated sediment
tephra
equipment
mass spectrometer
laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
analysis
microchemical analysis
major elements
whole rock analysis
major elements
trace elements
trace elements
MSL vocabulary keywords corresponding to originally assigned keywords
tephra
laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
unconsolidated sediment
major elements
major elements
trace elements
trace elements
Originally assigned keywords
tephra
LA-ICP-MS
SEDIMENTS
VOLCANIC DEPOSITS
VARVE DEPOSITS
SEDIMENT CORE
MAJOR ELEMENTS
TRACE ELEMENTS
Metadata
MSL enriched sub domains
geochemistry
Resource Type
Source publisher
| GFZ Data Services |
Creators
| Wilkinson-Rowe, Eloise |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7833-9756 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London, London, United Kingdom |
| Beckett, Anna |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5016-9697 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London, London, United Kingdom |
| Blanchet, Cécile |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7146-705X |
| GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany |
| Brauser, Alexander |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4411-3205 |
| GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany |
| Ehrmann, Holger |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1235-6950 |
| GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany |
| Kearney, Rebecca |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8997-6808 |
| GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany |
| Martin-Puertas, Celia |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1349-5669 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London, London, United Kingdom |
| Matthews, Ian |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5089-2797 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London, London, United Kingdom |
| McLean, Danielle |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5378-3067 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London, London, United Kingdom |
| Palmer, Adrian |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8069-3932 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London, London, United Kingdom |
| Brauer, Achim |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6655-9451 |
| GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany |
Contributors
| Wilkinson-Rowe, Eloise |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7833-9756 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London, London, United Kingdom |
| Brauser, Alexander |
| Personal |
| https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4411-3205 |
| GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany |
Citation
Wilkinson-Rowe, E., Beckett, A., Blanchet, C., Brauser, A., Ehrmann, H., Kearney, R., Martin-Puertas, C., Matthews, I., McLean, D., Palmer, A., & Brauer, A. (2026). Geochemical Composition of Tephra Layers Found in Varved Sediment Records Globally [Dataset]. GFZ Data Services. https://doi.org/10.5880/FIDGEO.2026.076
References
| URL |
| Cites |
| URL |
| Cites |
Dates
| Updated | 2026-09-10 |
Language
- no language entry found -
Funding References
| Funder Name | Past Global Changes (PAGES) |
| Award Title | Data Stewardship Scholarship |
Rights
| Name | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International |
| URI | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode |
| Identifier | cc-by-4.0 |
| Identifier Scheme | SPDX |
| Scheme URI | https://spdx.org/licenses/ |
| Name | Open access |
| URI | http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 |
| Identifier | c_abf2 |
| Identifier Scheme | COAR Access Rights |
| Scheme URI | http://purl.org/coar/access_right/ |
Locations
Geo location(s)
Area included in the compilation