The local nature of anthropogenic emission sources on the elemental content of nearby ombrotrophic peat bogs, Vulkaneifel, Germany

Geochemical analyses of dated ombrotrophic peat cores from the Strohner M¨archen and the nearby D¨urre Maar, Eifel, Germany, were undertaken to identify the impact of the long local history of land reclamation and exploitation going back to the Neolithic Period, on the elemental content of ombrotrophic peat bogs and on the atmospheric aerosol. Elemental concentrations in peat were determined using XRF. ElementrTi ratios and enrichment factors EFs. were calculated. The results show that the concentrations of soil-derived elements Ba, K, Ti. closely follow changes in land use history going back at least to the Eifel]Hunsr¨uck culture 600]250 BC.. The comparison of the Strohner M¨archen and the D¨urre Maar reveals the strong influence of local emissions on the elemental content of ombrotrophic peat. Global atmospheric enrichment trends or enrichments by long range transport are masked by the dominating local input.