Measurements of sediment properties (incl. organic and carbonate content), radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs, 241Am) and elements (including mercury, nickel, copper, zinc, and lead) in lake sediment successions. Radionuclide dating provides a reliable chronology of sediment ages from the mid-19th century (sometimes only 20th century) to the present (2016). The dataset comprises a standardised matrix of multiple measured sediment variables (element values per mass) against stratigraphic depth for 8 lakes. In these water bodies multiple core datasets exist, one collected from the littoral zone, one of intermediate depth and one from the deepest area. The deepest core was used for 210Pb dating. The intermediate and littoral depth cores are not dated, except at Esthwaite where the littoral core (29328_ESTH_LITT.csv) had been previously collected, 210Pb dated and measured for organic and carbonate content. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/87dec506-ca7f-4b57-a605-486ec9d8cca2

Measurements of sediment properties (including organic and carbonate content), radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs, 241Am) and elements (including mercury, nickel, copper, zinc, and lead) in lake sediment successions. Radionuclide dating provides a reliable chronology of sediment ages from the mid-19th century (sometimes only 20th century) to the present (2016). The dataset comprises a standardised matrix of multiple measured sediment variables (element values per mass) against stratigraphic depth for 8 lakes. In some water bodies multiple core datasets exist. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/4b4a2388-fea2-48e8-8d61-4b93ada479bb

Changes of circulation pattern in the Southern Ocean have been invoked to explain a significant portion of the increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide during the last deglaciation. However, the accurate timing and thus underlying mechanisms of these changes are still controversial, requiring knowledge of different water masses movements with absolute age constraints. Aragonitic scleractinian deep-sea corals, recovered from a broad range of depths in the Drake Passage, provide a unique opportunity to investigate Southern Ocean ventilation with precise U-Th age control. This data submission includes trace element and delta11B for Drake Passage corals. Funding was provided by the NERC standard grant NE/N003861/1.