This volume of the Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research series deals mainly with physical and geochemical analytical techniques used in palaeolimnology. Other volumes deal with the acquisition and archiving of cores, chronological techniques and large-scale basin analysis methods, biological techniques and statistical and data handling methods. These monographs should provide sufficient detail and breadth to be useful handbooks for both seasoned practitioners as well as newcomers to the area of palaeolimnology. Although the chapters in these volumes target mainly lacustrine settings, many of the techniques described can also be readily applied to fluvial, glacial, marine, estuarine and peatland environments.