Isotopic evidence for Younger Dryas aridity in the North American midcontinent

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Research Article| June 01, 2010 Isotopic evidence for Younger Dryas aridity in the North American midcontinent J.A. Dorale; J.A. Dorale 1Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, 121 Trowbridge Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L.A. Wozniak; L.A. Wozniak 1Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, 121 Trowbridge Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E.A. Bettis, III; E.A. Bettis, III 1Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, 121 Trowbridge Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S.J. Carpenter; S.J. Carpenter 1Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, 121 Trowbridge Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R.D. Mandel; R.D. Mandel 2Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, 1930 Constant Avenue, Campus West, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E.R. Hajic; E.R. Hajic 3Illinois State Museum, Quaternary Studies Program, Springfield, Illinois 62706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar N.H. Lopinot; N.H. Lopinot 4Center for Archeological Research, Missouri State University, 901 South National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65804, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.H. Ray J.H. Ray 4Center for Archeological Research, Missouri State University, 901 South National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65804, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2010) 38 (6): 519–522. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30781.1 Article history received: 14 Oct 2009 rev-recd: 06 Jan 2010 accepted: 22 Jan 2010 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J.A. Dorale, L.A. Wozniak, E.A. Bettis, S.J. Carpenter, R.D. Mandel, E.R. Hajic, N.H. Lopinot, J.H. Ray; Isotopic evidence for Younger Dryas aridity in the North American midcontinent. Geology 2010;; 38 (6): 519–522. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30781.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Determining the impact of the Younger Dryas (YD) climate event on the unglaciated North American midcontinent has proved difficult due to a scarcity of suitable paleoclimate proxies. Here we present a well-dated carbon isotope (δ13C) record from a buried soil sequence in southwestern Missouri, which reveals a large isotopic excursion during the YD chronozone. In this region of the modern prairie-forest border, the δ13C signature of soil organic matter is a reliable indicator of past climatic change because δ13C values are controlled primarily by the relative abundance of C3 and C4 plants, which is tied to the environmental setting. Between ca. 13,200 and 11,900 yr ago, the abundance of C4 grasses increased by upwards of 50% of the total biomass, indicating expansion of grassland most likely driven by increased aridity during this period. Environmental gradients in the midcontinent must have been very steep, because at the same time that a C4-rich prairie existed in southwestern Missouri, spruce forests grew in Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.