Quantifying rates of Quaternary landscape evolution in Grand Teton National Park using in situ cosmogenic 10Be, 14C, and 36Cl dating

Abstract

In Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), both glacial and tectonic activity have played major roles in shaping the landscape. Here, we evaluate the impacts of late Quaternary Teton Fault slip and subglacial erosion in GTNP. We are in the process of using 10Be surface exposure dating to generate records of time-integrated Teton Fault slip at multiple locations throughout GTNP, which will allow us to assess spatial and temporal patterns tectonic activity over the past ~15 ka. We are also working to determine rates of subglacial erosion through 10Be-14C-36Cl triple isotope dating. The results obtained through this novel combination of cosmogenic nuclide techniques will contribute toward a unified view of landscape evolution in alpine environments. Featured photo by Bonnie Robinson, taken from the AMK Ranch photo collection.