Quaternary History Research Articles

Quaternary glacial history of the Karakoram Mountains and northwest Himalayas: A review

Abstract The style and extent of glaciation in the NW Himalayas and Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan, and the Himalayas in NW India are reviewed. At least three glacial events, progressively less extensive with time, can be recognised in most regions. The timing and status of these glacial successions is poorly known. This is partially due to poor dating constraints, but also arises from a lack of adherence to strict stratigraphic procedures. Recommendations are made for a more rigorous approach to the study of Himalayan Quaternary glacial histories.

Luminescence studies of dunes from North-Eastern Tasmania

Northern Tasmania has a geographically extensive cover of Quaternary aeolian features and although the morphology and stratigraphy of many of these have been studied it is difficult to assign a reliable chronology because of the lack of material suitable for radiocarbon dating. The dunes are primarily composed of quartz and hence are ideally suited for the application of luminescence dating. In this paper a variety of luminescence techniques are applied to samples from the area. Analysis of the multiple aliquot OSL measurements showed that a higher precision could be obtained using the signal from the initial 6 mJ.cm −2 of the optical stimulation rather than the total light sum. The initial, near exponential. decay of the OSL signal is highly reproducible from one sub-sample to another, but the later part of the OSL decay curve, which is dominated by retrapping effects, is highly variable. The multiple aliquot OSL results are consistent with single aliquot additive dose results. The luminescence ages show that the Ainslie Linear Dunes were initially deposited by 44 ka, were mobile again at 30 ka and have been subject to reworking within the last 100–200 years. It appears that the Quaternary history of aeolian activity in this area has been more complex than was previously thought.

Quaternary history of sea ice and paleoclimate in the Amerasia basin, Arctic Ocean, as recorded in the cyclical strata of Northwind Ridge

The 19 middle-early Pleistocene to Holocene bipartite lithostratigraphic cycles observed in high-resolution piston cores from Northwind Ridge in the Amerasia Basin of the Arctic Ocean, provide a detailed record of alternating glacial and interglacial climatic and oceanographic conditions and of correlative changes in the character and thickness of the sea-ice cover in the Amerasia Basin. Glacial conditions in each cycle are represented by gray pelagic muds that are suboxic, laminated, and essentially lacking in microfossils, macrofossils, trace fossils, and generally in glacial erratics. Interglacial conditions are represented by ochre pelagic muds that are oxic and bioturbated and contain rare to abundant microfossils and abundant glacial erratics. The synglacial laminated gray muds were deposited when the central Amerasia Basin was covered by a floating sheet of sea ice of sufficient thickness and continuity to reduce downwelling solar irradiance and oxygen to levels that precluded photosynthesis, maintenance of a biota, and strong oxidation of the pelagic sediment. Except during the early part of 3 of the 19 synglacial episodes, when it was periodically breached by erratic-bearing glacial icebergs, the floating Arctic Ocean sea-ice sheet was sufficiently thick to block the circulation of icebergs over Northwind Ridge and presumably other areas of the central Arctic Ocean. Interglacial conditions were initiated by abrupt thinning and breakup of the floating sea-ice sheet at the close of glacial time, which permitted surges of glacial erratic-laden icebergs to reach Northwind Ridge and the central Arctic Ocean, where they circulated freely and deposited numerous, and relatively thick, erratic clast-rich beds. Breakup of the successive synglacial sea-ice sheets initiated deposition of the interglacial ochre mud units under conditions that allowed sunlight and increased amounts of oxygen to enter the water column, resulting in photosynthesis and biologic productivity, and strong oxidization of the pelagic sediment. The lithostratigraphy of Northwind Ridge suggests that during at least late Pleistocene time, glacial conditions in the Arctic Ocean were initiated abruptly and continued unabated until terminated, also abruptly, by onset of the succeeding interglacial warming. Variations in abundance of glacial erratics within the interglacial units of the late Pleistocene indicate that during at least most interglacial episodes northern North America was glaciated, but with generally diminishing severity, until onset of the succeeding continental glaciation. Magnetostratigraphy suggests that the glacial-interglacial cycles on Northwind Ridge had an average periodicity of approximately 93.5 k.y. during the Brunhes normal and approximately 105 k.y. during the latter part of the Matuyama reverse polarity zone. These average periodicities are close to the 100 k.y. temperature cycles found in North Atlantic deep-water sediments of the Brunhes normal polarity chron, which have been ascribed to forcing by a Milankovitch eccentricity cycle. They are also close, however, to the average interval (101 k.y.) between the aperiodic glacial terminations in the 500 k.y. Pleistocene continental climate record from Devil’s Hole, Nevada, which have been ascribed to nonlinear feedbacks within the Earth’s atmosphere-ice sheet-ocean system.

Loess studies in central United States: evolution of concepts

Few words in the realm of earth science have caused more debate than “loess”. It is a common term that was first used as a name of a silt deposit before it was defined in a scientific sense. Because this “loose” deposit is easily distinguished from other more coherent deposits, it was recognized as a matter of practical concern and later became the object of much scientific scrutiny. Loess was first recognized along the Rhine Valley in Germany in the 1830s and was first noted in the United States in 1846 along the lower Mississippi River where it later became the center of attention. The use of the name eventually spread around the world, but its use has not been consistently applied. Over the years some interpretations and stratigraphy correlations have been validated, but others have been hotly contested on conceptual grounds and semantic issues. The concept of loess evolved into a complex issue as loess and loess-like deposits were discovered in different parts of the US. The evolution of concepts in the central US developed in four indefinite stages: the eras of (1) discovery and development of hypotheses, (2) conditional acceptance of the eolian origin of loess, (3) “bandwagon” popularity of loess research, and (4) analytical inquiry on the nature of loess. Toward the end of the first era around 1900, the popular opinion on the meaning of the term loess shifted from a lithological sense of loose silt to a lithogenetic sense of eolian silt. However, the dual use of the term fostered a lingering skepticism during the second era that ended in 1944 with an explosion of interest that lasted for more than a decade. In 1944, R.J. Russell proposed and H.N. Fisk defended a new non-eolian, property-based, concept of loess. The eolian advocates reacted with surprise and enthusiasm. Each side used constrained arguments to show their view of the problem, but did not examine the fundamental problem, which was not in the proofs of their hypothesis, but in the definition of the term. Between 1944 and about 1950, the debates about loess reached a maximum level of complexity. The main semantic problem was submersed in peripheral arguments about physical properties and genetic interpretations. The scholarly treatment of the subject by Fisk and Russell stimulated quality responses from a diversity of earth scientists interested in academic and applied studies, particularly geo-history, pedology, soil mechanics and stratigraphy. The long-lasting popularity of loess studies during the bandwagon era lasted to about 1970. By that time, the analytical and technical interests had attracted the mainstream into the fourth era with a focus beyond the old arguments. Although Fisk and Russell found themselves defending an unpopular theory, they stimulated a scientific interest in the late Quaternary history of the Mississippi Valley that may never be exceeded.

Late Quaternary glacial and climatic history of the Arctic ‐ state of the art and aims for tomorrow

Late Quaternary glacial and climatic history of the Arctic ‐ state of the art and aims for tomorrow

Late Quaternary glacial and climatic history of the Antarctica ‐ state of the art and aims for tomorrow

Late Quaternary glacial and climatic history of the Antarctica ‐ state of the art and aims for tomorrow

A comprehensive and scholarly new book reviewing the Quaternary of the whole of Scandinavia

Book reviewed in this article:Donner, J. 1995: The Quaternary History of Scandinavia

The Quaternary history of Scandinavia

The Quaternary history of Scandinavia

The Quaternary history of Scandinavia

The Quaternary history of Scandinavia

The Quaternary history of Scandinavia

The Quaternary history of Scandinavia

LATE QUATERNARY EVOLUTION OF A LUNETTE IN THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS: WILSON RIDGE, KANSAS

Lunettes are aeolian dunes that form on the downwind margins of playas. Although common on the Southern High Plains and elsewhere, they are poorly understood. Geomorphic and stratigraphic investigations at Wilson Ridge in the central Great Plains of Kansas reveal a complex late Quaternary history, with episodic deflation of the playa and sedimentation on the lake's southern margin. Ten stratigraphic units are present, five of late Wisconsinan age and five related to Holocene events. Woodfordian deposits consist of silt and fine sand containing crushed gastropods. Late Wisconsinan sedimentation was interrupted when a well-developed soil formed around 17,000 yr B.P., a period of high water in the playa. Pleistocene and Holocene deposits are separated by another well-developed paleosol on the south side of the dune and by an unconformity on the north slope. Although Holocene sediments are texturally similar to older deposits, they lack gastropods, suggesting arid conditions in the playa. Early Holocene insta...

Late Quaternary sea level history in the Paulatuk to Bathurst Inlet area, Northwest Territories

The Paulatuk – Bathurst Inlet region experienced rapid deglaciation in response to marine incursion across isostatically depressed terrain during high relative sea level stands. Marine limits, frequently defined by ice-contact deltas, range from 10 m asl in the west to 228 m asl in the east and were formed from approximately 12.5 to 9 ka BP, respectively. Seven relative sea level curves demonstrate that the mainland coast has shown initial rapid emergence, then progressively less emergence, and finally submergence from Paulatuk to Bernard Harbour during the late Holocene. Regions to the east (Richardson Bay to Bathurst Inlet) continue to experience emergence. Sea level curves have shown persistently higher rebound from west to east. The pattern and magnitude of observed postglacial sea level changes are in accord with theoretical predictions. In areas outside the glacial limit, as well as close to but within the glacial limit, relative sea level initially falls during the early and middle Holocene, and then begins to rise due to the migration of the forebulge in late Holocene times. Submergence becomes progressively younger from west to east. Closer to the centre of ice loading, emergence has progressed since deglaciation.

Seismic stratigraphy of Late Quaternary glacial to marine sediments offshore Bornholm, southern Baltic Sea

The Quaternary history of the southern Baltic is marked by a complex sequence of glacial, lacustrine and marine phases. Consequently, a large number of unconformities and erosional and depositional surfaces are present in the stratigraphic record. Over 600 km of high-resolution, single-channel reflection seismic profiles were collected offshore Bornholm. A sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the seismic data, in combination with some available core data, has led to the identification of two Quaternary depositional sequences unconformably overlying the late Mesozoic deposits. The sequences contain up to nine different seismic-stratigraphic units, and are separated by sharp boundaries representing strong erosional events. The lower depositional sequence contains five units (A-E) of glacial and late-glacial origin. The unconformity, at its base is marked by a southward flowing channel drainage pattern, which may be related to the mid-Weichselian Alnarp River system. Units A and B contain till and moraine deposits, probably of middle or early-late Weichselian age. Units C-E consist of glaciolacustrine clays, and most likely represent different Baltic Ice Lake phases of the late Weichselian. The upper depositional sequence contains four units (F-I) of postglacial lacustrine and marine origin. Its sharp erosional base possibly indicates subaerial exposure. Unit F consists of backstepping delta or beach deposits, which are partially interfingered with the lacustrine clays of unit G. Both units can most likely be correlated with the Ancylus Lake. The marine mud deposits of units H and I represent the widespread Litorina transgression.

Late quaternary landscape history and archaeology in the ?Ice-Free Corridor?: Some recent results from Alberta

Late quaternary landscape history and archaeology in the ?Ice-Free Corridor?: Some recent results from Alberta

Late Quaternary history of sedimentation on the Mac. Robertson shelf, East Antarctica: problems with 14C-dating of marine sediment cores

Stratigraphic information concerning the retreat of the Antarctic ice sheet from the continental shelf after the Last Glacial Maximum is reviewed and compared with new results from a shelf valley off Mac. Robertson Land, East Antarctica. Radiocarbon dates and detailed lithostratigraphic logs indicate that the onset of open-marine conditions over shallow shelfbanks «200 m water depth) was achieved prior to 7000 yr BP and over deep (~l 000 m) middle to oliter shelf valleys, open-marine conditions were achieved prior to 5400 yr BP. Radiocarbon dating of bulk-organic carbon in some diatom oozes by the AMS method demonstrates problems of contamination. Jurassic pollen, spores and organic matter have been eroded and incorporated into Holocene diatom ooze, causing anomalously old 14C dates (e.g. one surface age of7084 ± 86 yr BP was determined). This problem may arise at other locations around East Antarctica where older strata outcrop on the seafloor.

The quaternary coral reef tracts of hateruma, Ryukyu Islands, Japan

The island of Hateruma is located at the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Island chain and covers an area of about 15 km2 with its highest point at 59.5 m.a.s.l. The morphology of Hateruma is characterized by an eight-step staircase (I to VIII after Ota et al., 1982) most of which eroded into the previously formed coral reefs (II and IV to VIII). This study presents 100 age estimations on 43 coral samples using electron spin resonance (ESR), alpha- and mass spectrometric U-series methods. The dating results imply that the Ryukyu Limestone was predominantly formed during oxygen isotope stages 7 and 5e. Two age estimates of around 300 ka suggest an earlier reef-building period. The main problem for establishing the Quaternary history of Hateruma lies in the fact that the coral ages and the staircase morphology do not correlate. Additionally, it is difficult to distinguish autochthonous from allochthonous samples, the latter having possibly been relocated by tsunamis. Corals relating to substages 5a and 5c (around 75 and 105 ka, respectively) are found in the immediate vicinity of much older samples. The results of this study prove the disappointing fact that Hateruma cannot yet be used as a tool for reconstructing palaeo sea levels.

Geomorphology of a Dry Valley: Adrian Pass, Lahontan Basin, Nevada

Adrian Pass is a dry valley that cuts across the present drainage divide separating the lower Carson and Walker River Basins. Previous studies of Adrian Pass have postulated that it is an abandoned channel of the Walker River. The evidence presented in this study suggests that Adrian Pass was formed by Quaternary lake overflow and was occupied by the Walker River for relatively brief periods. A landform chronology for Adrian Pass is developed using evidence that includes paleochannel deposits, comparison of the Post-Lake Lahontan history of Walker Lake with that of the Carson Desert, and Lake Lahontan shorelines in the Walker Basin. A historical analogue for Adrian Pass is Mud Lake Slough, which divides Pyramid Lake and Winnemucca Lake Basins. The Quaternary history of Adrian Pass, which has been affected by multiple events of both lake overflow discharge and river diversion, demonstrates how complex closed-basin hydrological changes can be through time.

Latest Quaternary foraminifers and sediment transport in Pervenets Canyon, Bering Sea

A combination of microfossil and sediment analysis has been used in an attempt to understand oceanographic processes and the late Quaternary history of the Pervenets Canyon region. The primary sedimentation process in Pervenets Canyon is downslope transport. Near the shelfbreak, there is evidence of turbidite and debris-flow activity, but at the distal end of the upper canyon and on the continental slope there is no macroscopic evidence for these processes.Analysis of the foraminiferal assemblages shows that the fauna is 97.6% from the Suborder Rotaliina and about 2.0% from the Suborder Textulariina. The Suborder Miliolina accounts for approximately 0.4% of the fauna. The Pervenets Canyon fauna is most similar to other faunas from the Bering Sea, indicating a North Pacific Ocean influence on the fauna.Foraminiferal abundance and species diversity vary widely in the samples studied. The major factors controlling these values are downslope transport of sediment, disintegration of arenaceous taxa, dissolution of calcareous taxa, and diversity limited by low-oxygen bottom waters. Downslope transport of shelf species is indicated by the presence of Elphidium clavatum and E. excavatum. Shallow-shelf and low-oxygen foraminiferal faunas are often intermixed in the samples. The distribution of these low-oxygen faunas in Core 81-65 suggests that the oxygen-minimum zone fluctuated with sea level.

The Quaternary history of Scandinavia

1. Introduction 2. Pre-Quaternary substratum 3. Northern Europe in the Quaternary 4. Pre-Saalian stages 5. Saalian stage 6. Eemian stage 7. Division of the Weichselian stage and the application of radiocarbon dating 8. Early Weichselian substage 9. Middle Weichselian substage 10. Middle and Late Weichselian glaciation 11. Late Weichselian and Early Flandrian deglaciation 12. Flandrian biostratigraphy and climatic changes 13. Late Weichselian and Flandrian land/sea-level changes 14. Land mammals 15. Quaternary chronology in Scandinavia.

The Ice Age world: an introduction to Quaternary history and research with emphasis on North America and northern Europe during the last 2.5 million years

Introduction Historical Review Ice Age History, 2.5 Million Years Ago to the Present Processes and Scientific Methods Extended Glossary Index.