A new compilation of depth to calcic horizons in soils for interpreting former rainfall from paleosols
- Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences
Many studies since the seminal work of Hans Jenny in 1941 have demonstrated that the depth of the calcic horizon in soils can be related to mean annual rainfall during their development. Depth to calcic horizon is not the same as depth of leaching of carbonate, which increases with time, not rainfall. A new compilation of 381 soils of known rainfall from all continents as well as New Zealand and Greenland, including only moderately developed soils on sedimentary parent materials, gave a relationship between depth to calcic horizon (D in cm) and precipitation (P in mm) of D = -40.49-0.0852P-0.002455P[sup 2] with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.78 and standard error ([sigma]) of [+-]33 cm. For interpreting paleosols the converse relationships is more useful (P = 139.6--6.388D--0.01303D[sup 2], with r = 0.79 and [sigma] = [+-]141 mm). Also worth considering for the interpretation of paleosols are the carbon dioxide composition of the atmosphere at the time they formed, the degree to which they have been eroded before burial, and the amount of compaction during burial. These problems are illustrated with the example of Eocene and Oligocene paleosols of Badlands National Park, South Dakota, which shows stepwise drying of paleoclimate during mid-Tertiary time.
- OSTI ID:
- 5690456
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-921058-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 24:7; Conference: 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Cincinnati, OH (United States), 26-29 Oct 1992; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CORRELATIONS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
CALCITE
CARBON DIOXIDE
DEPTH
EQUATIONS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
SOUTH DAKOTA
TERTIARY PERIOD
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATE MINERALS
CENOZOIC ERA
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIMENSIONS
GEOLOGIC AGES
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALEONTOLOGY
USA
580000* - Geosciences