Late Holocene vertical deformation, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Volcano-tectonic deformation has been measured within the Yellowstone caldera using precision leveling techniques. The shorelines represent originally horizontal planes, accumulated deformation of which can be observed as vertical displacement and tilt. Dating of the shorelines allows the calculation of average rates of deformation since and between episodes of shoreline formation. Shoreline elevations projected to perpendiculars to isolines on contemporary uplift correlate well for 12 km across the perpendiculars. Projections to parallels are nearly horizontal for 5 km. 1985 fieldwork will extend this line to 20 km. Both correlations imply that the pattern of contemporary uplift is an accurate model for late Holocene deformation. Maximum late Holocene rates of deformation, as determined form minimum /sup 14/C dates, are 50-75% of contemporary rates. This suggests that late Holocene deformation has 1) been episodic (50-75% of the time), 2) been oscillatory (75-90% up, 10-25% down), or 3) occurred at an increasing rate through time. Tilt and uplift rates are similar, implying little downcutting at the outlet, and rates between shorelines are similar to those since shoreline formation, implying nearly constant average rates of deformation in the past 2500 years. Local deformation has been significant throughout the late Holocene. Episodic deformation in a graben 1 km across has controlled the location of the lake outlet, thus water level. Sharp local warping has deformed some shorelines by 1 mm/yr. These faults may relate to volcanic processes or to the regional tectonic regime.
- Research Organization:
- Montana State Univ., Bozeman (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6455828
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
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Related Subjects
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
TECTONICS
VOLCANISM
CALDERAS
DEFORMATION
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOMORPHOLOGY
QUATERNARY PERIOD
TOPOGRAPHY
VARIATIONS
WYOMING
CENOZOIC ERA
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
NORTH AMERICA
PUBLIC LANDS
USA
580201* - Geophysics- Seismology & Tectonics- (1980-1989)
580202 - Geophysics- Volcanology- (1980-1989)