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Title: Late glacial climate estimates for southern Nevada: The ostracode fossil record

Conference ·
OSTI ID:120867
 [1];  [2]
  1. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
  2. Kent State Univ., OH (United States)

Climate change plays an important role in determining as possible long term hydrological performance of the potential high level nuclear waste repository within Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Present-day global circulation results in this region having an arid to semi-arid climate characterized by hot and relatively dry summers. Global circulation during the late glacial (about 14 to 20 ka) was very different from the present-day. Preliminary study of late-glacial fossil ostracodes from {open_quotes}marsh deposits{close_quotes} in the upper Las Vegas Valley suggests mean annual precipitation may have been four times higher, while mean annual temperature may have been about 10{degrees}C cooler than today. A major difference between present-day and late-glacial climate was likely the existence of cooler, cloudier, and wetter summers in the past.

Research Organization:
Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Akron, OH (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI ID:
120867
Report Number(s):
CONF-940553-92; ON: DE96001458; CNN: U.S. Geological Survey, Global Climate Change and Climate History Program; TRN: 95:007846
Resource Relation:
Conference: International high-level radioactive waste management conference, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 22-26 May 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English