Geomorphic and paleoclimatic implications of latest Pleistocene radiocarbon dates from colluvium-mantled hollows, California
Radiocarbon analyses of charcoal from basal colluvium in 11 California hollows show a clustering of dates between 9000 and 15,000 B.P., an indication that changes in the storage and discharge of colluvium from hillslopes accompanied the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Hollows are sites of topographically induced convergence and deposition of colluvial debris, and evacuation of this debris was apparently more thorough and possibly more frequent in the latest Pleistocene, perhaps due to a combination of changes in vegetation and rainfall characteristics. One hypothesis is that greater storm intensities occurred in the latest Pleistocene and induced a higher frequency of landslides in hollows and a regional extension of channel heads upslope relative to the Holocene. During the last Pleistocene, California hollows apparently contained smaller volumes of colluvium in storage. The increased storage of debris during the Holocene may have resulted in a diminished supply of sediment to stream channels.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Berkeley
- OSTI ID:
- 5717971
- Journal Information:
- Geology; (United States), Journal Name: Geology; (United States) Vol. 14:8; ISSN GLGYB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
ADSORBENTS
AGE ESTIMATION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CALIFORNIA
CARBON 14
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHARCOAL
DEPOSITION
EROSION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
ISOTOPE DATING
ISOTOPES
LANDSLIDES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
RADIOISOTOPES
USA
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES