Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T12:42:40.779Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influence of a glacial buzzsaw on the height and morphology of the Cascade Range in central Washington State, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Sara Gran Mitchell  and
David R. Montgomery
Sara Gran Mitchell*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box 351310 Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
David R. Montgomery
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box 351310 Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
*
*Corresponding author. Fax: +1 206 543 0489.Email Address:[email protected](S.G. Mitchell).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Analysis of climatic and topographic evidence from the Cascade Range of Washington State indicates that glacial erosion limits the height and controls the morphology of this range. Glacial erosion linked to long-term spatial gradients in the ELA created a tilted, planar zone of 373 cirques across the central part of the range; peaks and ridges now rise ≤600 m above this zone. Hypsometric analysis of the region shows that the proportion of land area above the cirques drops sharply, and mean slopes >30° indicate that the areas above the cirques may be at or near threshold steepness. The mean plus 1σ relief of individual cirque basins (570 m) corresponds to the ∼600-m envelope above which peaks rarely rise. The summit altitudes are set by a combination of higher rates of glacial and paraglacial erosion above the ELA and enhanced hillslope processes due to the creation of steep topography. On the high-precipitation western flank of the Cascades, the dominance of glacial and hillslope erosion at altitudes at and above the ELA may explain the lack of a correspondence between stream-power erosion models and measured exhumation rates from apatite (U-Th/He) thermochronometry.

Keywords

Glacial erosionTopographyDigital elevation model analysisCascade RangeWashington State
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 65 , Issue 1 , January 2006 , pp. 96 - 107
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amerson, B, (2005). Morphometry of fluvial and glacial valleys in central Idaho.. Unpublished M.S. thesis, University of Washington., 43 p.Google Scholar
Bagnold, R.A., (1960). Flow resistance in sinuous or irregular channels: Part 2. A theoretical model of energy loss in curved channels. USGS Professional Paper 122–130.Google Scholar
Ballantyne, C.K., (2002). Paraglacial geomorphology. Quaternary Science Reviews 21, 1935–2017.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benn, D.I., Lehmkuhl, F., (2000). Mass balance and equilibrium-line altitudes of glaciers in high-mountain environments. Quaternary International 65/66, 15–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Booth, D.B., Troost, K.G., Clague, J.J., Waitt, R.B., (2004). The Cordilleran ice sheet.Gillespie, A.R., Porter, S.C., Atwater, B.F., The Quaternary period in the United States Developments in Quaternary Science vol. 1, 17–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brocklehurst, S.H., Whipple, K.X., (2002). Glacial erosion and relief production in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California. Geomorphology 42, 1–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brocklehurst, S.H., Whipple, K.X., (2004). Hypsometry of glaciated landscapes. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 29, 907–926.Google Scholar
Brozovic, N., Burbank, D.W., Meigs, A.J., (1997). Climatic limits on landscape development in the northwestern Himalaya. Science 276, 571–574.Google Scholar
Burbank, D.W., Leland, J., Fielding, E., Anderson, R.S., Brozovic, N., Reid, M.R., Duncan, C., (1996). Bedrock incision, rock uplift and threshold hillslopes in the northwestern Himalayas. Nature 379, 505–510.Google Scholar
Charlesworth, J.K., (1957). The Quaternary Era. Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Daly, R.A., (1905). The accordance of summit levels among alpine mountains; the fact and its significance. Journal of Geology 105–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finlayson, D.P., Montgomery, D.R., (2003). Modeling large-scale fluvial erosion in geographic information systems. Geomorphology 53, 147–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hallet, B., Hunter, L., Bogen, L., (1996). Rates of erosion and sediment evacuation by glaciers; a review of field data and their implications. Global and Planetary Change 12, 213–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
House, M.A., Wernicke, B.P., Farley, K.A., (1997). Dating topography of the Sierra Nevada, California, using apatite (U-Th)/He ages. Nature 396, 66–69.Google Scholar
James, A.L., (2003). Glacial erosion and geomorphology in the northwest Sierra Nevada, CA. Geomorphology 55, 283–303.Google Scholar
Long, W.A., (1951). Glacial geology of the Wenatchee–Entiat area, Washington. Northwest Science 25, 3–16.Google Scholar
MacGregor, K.R., Anderson, R.S., Anderson, S.P., Waddington, E.D., (2000). Numerical simulations of glacial-valley longitudinal profile evolution. Geology 28, 1031–1034.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackin, J.H., (1941). Glacial geology of the Snoqualmie–Cedar area, Washington. Journal of Geology 49, 449–481.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, Y., (2000). Modelling hillslope evolution: linear and nonlinear transport relations. Geomorphology 34, 1–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, Y., Church, M., (1997). Diffusion in landscape development models: on the nature of basic transport relations. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 22, 273–279.Google Scholar
Meigs, A., Sauber, J., (2000). Southern Alaska as an example of the long-term consequences of mountain building under the influence of glaciers. Quaternary Science Reviews 19, 1543–1562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mills, J.E., (1892). Stratigraphy and succession of the rocks of the Sierra Nevada of California. Geological Society of America 413–444.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, D.R., (2001). Slope distributions, threshold hillslopes, and steady-state topography. American Journal of Science 301, 432–454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, D.R., (2002). Valley formation by fluvial and glacial erosion. Geology 30, 1047–1050.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, D.R., Brandon, M.T., (2002). Topographic controls on erosion rates in tectonically active mountain ranges. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 201, 481–489.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, D.R., Balco, G., Willett, S.D., (2001). Climate, tectonics, and the morphology of the Andes. Geology 29, 579–582.Google Scholar
Page, B.M., (1939). Multiple alpine glaciation in the Leavenworth area, Washington. Journal of Geology 47, 785–815.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porter, S.C., (1964). Composite pleistocene snow line of Olympic mountains and cascade range, Washington. Geological Society of America Bulletin 75, 477–482.Google Scholar
Porter, S.C., (1976a). Pleistocene glaciation on the southern part of the North Cascade Range, Washington. Geological Society of America Bulletin 87, 61–75.Google Scholar
Porter, S.C., (1976b). Geomorphic evidence of post-Miocene deformation of the eastern North Cascade Range. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 8, 402–403.Google Scholar
Porter, S.C., (1977). Present and past glaciation threshold in the Cascade Range, Washington, U.S.A.: topographic and climatic controls, and paleoclimate implications. Journal of Glaciology 18, 101–116.Google Scholar
Porter, S.C., (1989). Some geological implications of average Quaternary glacial conditions. Quaternary Research 32, 245–261.Google Scholar
Porter, S.C., (2001). Snowline depression in the tropics during the Last Glaciation. Quaternary Science Reviews 20, 1067–1091.Google Scholar
Reiners, P.W., Ehlers, T.A., Garver, J.I., Mitchell, S.G., Montgomery, D.R., Vance, J.A., Nicolescu, S., (2002). Late Miocene exhumation and uplift of the Washington Cascade Range. Geology 30, 767–770.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reiners, P.W., Ehlers, T.A., Mitchell, S.G., Montgomery, D.R., (2003). Coupled spatial variations in precipitation and long-term erosion rates across the Washington Cascades. Nature 426, 645–647.Google Scholar
Roe, G.H., Montgomery, D.R., Hallet, B., (2002). Effects of orographic precipitation variations on the concavity of steady-state river profiles. Geology 30, 143–146.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roering, J.J., Kirchner, J.W., Dietrich, W.E., (1999). Evidence for nonlinear, diffusive sediment transport on hillslopes and implications for landscape morphology. Water Resources Research 35, 853–870.Google Scholar
Rudberg, S., (1984). Fossil glacial cirques or cirque problematica at lower levels in northern and central Sweden. Geografiska Annaler 66A, 29–39.Google Scholar
Russell, I.C., (1900). A preliminary paper on the geology of the Cascade Mountains in northern Washington. USGS Annual Report 20, Pt. 2 83–210.Google Scholar
Schmidt, K.M., Montgomery, D.R., (1995). Limits to relief. Science 270, 617–620.Google Scholar
Smith, G.O., (1903). Geology and physiography of Central Washington. USGS Professional Paper 19, 1–46.Google Scholar
Spotila, J.A., Buscher, J.T., Meigs, A.J., Reiners, P.W., (2004). Long-term glacial erosion of active mountain belts: example from the Chugach-St. Elias Range, Alaska. Geology 32, 501–504.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tabor, R.W, Waitt, R.B, Frizzell, V.A. Jr., Swanson, D.A., Byerly, G.R., and Bentley, R.D., (1982). Geologic map of the Wenatchee 1:100,000 quadrangle, central Washington. USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map 1–1311, 26 p.Google Scholar
Tabor, R.W., Frizzell, V.A. Jr., Waitt, R.B., Swanson, D.A., Byerly, G.R., Booth, D.B., Hetherington, M.J., Zartman, R.E., (1987). Geologic map of the Chelan 30-by 60-minute quadrangle, Washington.. USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1661, scale 1:100,000, 29 p.Google Scholar
Tabor, R.W., Frizzell, V.A. Jr., Booth, D.B., Waitt, R.B., Whetten, J.T., Zartman, R.E., (1993). Geologic map of the Skykomish River 30– by 60-minute quadrangle, Washington.. USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I–1963, scale 1:100,000, 42 p.Google Scholar
Tabor, R.W., Frizzell, V.A. Jr., Booth, D.B., Waitt, R.B., (2000). Geologic map of the Snoqualmie Pass 30 × 60 minute quadrangle, Washington.. USGS Geologic Investigations Series Map I-2538, scale 1:100,000, 57 p.Google Scholar
Thompson, W.F., (1962). Cascade alp slopes and Gipfelfluren as clima-geomorphic phenomena. Erdkunde 16, 81–94.Google Scholar
Tomkin, J.H., Braun, J., (2002). The influence of alpine glaciation on the relief of tectonically active mountain belts. American Journal of Science 302, 169–190.Google Scholar
Waitt, R.B. Jr.(1975). Late pleistocene alpine glaciers and the cordilleran ice sheet at Washington pass, north Cascade Range, Washington. Arctic and Alpine Research 7, 25–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waitt, R.B. Jr., Thorson, R.M., (1983). The Cordilleran ice sheet in Washington, Idaho and Montana.Porter, S.C., Late Quaternary Environments of the United States University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.53–70.Google Scholar
Weissenborn, A.E., (1969). Geologic Map of Washington.. USGS Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map I-583.Google Scholar
Whipple, K.X., Kirby, E., Brocklehurst, S.H., (1999). Geomorphic limits to climate-induced increases in topographic relief. Nature 401, 39–43.Google Scholar
Willis, B., (1903). Physiography and deformation of the Wenatchee-Chelan district Cascade Range. USGS Professional Paper 19, 47–97.Google Scholar