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Late-Glacial and Early Holocene Sea-Level Fluctuations in the Central Puget Lowland, Washington, Inferred from Lake Sediments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Karl Anundsen ,
Sally Abella ,
Estella Leopold ,
Minze Stuiver  and
Sheila Turner
Karl Anundsen
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Bergen, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
Sally Abella
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
Estella Leopold
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
Minze Stuiver
Affiliation:
Quaternary Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
Sheila Turner
Affiliation:
Department of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
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Abstract

Analyses of sediments, diatoms, and pollen in a 12.65-m-long sediment core taken from Lake Carpenter in the central Puget Lowland, Washington, provide detailed information regarding the history of deglaciation and late-glacial/early Holocene sea-level changes. The lake outlet, now 8.2 m above sea level, has been lowered 1-1.5 m by postglacial erosion. The lithology and pollen record suggest that no lengthy hiatuses in sedimentation have occurred. The basal sediments are glacialmarine and contain shell fragments and brackish/marine diatoms. Freshwater sediments above the basal section are interrupted only by a short section containing few fossils, most of which are brackish to marine indicators, and by the Mazama tephra at 9.5 m. The pollen record in the basal 4 m reveals a Pinus zone (ca. 13,850-11,000 yr B.P.) with a brief peak of Picea at ca. 13,700 yr B.P., and an Alnus/Pseudotsuga zone (ca. 11,000-6500 yr B.P.). The chronology is based on nine radiocarbon ages. A relative lowering of sea level below the 9.5-m threshold is recorded in the core at 12.41 m and dates 13,850 to 13,700 yr B.P. A marine episode occurred about 13,600 yr B.P., implying that relative sea-level temporarily rose above 9.5 m. No subsequent transgressions above the 9.5-m level have been recorded. Comparison of six radiocarbon dates ≥13,600 yr B.P. suggest that the marine reservoir correction of 760 yr currently used for this area may be too high for this time period.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , September 1994 , pp. 149 - 161
Copyright
University of Washington

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