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Paleowind velocity and paleocurrents of pluvial Lake Manly, Death Valley, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

Jeffrey R. Knott ,
Joanna M. Fantozzi ,
Kelly M. Ferguson ,
Summer E. Keller ,
Khadija Nadimi ,
Carolyn A. Rath ,
Jennifer M. Tarnowski  and
Michelle L. Vitale
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Abstract

Pluvial lake deposits are found throughout western North America and are frequently used to reconstruct regional paleoclimate. In Death Valley, California, USA, we apply the beach particle technique (BPT) of Adams (2003), Sedimentology, 50, 565–577 and Adams (2004), Sedimentology, 51, 671–673 to Lake Manly deposits at the Beatty Junction Bar Complex (BJBC), Desolation Canyon, and Manly Terraces and calculate paleowind velocities of 14–27 m/s. These wind velocities are within the range of present-day wind velocities recorded in the surrounding area. Sedimentary structures and clast provenance at Desolation Canyon and the Manly Terraces indicate sediment transport from north to south. Lake level, based on the elevation of constructional features, indicates that the hill west of the BJBC was an island and that the BJBC spits formed during simple lake regression. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the present wind regime (velocity and direction) formed the pluvial Lake Manly features.

Keywords

Lake ManlyPaleogeographyQuaternary geologyPaleowind
Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 78 , Issue 2 , September 2012 , pp. 363 - 372
Copyright
University of Washington

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