Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T05:58:17.944Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Forces driving late Pleistocene (ca. 77–12 ka) landscape evolution in the Cimarron River valley, southwestern Kansas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Anthony L. Layzell*
Affiliation:
Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
Rolfe D. Mandel
Affiliation:
Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
Greg A. Ludvigson
Affiliation:
Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
Tammy M. Rittenour
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Jon J. Smith
Affiliation:
Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
*
*Corresponding author.E-mail address:[email protected] (A.L. Layzell).

Abstract

This study presents stratigraphic, geomorphic, and paleoenvironmental (δ13C) data that provide insight into the late Pleistocene landscape evolution of the Cimarron River valley in the High Plains of southwestern Kansas. Two distinct valley fills (T-1 and T-2) were investigated. Three soils occur in the T-2 fill and five in the T-1 fill, all indicating periods of landscape stability or slow sedimentation. Of particular interest are two cumulic soils dating to ca. 48–28 and 13–12.5 ka. δ13C values are consistent with regional paleoenvironmental proxy data that indicate the prevalence of warm, dry conditions at these times. The Cimarron River is interpreted to have responded to these climatic changes and to local base level control. Specifically, aggradation occurred during cool, wet periods and slow sedimentation with cumulic soil formation occurred under warmer, drier climates. Significant valley incision (~ 25 m) by ca. 28 ka likely resulted from a lowering of local base level caused by deep-seated dissolution of Permian evaporite deposits.

Type
Articles
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

Aitken, M.J. (1998). An introduction to optical dating: the dating of Quaternary sediments by the use of photon-stimulated luminescence. Oxford University Press, (278 pp.)Google Scholar
Antevs, E. (1935). The occurrence of flints and extinct animals in pluvial deposits near Clovis, New Mexico, part II: Age of the Clovis lake clays. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 304312.Google Scholar
Baker, R.G. Bettis, E.A. III Mandel, R.D. Dorale, J.A. Fredlund, G.G. (2009). Mid-Wisconsinan environments on the eastern Great Plains. Quaternary Science Reviews 28, 9 873889.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baker, R.G. Fredlund, G.G. Mandel, R.D. Bettis, E.A. (2000). Holocene environments of the central Great Plains: multi-proxy evidence from alluvial sequences, southeastern Nebraska. Quaternary International 67, 1 7588.Google Scholar
Bartlein, P.J. Anderson, K.H. Anderson, P.M. Edwards, M.E. Mock, C.J. Thompson, R.S. Webb, R.S. Webb, T. Whitlock, C. (1998). Paleoclimate simulations for North America over the past 21,000 years features of the simulated climate and comparisons with paleoenvironmental data. Quaternary Science Reviews 17, 549585.Google Scholar
Bement, L.C. Carter, B.J. Varney, R.A. Cummings, L.S. Sudbury, J.B. (2007). Paleo-environmental reconstruction and bio-stratigraphy, Oklahoma Panhandle, USA. Quaternary International 169, 3950.Google Scholar
Bettis, E.A. III Mandel, R.D. (2002). The effects of temporal and spatial patterns of Holocene erosion and alluviation on the archaeological record of the Central and Eastern Great Plains, U.S.A. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal 17, 141154.Google Scholar
Bettis, E.A. Muhs, D.R. Roberts, H.M. Wintle, A.G. (2003). Last Glacial loess in the conterminous USA. Quaternary Science Reviews 22, 19071946.Google Scholar
Birkeland, P.W. (1999). Soils and geomorphology. 3rd Edition Oxford University Press, Oxford. (430 pp.)Google Scholar
Blum, M.D. Törnqvist, T.E. (2000). Fluvial responses to climate and sea‐level change: a review and look forward. Sedimentology 47, 248.Google Scholar
Boutton, T.W. (1991). Stable carbon isotope ratios of natural materials: II. Atmospheric, terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments. Carbon Isotope Techniques 1, 173 Google Scholar
Boutton, T.W. (1996). Stable carbon isotope ratios of soil organic matter and their use as indicators of vegetation and climate change. Boutton, T.W., and Yamasaki, S.I. Mass spectrometry of soils. Marcel Dekker, New York. 4782.Google Scholar
Bull, W.B. (1991). Geomorphic response to climatic change. Oxford University Press, Oxford. (326 pp.)Google Scholar
Cooperative Holocene Mapping Project (COHMAP) (1988). Climatic changes of the last 18,000 years: observations and model simulations. Science 24, 10431052.Google Scholar
Cordova, C.E. Johnson, W.C. Mandel, R.D. Palmer, M.W. (2011). Late Quaternary environmental change inferred from phytoliths and other soil-related proxies: case studies from the central and southern Great Plains, USA. Catena 85, 2 87108.Google Scholar
Daniels, J.M. Knox, J.C. (2005). Alluvial stratigraphic evidence for channel incision during the Mediaeval Warm Period on the central Great Plains, USA. The Holocene 15, 736747.Google Scholar
Dansgaard, W. et al Evidence for general instability of past climate from a 250-kyr ice-core record. Nature 364, 6434 (1993). 218220.Google Scholar
Fenneman, N.M. (1931). Physiography of Western United States. McGraw-Hill, New York. (534 pp.)Google Scholar
Forman, S.L. Oglesby, R. Markgraf, V. Stafford, T. (1995). Paleoclimatic significance of late Quaternary eolian deposition on the Piedmont and High Plains, central United States. Global and Planetary Change 11, 3555.Google Scholar
Forman, S.L. Pierson, (2002). Late Pleistocene luminescence chronology of loess deposition in the Missouri and Mississippi river valleys, United States. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 186, 2546.Google Scholar
Fredlund, G.G. (1995). Late Quaternary pollen record from Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas. Quaternary Research 43, 6779.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fredlund, G.G. Tieszen, L.L. (1997). Phytolith and carbon isotope evidence for late Quaternary vegetation and climate change in the southern Black Hills, South Dakota. Quaternary Research 47, 206217.Google Scholar
Frye, J.C. (1950). Origin of Kansas Great Plains depressions. Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 86, Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence.Google Scholar
Frye, J.C. Hibbard, C.W. (1941). Pliocene and Pleistocene stratigraphy and paleontology of the Meade basin, southwestern Kansas. Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 38, Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence.Google Scholar
Frye, J.C. Leonard, A.B. (1952). Pleistocene Geology of Kansas. Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 99, Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence. (230 pp.)Google Scholar
Frye, J.C. Schoff, S.L. (1942). Deep-seated solution in the Meade Basin and vicinity, Kansas and Oklahoma. Transactions - American Geophysical Union 23, 3539.Google Scholar
Galbraith, R.F. Roberts, R.G. (2012). Statistical aspects of equivalent dose and error calculations and display in OSL dating: An overview and some recommendations. Quaternary Geochronology 11, 127.Google Scholar
Guerin, G. Mercier, N. Adamiec, G. (2011). Dose-rate conversion factors: update. Ancient TL 29, 58.Google Scholar
Gustavson, T.C. (1986). Geomorphic development of the Canadian River valley, Texas Panhandle: An example of regional salt dissolution and subsidence. Geological Society of America Bulletin 97, 459472.Google Scholar
Gutentag, E.D. (1963). Studies of the Pleistocene and Pliocene deposits in southwestern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 66, 606621.Google Scholar
Hall, S.A. (1990). Channel trenching and climatic change in the southern US Great Plains. Geology 18, 342345.Google Scholar
Haynes, C.V. Jr. Agogino, G.A. (1966). Prehistoric springs and geochronology of the Clovis site, New Mexico. American Antiquity 31, 812821.Google Scholar
High Plains Regional Climate Center, (2014). Period of record monthly climate summary for Sublette, Kansas (147922). University of Nebraska, Lincoln (http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/cgi-bin/cli_perl_lib/cliMAIN.pl?ks7922 accessed Nov 2014)Google Scholar
Hill, H.W. Flower, B.P. Quinn, T.M. Hollander, D.J. Guilderson, T.P. (2006). Laurentide Ice Sheet meltwater and abrupt climate change during the last glaciation. Paleoceanography 21, 1 (PA1006)Google Scholar
Holliday, V.T. (1995). Stratigraphy and paleoenvironments of late Quaternary valley fills on the Southern High Plains. Geological Society of America Memoir 186, Google Scholar
Holliday, V.T. (2000). Folsom drought and episodic drying on the Southern High Plains from 10,900–10,200 14C B.P. Quaternary Research 53, 112.Google Scholar
Holliday, V.T. Haynes, C.V. Jr. Hofman, J.L. Meltzer, D.J. (1994). Geoarchaeology and geochronology of the Miami (Clovis) site, Southern High Plains of Texas. Quaternary Research 41, 234244.Google Scholar
Holliday, V.T. Hovorka, S.D. Gustavson, T.C. (1996). Lithostratigraphy and geochronology of fills in small playa basins on the Southern High Plains. Geological Society of America Bulletin 108, 953965.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holliday, V.T. Meltzer, D.J. Mandel, R.D. (2011). Stratigraphy of the Younger Dryas chronozone and paleoenvironmental implications: central and southern Great Plains. Quaternary International 242, 520533.Google Scholar
Huntley, D.J. Godfrey-Smith, D.I. Thewalt, M.L.W. (1985). Optical dating of sediments. Nature 313, 105107.Google Scholar
Jacobs, K.C. Fritz, S.C. Swinehart, J.B. (2007). Lacustrine evidence for moisture changes in the Nebraska Sand Hills during Marine Isotope Stage 3. Quaternary Research 67, 246254.Google Scholar
Johnson, W.C. Martin, C.W. (1987). Holocene alluvial-stratigraphic studies from Kansas and adjoining states of the East-Central Plains. Johnson, W.C. Quaternary Environments of Kansas, Guidebook Series 5. Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence. 109122.Google Scholar
Johnson, W.C. Willey, K.L. (2000). Isotopic and rock magnetic expression of environmental change at the Pleistocene–Holocene transition in the Central Great Plains. Quaternary International 67, 89106.Google Scholar
Johnson, W.C. Willey, K.L. Mason, J.A. May, D.W. (2007). Stratigraphy and environmental reconstruction at the middle Wisconsinan Gilman Canyon formation type locality, Buzzard's Roost, southwestern Nebraska, USA. Quaternary Research 67, 474486.Google Scholar
Knox, J.C. (1983). Responses of river systems to Holocene climates. Wright, H.E. Jr. Late Quaternary Environments of the United States – the Holocene. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 2641.Google Scholar
Kutzbach, J.E. (1987). Model simulations of the climatic patterns during the deglaciation of North America. Ruddiman, W.F., Wright, H.E. Jr. North America and Adjacent Oceans during the Last Deglaciation, The Geology of North America Vol. K-3, Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado. 425426.Google Scholar
Küchler, A.W. (1974). A new vegetation map of Kansas. Ecology 55, 586604.Google Scholar
Lisiecki, L.E. Raymo, M.E. (2005). A Pliocene‐Pleistocene stack of 57 globally distributed benthic δ18O records. Paleoceanography 20, 1 PA1003 Google Scholar
Maat, P.W. Johnson, W.C. (1996). Thermolumescence and new 14C age estimates for late Quaternary loesses in southwestern Nebraska. Geomorphology 17, 115128.Google Scholar
Mandel, R.D. (1994). Holocene landscape evolution in the Pawnee River Basin, Southwestern Kansas. Bulletin 236, Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence. (117 pp.)Google Scholar
Mandel, R.D. (2008). Buried Paleoindian-age landscapes in stream valleys of the Central Plains, USA. Geomorphology 101, 342361.Google Scholar
Mandel, R.D. (2013). Geoarchaeology and Paleoenvironmental Context of the Eastep Site (14MY388), Southeast Kansas. The Kansas Anthropologist 33, 159174.Google Scholar
Mandel, R.D. Bettis, E.A. III (1995). Late Quaternary landscape evolution and stratigraphy in Eastern Nebraska. Flowerday, C.A. Geologic field trips in Nebraska and adjacent parts of Kansas and South Dakota. Conservation and Survey Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Guidebook 10, 7790.Google Scholar
Mandel, R.D. Bettis, E.A. III (2001). Late Quaternary landscape evolution in the South Fork Big Nemaha River Valley, Southeastern Nebraska and Northeastern Kansas Guidebook No. 11, Conservation and Survey Division. University of Nebraska, Lincoln. (58 pp.)Google Scholar
Mayer, J.H. Burr, G.S. Holliday, V.T. (2008). Comparisons and interpretations of charcoal and organic matter radiocarbon ages from buried soils in north-central Colorado, USA. Radiocarbon 50, 331346.Google Scholar
Muhs, D.R. Aleinikoff, J.N. Stafford, T.W. Jr. Kihl, R. Been, J. Mahan, S.A. Cowherd, S. (1999). Late Quaternary loess in northeastern Colorado: Part I–Age and paleoclimatic significance. Geological Society of America Bulletin 111, 18611875.Google Scholar
Muhs, D.R. Bettis, E.A. Aleinikoff, J.N. McGeehin, J.P. Beann, J. Skipp, G. Benton, R. (2008). Origin and paleoclimatic significance of late Quaternary loess in Nebraska: Evidence from stratigraphy, chronology, sedimentology, and geochemistry. Geological Society of America Bulletin 120, 13781407.Google Scholar
Murray, A.S. Wintle, A.G. (2000). Luminescence dating of quartz using an improved single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol. Radiation Measurements 32, 5773.Google Scholar
Nordt, L.C. Boutton, T.W. Hallmark, C.T. Waters, M.R. (1994). Late Quaternary vegetation and climate changes in central Texas based on the isotopic composition of organic carbon. Quaternary Research 41, 109120.Google Scholar
Nordt, L.C. Boutton, T.W. Jacob, J.S. Mandel, R.D. (2002). C4 plant productivity and climate-CO2 variations in south-central Texas during the late quaternary. Quaternary Research 58, 182188.Google Scholar
Nordt, L. Von Fischer, J. Tieszen, L. (2007). Late Quaternary temperature record from buried soils of the North American Great Plains. Geology 35, 2 159162.Google Scholar
Olson, C.G. Nettleton, W.D. Porter, D.A. Brasher, B.R. (1997). Middle Holocene aeolian activity on the High Plains of west-central Kansas. The Holocene 7, 3 255261.Google Scholar
Olson, C.G. Porter, D.A. (2002). Isotopic and geomorphic evidence for Holocene climate, southwestern Kansas. Quaternary International 87, 2944.Google Scholar
Peel, M.C. Finlayson, B.L. McMahon, T.A. (2007). Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 4, 2 439473.Google Scholar
Porter, D.A. (1997). Soil genesis and landscape evolution within the Cimarron Bend area, southwest Kansas. (Dissertation) Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan. (UMI Dissertation Services No. 9817174, Ann Arbor, MI.)Google Scholar
Prescott, J.R. Hutton, J.T. (1994). Cosmic ray contributions to dose rates for luminescence and ESR dating. Radiation Measurements 23, 497500.Google Scholar
Reed, E.C. Dreeszen, V.H. (1965). Revision of the classification of the Pleistocene deposits of Nebraska. Nebraska Geological Survey Bulletin 23, 65 p.Google Scholar
Reimer, P.J. Bard, E. Bayliss, A. Beck, J.W. Blackwell, P.G. Bronk Ramsey, C. Buck, C.E. Cheng, H. Edwards, R.L. Friedrich, M. Grootes, P.M. Guilderson, T.P. Haflidason, H. Hajdas, I. Hatte, C. Heaton, T.J. Hogg, A.G. Hughen, K.A. Kaiser, K.F. Kromer, B. Manning, S.W. Niu, M. Reimer, R.W. Richards, D.A. Scott, E.M. Southon, J.R. Turney, C.S.M. van der Plicht, J. (2013). IntCal13 and MARINE13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55, 4 18691887.Google Scholar
Rittenour, T.M. (2008). Luminescence dating of fluvial deposits: applications to geomorphic, palaeoseismic and archaeological research. Boreas 37, 613635.Google Scholar
Rittenour, T.M. Blum, M.D. Goble, R.J. (2007). Fluvial evolution of the lower Mississippi River valley during the last 100-kyr glacial cycle: Response to glaciation and sea-level change. Geological Society of America Bulletin 119, 586608.Google Scholar
Rittenour, T.M. Goble, R.J. Blum, M.D. (2005). Development of an OSL chronology for Late Pleistocene channel belts in the lower Mississippi valley, USA. Quaternary Science Reviews 24, 25392554.Google Scholar
Rousseau, D.-D. Kukla, G. (1994). Late Pleistocene climate record in the Eustis loess section, Nebraska, based on land snail assemblages and magnetic susceptibility. Quaternary Research 42, 176187.Google Scholar
Schoeneberger, P.J. Wysocki, D.A. Benham, E.C. Broderson, W.D. (2012). Field book for describing and sampling soils, Version 3 Natural resources conservation service. National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE. Google Scholar
Schumm, S.A. (1977). The fluvial system. John Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Schumm, S.A. (1993). River response to base level change: implications for sequence stratigraphy. The Journal of Geology 279–294, Google Scholar
Sionneau, T. Bout-Roumazeilles, V. Meunier, G. Kissel, C. Flower, B.P. Bory, A. Tribovillard, N. (2013). Atmospheric re-organization during Marine Isotope Stage 3 over the North American continent: sedimentological and mineralogical evidence from the Gulf of Mexico. Quaternary Science Reviews 81, 6273.Google Scholar
Smith, H.T.U. (1940). Geologic studies in southwestern Kansas. Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 34, Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence.Google Scholar
Soil Survey Staff, (1982). Procedure for collecting soil samples and methods of analysis for soil survey. Soil Survey Investigations Report 1 USDA-SCS, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Souders, V.L. Kuzila, M.S. A report on the geology and radiocarbon ages of four superimposed horizons at a site in the Republican River valley, Franklin County Nebraska. Proceedings of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 65, (1990). Google Scholar
Terri, J.A. Stowe, L.G. (1976). Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America. Oecologia 23, 112.Google Scholar
Tripsanas, E.K. Bryant, W.R. Slowey, N.C. Bouma, A.H. Karageorgis, A.P. Berti, D. (2007). Sedimentological history of Bryant Canyon area, northwest Gulf of Mexico, during the last 135 kyr (Marine Isotope Stages 1–6): a proxy record of Mississippi River discharge. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 246, 137161.Google Scholar
Tucker, G.E. Arnold, L. Bras, R.L. Flores, H. Istanbulluoglu, E. Sólyom, P. (2006). Headwater channel dynamics in semiarid rangelands, Colorado high plains, USA. Geological Society of America Bulletin 118, 959974.Google Scholar
Van Meerbeeck, C.J. Renssen, H. Roche, D.M. (2009). How did Marine Isotope Stage 3 and Last Glacial Maximum climates differ? Perspectives from equilibrium simulations. Climate of the Past 5, 3351.Google Scholar
Voelker, A.H. (2002). Global distribution of centennial-scale records for Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3: a database. Quaternary Science Reviews 21, 10 11851212.Google Scholar
von Fischer, J. Tieszen, L. Schimel, D. (2008). Climate controls on C3 and C4 productivity in North American grasslands from carbon isotope composition of soil organic matter. Global Change Biology 14, 11411155.Google Scholar
Wallinga, J. (2002). Optically stimulated luminescence dating of fluvial deposits: a review. Boreas 31, 4 303322.Google Scholar
Wells, P.V. Stewart, J.D. (1987). Cordilleran-boreal taiga and fauna on the Central Great Plains of North America, 14,000–18,000 years ago. American Midland Naturalist 118, 94106.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Layzell et al. supplementary material

Figure S1

Download Layzell et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 396.3 KB
Supplementary material: PDF

Layzell et al. supplementary material

Figure S2

Download Layzell et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 348.8 KB