Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T05:48:55.772Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Holocene loess deposition and soil formation as competing processes, Matanuska Valley, Southern Alaska

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Daniel R. Muhs ,
John P. McGeehin ,
Jossh Beann  and
Eric Fisher
Daniel R. Muhs*
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USA
John P. McGeehin
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 926A, National Center, Reston, VA 20192, USA
Jossh Beann
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USA
Eric Fisher
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Fax: (303) 236-5349.E-mail address:[email protected] (D.R. Muhs).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Although loess–paleosol sequences are among the most important records of Quaternary climate change and past dust deposition cycles, few modern examples of such sedimentation systems have been studied. Stratigraphic studies and 22 new accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon ages from the Matanuska Valley in southern Alaska show that loess deposition there began sometime after ∼6500 14C yr B.P. and has continued to the present. The silts are produced through grinding by the Matanuska and Knik glaciers, deposited as outwash, entrained by strong winds, and redeposited as loess. Over a downwind distance of ∼40 km, loess thickness, sand content, and sand-plus-coarse-silt content decrease, whereas fine-silt content increases. Loess deposition was episodic, as shown by the presence of paleosols, at distances >10 km from the outwash plain loess source. Stratigraphic complexity is at a maximum (i.e. the greatest number of loesses and paleosols) at intermediate (10–25 km) distances from the loess source. Surface soils increase in degree of development with distance downwind from the source, where sedimentation rates are lower. Proximal soils are Entisols or Inceptisols, whereas distal soils are Spodosols. Ratios of mobile CaO, K2O, and Fe2O3 to immobile TiO2 show decreases in surface horizons with distance from the source. Thus, as in China, where loess deposition also takes place today, eolian sedimentation and soil formation are competing processes. Study of loess and paleosols in southern Alaska shows that particle size can vary over short distances, loess deposition can be episodic over limited time intervals, and soils developed in stabilized loess can show considerable variability under the same vegetation.

Keywords

LoessHoloceneMatanuska Valley, AlaskaPaleosolsRadiocarbon datingInceptisolsSpodosolsChemical weathering
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 61 , Issue 3 , May 2004 , pp. 265 - 276
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

Ager, T.A, (1983). Holocene vegetational history of Alaska. Wright, H.E Jr., Late Quaternary Environments of the United States. vol. 2, The Holocene. Univ. of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis., 128–141.Google Scholar
Ager, T.A, Brubaker, L, (1985). Quaternary palynology and vegetational history of Alaska. Bryant, V.M Jr., Holloway, R.G, Pollen Records of Late-Quaternary North American Sediments. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, Dallas, TX., 353–383.Google Scholar
Aide, M.T, Pavich, Z, (2002). Rare earth element mobilization and migration in a Wisconsin Spodosol. Soil Science. 167, 680–691.Google Scholar
Alexander, E.B, Burt, R, (1996). Soil development on moraines of Mendenhall Glacier, southeast Alaska: 1. The moraines and soil morphology. Geoderma. 72, 1–17.Google Scholar
Baker, R.G, Rhodes, R.S, Schwert, D.P, Ashworth, A.C, Frest, T.J, Hallberg, G.R, Janssens, J.A, (1986). A full-glacial biota from southeastern Iowa, USA. Journal of Quaternary Science. 1, 91–107.Google Scholar
Baker, R.G, Sullivan, A.E, Hallberg, G.R, Horton, D.G, (1989). Vegetational changes in western Illinois during the onset of late Wisconsinan glaciation. Ecology. 70, 1363–1376.Google Scholar
Barnes, F.F., (1962). Geologic map of Lower Matanuska Valley, Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Map I-0359, scale 1:63,360.Google Scholar
Birkeland, P.W, (1999). Soils and Geomorphology. Oxford Univ. Press, New York.Google Scholar
Clark, M.H, Kautz, D.R, (1998). Soil Survey of Matanuska–Susitna Valley Area, Alaska. U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Davidson, D.T, Roy, C.J, (1959). The geology and engineering characteristics of some Alaskan soils. Iowa State Univ. Bull.. 186, 1–99.Google Scholar
Fontana, M.R., (1988). Holocene tephrochronology of the Matanuska Valley, Alaska. Unpublished M.S. thesis, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks.Google Scholar
Forester, R.M, Delorme, L.D, Ager, T.A, (1989). A lacustrine record of late Holocene climate change from south-central Alaska. American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monogr.. 55, 33–40.Google Scholar
Hayward, R.K, Lowell, T.V, (1993). Variations in loess accumulation rates in the mid-continent, United States, as reflected by magnetic susceptibility. Geology. 21, 821–824.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hopkins, D.M, (1963). Geology of the Imuruk Lake area, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Bull. 1141-C.Google Scholar
Jones, R.L, Beavers, A.H, (1966). Weathering in surface horizons of Illinois soils. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings. 30, 621–624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, J.A, Jacobs, P.M, (1998). Chemical and particle size evidence for addition of fine dust to soils of the midwestern United States. Geology. 26, 1135–1138.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, J.A, Jacobs, P.M, Greene, R.S.B, Nettleton, W.D, (2003). Sedimentary aggregates in the Peoria Loess of Nebraska, USA. Catena. 53, 377–397.Google Scholar
McGeehin, J, Burr, G.S, Jull, A.J.T, Reines, D, Gosse, J, Davis, P.T, Muhs, D, Southon, J.R, (2001). Stepped-combustion 14C dating of sediment: a comparison with established techniques. Radiocarbon. 43, 255–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muhs, D.R, Ager, T.A, Been, J, Bradbury, J.P, Dean, W.E, (2003a). A late Quaternary record of eolian silt deposition in a maar lake, St. Michael Island, western Alaska. Quaternary Research. 60, 110–122.Google Scholar
Muhs, D.R, Ager, T.A, Begét, J.B, (2001a). Vegetation and paleoclimate of the last interglacial period, central Alaska. Quaternary Science Reviews. 20, 41–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muhs, D.R, Ager, T.A, Bettis, E.A III, McGeehin, J, Been, J.M, Begét, J.E, Pavich, M.J, Stafford, T.W Jr., Stevens, D.S.P, (2003b). Stratigraphy and paleoclimatic significance of late Quaternary loess–paleosol sequences of the Last Interglacial–Glacial cycle in central Alaska. Quaternary Science Reviews. 22, 1947–1986.Google Scholar
Muhs, D.R, Bettis, E.A III, (2003). Quaternary loess–paleosol sequences as examples of climate-driven sedimentary extremes. Chan, M.A, Archer, A.W, Extreme Depositional Environments: Mega End Members in Geologic Time. Geological Society of America Special Paper. vol. 370, Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado., 53–74.Google Scholar
Muhs, D.R, Bettis, E.A III, Been, J, McGeehin, J, (2001b). Impact of climate and parent material on chemical weathering in loess-derived soils of the Mississippi River Valley. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 65, 1761–1777.Google Scholar
Péwé, T.L, (1975). Quaternary Geology of Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 835.Google Scholar
Ping, C.L, (1987). Soil temperature profiles of two Alaskan soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 51, 1010–1018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porter, S.C, (2001). Chinese loess record of monsoon climate during the last glacial–interglacial cycle. Earth-Science Reviews. 54, 115–128.Google Scholar
Pye, K, Tsoar, H, (1987). The mechanics and geological implications of dust transport and deposition in deserts with particular reference to loess formation and sand dune diagenesis in the northern Negev, Israel. Frostick, L, Reid, I, Desert Sediments: Ancient and Modern. Geological Society Special Publication. vol. 35, Unwin Hyman, London., 139–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reger, R.D., Pinney, D.S., Burke, R.M., Wiltse, M.A., (1996). Catalog and initial analyses of geologic data related to middle to late Quaternary deposits. Cook Inlet region, Alaska. State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigations 95-6, 1–188.Google Scholar
Reger, R.D, Updike, R.G, (1983). Upper Cook Inlet region and the Matanuska Valley. Péwé, T.L, Reger, R.D, Guidebook to Permafrost and Quaternary Geology along the Richardson and Glenn Highways between Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska. State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Guidebook. vol. 1, Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska., 185–259.Google Scholar
Rieger, S, Juve, R.L, (1961). Soil development in recent loess in the Matanuska Valley, Alaska. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings. 25, 243–248.Google Scholar
Riehle, J.R, (1985). A reconnaissance of the major Holocene tephra deposits in the upper Cook Inlet region, Alaska. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 26, 37–74.Google Scholar
Rousseau, D.D, Antoine, P, Hatté, C, Lang, A, Zöller, L, Fontugne, M, Ben Othman, D, Luck, J.M, Moine, O, Labonne, M, Bentaleb, I, Jolly, D, (2002). Abrupt millennial climatic changes from Nussloch (Germany) Upper Weichselian eolian records during the Last Glaciation. Quaternary Science Reviews. 21, 1577–1582.Google Scholar
Ruhe, R.V, (1969a). Application of pedology to Quaternary research. Pawluk, S, Pedology and Quaternary Research. National Research Council of Canada and University of Alberta, Edmonton., 1–23.Google Scholar
Ruhe, R.V, (1969b). Quaternary Landscapes in Iowa. Iowa State University Press, Ames.Google Scholar
Ruhe, R.V, Miller, G.A, Vreeken, W.J, (1971). Paleosols, loess sedimentation and soil stratigraphy. Yaalon, D.H, Paleopedology—Origin, Nature and Dating of Paleosols. Israel Universities Press, Jerusalem., 41–59.Google Scholar
Sainsbury, C.L., (1972). Geologic Map of the Teller Quadrangle, Western Seward Peninsula, Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map I-685, scale 1:250,000.Google Scholar
Schaetzl, R.J, Isard, S.A, (1996). Regional-scale relationships between climate and strength of podzolization in the Great Lakes region, North America. Catena. 28, 47–69.Google Scholar
Schoephorster, D.B, (1968). Soil Survey of Matanuska Valley Area, Alaska. U.S. Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Schmoll, H.R, Yehle, L.A, Updike, R.G, (1999). Summary of Quaternary geology of the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska. Quaternary International. 60, 3–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, G.D, (1942). Illinois loess: variations in its properties and distribution, a pedologic interpretation. University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Bull.. 490, 139–184.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, P.J, Bard, E, Beck, J.W, Burr, G.S, Hughen, K.A, Kromer, B, McCormac, G, van der Plicht, J, Spurk, M, (1998). INTCAL 98 radiocarbon age calibration, 24,000–0 cal B.P. Radiocarbon. 40, 1041–1083.Google Scholar
Trainer, F.W, (1961). Eolian deposits of the Matanuska Valley agricultural area, Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Bull. 1121-C.Google Scholar
Tuck, R, (1938). The loess of the Matanuska Valley, Alaska. Journal of Geology. 46, 647–653.Google Scholar
Verosub, K.L, Fine, P, Singer, M.J, TenPas, J, (1993). Pedogenesis and paleoclimate: interpretation of the magnetic susceptibility record of Chinese loess–paleosol sequences. Geology. 21, 1011–1014.Google Scholar
Wang, H, Follmer, L.R, Liu, J.C, (2000). Isotope evidence of paleo-El Niño–Southern Oscillation cycles in loess–paleosol record in the central United States. Geology. 28, 771–774.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, P.V, Stewart, J.D, (1987). Spruce charcoal, conifer macrofossils, and land snail and small-vertebrate faunas in Wisconsinan sediments on the High Plains of Kansas. Johnson, W.C, Quaternary Environments of Kansas. Kansas Geological Survey Guidebook Series. vol. 5, Kansas Geological Surveys, Lawrence, Kansas., 129–140.Google Scholar
Williams, J.R, (1986). New radiocarbon dates from the Matanuska Glacier bog section. U.S. Geological Survey Circular. C-0978, 85–88.Google Scholar