Climatic and hydrologic oscillations in the Owens Lake basin and adjacent Sierra Nevada, California

Science

Volumn 274, Issue 5288, 1996, Pages 746-749

  Benson, Larry V ^a   Burdett, James W ^a   Kashgarian, Michaele ^b   Lund, Steve P ^c   Phillips, Fred M ^d   Rye, Robert O ^a  

^a U S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY   (United States)

^b LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA   (United States)

^d NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; CLIMATE; LAKE; MAGNETISM; NORTH AMERICA; OSCILLATION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SEDIMENT; TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON;

DESICCATION; GLACIATION; LAKE HYDROLOGY; LITHIC RECORD; PALAEOCLIMATE;

USA, CALIFORNIA, SIERRA NEVADA, OWENS LAKE;

EID: 0029660257     PISSN: 00368075     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1126/science.274.5288.746     Document Type: Article

References (45)

1. W. Dansgaard et al., Nature 364, 218 (1993); P. M. Grootes et al., ibid. 366, 552 (1993); K. C. Taylor et al., ibid. 361, 432 (1993).
2. W. Dansgaard et al., Nature 364, 218 (1993); P. M. Grootes et al., ibid. 366, 552 (1993); K. C. Taylor et al., ibid. 361, 432 (1993).
3. W. Dansgaard et al., Nature 364, 218 (1993); P. M. Grootes et al., ibid. 366, 552 (1993); K. C. Taylor et al., ibid. 361, 432 (1993).
4. W. F. Ruddiman, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 88, 1813 (1977); H. Heinrich, Quat. Res. 29, 143 (1988).
5. W. F. Ruddiman, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 88, 1813 (1977); H. Heinrich, Quat. Res. 29, 143 (1988).
6. G.Bond et al., Nature 360, 245 (1992); J.T. Andrews and K. Tedesco, Geology 20, 1087 (1992); J. T. Andrews et al., Can. J. Earth Sci. 31, 90 (1993).
7. G.Bond et al., Nature 360, 245 (1992); J.T. Andrews and K. Tedesco, Geology 20, 1087 (1992); J. T. Andrews et al., Can. J. Earth Sci. 31, 90 (1993).
8. G.Bond et al., Nature 360, 245 (1992); J.T. Andrews and K. Tedesco, Geology 20, 1087 (1992); J. T. Andrews et al., Can. J. Earth Sci. 31, 90 (1993).
9. W. S. Broecker et al., Clim. Dyn. 6, 265 (1992); W. S. Broecker, Nature 372, 421 (1994); J. A. Dowdeswell et al., Geology 23, 301 (1995).
10. W. S. Broecker et al., Clim. Dyn. 6, 265 (1992); W. S. Broecker, Nature 372, 421 (1994); J. A. Dowdeswell et al., Geology 23, 301 (1995).
11. W. S. Broecker et al., Clim. Dyn. 6, 265 (1992); W. S. Broecker, Nature 372, 421 (1994); J. A. Dowdeswell et al., Geology 23, 301 (1995).
12. G. C. Bond and R. Lotti, Science 267, 1005 (1995).
13. B. D. Allen and R. Y. Anderson, ibid. 260, 1920 (1993); E. C. Grimm, G. L. Jacobson Jr., W. A. Watts, B. C. S. Hansen, K. A. Maasch, ibid. 261, 198 (1993); F. M. Phillips et al., Geology 22, 1114 (1994); T. V. Lowell et al., Science 269, 1541 (1995); S. C. Porter and A. Zhisheng, Nature 375, 305 (1995); R. J. Behl and J. P. Kennett, ibid. 379, 243 (1996).
14. B. D. Allen and R. Y. Anderson, ibid. 260, 1920 (1993); E. C. Grimm, G. L. Jacobson Jr., W. A. Watts, B. C. S. Hansen, K. A. Maasch, ibid. 261, 198 (1993); F. M. Phillips et al., Geology 22, 1114 (1994); T. V. Lowell et al., Science 269, 1541 (1995); S. C. Porter and A. Zhisheng, Nature 375, 305 (1995); R. J. Behl and J. P. Kennett, ibid. 379, 243 (1996).
15. B. D. Allen and R. Y. Anderson, ibid. 260, 1920 (1993); E. C. Grimm, G. L. Jacobson Jr., W. A. Watts, B. C. S. Hansen, K. A. Maasch, ibid. 261, 198 (1993); F. M. Phillips et al., Geology 22, 1114 (1994); T. V. Lowell et al., Science 269, 1541 (1995); S. C. Porter and A. Zhisheng, Nature 375, 305 (1995); R. J. Behl and J. P. Kennett, ibid. 379, 243 (1996).
16. B. D. Allen and R. Y. Anderson, ibid. 260, 1920 (1993); E. C. Grimm, G. L. Jacobson Jr., W. A. Watts, B. C. S. Hansen, K. A. Maasch, ibid. 261, 198 (1993); F. M. Phillips et al., Geology 22, 1114 (1994); T. V. Lowell et al., Science 269, 1541 (1995); S. C. Porter and A. Zhisheng, Nature 375, 305 (1995); R. J. Behl and J. P. Kennett, ibid. 379, 243 (1996).
17. B. D. Allen and R. Y. Anderson, ibid. 260, 1920 (1993); E. C. Grimm, G. L. Jacobson Jr., W. A. Watts, B. C. S. Hansen, K. A. Maasch, ibid. 261, 198 (1993); F. M. Phillips et al., Geology 22, 1114 (1994); T. V. Lowell et al., Science 269, 1541 (1995); S. C. Porter and A. Zhisheng, Nature 375, 305 (1995); R. J. Behl and J. P. Kennett, ibid. 379, 243 (1996).
18. B. D. Allen and R. Y. Anderson, ibid. 260, 1920 (1993); E. C. Grimm, G. L. Jacobson Jr., W. A. Watts, B. C. S. Hansen, K. A. Maasch, ibid. 261, 198 (1993); F. M. Phillips et al., Geology 22, 1114 (1994); T. V. Lowell et al., Science 269, 1541 (1995); S. C. Porter and A. Zhisheng, Nature 375, 305 (1995); R. J. Behl and J. P. Kennett, ibid. 379, 243 (1996).
19. P. U. Clark and P. J. Bartlein, Geology 23, 483 (1995).
20. Lithic percentages for core V23-81 were provided by G. Bond, Lamont Doherty Geological Observatory.
21. K. J. Holtett et al., U.S. Geol. Surv. Water Supply Pap. 2370 (1991).
22. Thermal springs that discharge into the Owens River by way of Hot Creek contain much more carbonate and much less calcium than other surface-water systems [M. L. Sorey, J. Geophys. Res. 90, 11219 (1985)]. However, thermal water discharged into the Owens River has historically contributed <1% of the calcium reaching Owens Lake; therefore, a change in the activity of these thermal springs would have little influence on the amount of TIC deposited in Owens Lake.
23. Sediments from OL90-1 and -2 are mostly fine silts made up of quartz, feldspar, and biotite fragments. Some authigenic calcite is also present.
24. 14C dates were determined at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry; before analysis, all samples were pre-treated with dilute HCI to remove inorganic carbon.
25. 18O values would not be entirely representative of Owens Lake water; however, x-ray diffraction of several OL90-2 samples failed to indicate the presence of dolomite.
26. 18O values are reported relative to the Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW) standard.
27. 18O value of ∼ 16 per mil.
28. 18O value of ∼ 16 per mil.
29. 18O value of ∼ 16 per mil.
30. Overflow of Owens Lake occurs when wetness exceeds ∼2.4 times the historical mean [H. S. Gale, U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 580-L, 251 (1914)].
31. 14C years B.P. Sediments at the base of the hiatus are characterized by features that indicate desiccation, including a 1 - to 3-mm-thick lag deposit of frosted quartz grains. Removal of sediments by wave reworking or deflation implies that the 15,500-year age represents a maximum estimate of the initiation of desiccation.
32. S. P. Lund, unpublished data.
33. The presence of greigite and the absence of magnetite in high-χ intervals were inferred from thermomagnetic measurements of magnetic mineral blocking temperatures.
34. F. M. Phillips et al., Science 274, 749 (1996).
35. R. I. Dorn et al., Quat. Res. 28, 38 (1987); M. I. Bursik and A. R. Gillespie, ibid. 39, 24 (1993); R. J. Poreda et al., Eos 76 (fall suppl.), 685 (1995).
36. R. I. Dorn et al., Quat. Res. 28, 38 (1987); M. I. Bursik and A. R. Gillespie, ibid. 39, 24 (1993); R. J. Poreda et al., Eos 76 (fall suppl.), 685 (1995).
37. R. I. Dorn et al., Quat. Res. 28, 38 (1987); M. I. Bursik and A. R. Gillespie, ibid. 39, 24 (1993); R. J. Poreda et al., Eos 76 (fall suppl.), 685 (1995).
38. F. M. Phillips et al., Science 248, 1529 (1990).
39. E. Blackwelder, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 42, 865 (1931).
40. 18O from 40,000 to 30,000 years B.P. are generally low, indicating a period in which precipitation fell as snow. The lack of pronounced glaciation during this interval is probably the result of relatively high warm-season (May through August) insolation [A. Berger and M. F. Loutre, Quat. Sci. Rev. 10, 297 (1991)].
41. The introduction of glacially derived clay increased lake turbidity, decreasing photosynthetic production of organic carbon. Seasonal ice cover and decreased water temperatures also decreased productivity.
42. 14C error, implying that North Atlantic lithic events cannot be uniquely matched with advances or retreats of Sierran glaciers.
43. 18O values are high and not necessarily representative of average overflow conditions.
44. 2) may consist of more than one glacial cycle.
45. We thank J. Andrews, G. Bond, and S. Lehman for their excellent reviews and suggestions. W. C. McClung of Lake Minerals Corporation allowed us access to the coring sites. Support was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey Global Change Program, NSF, and a University of Southern California Faculty Research Innovation Fund grant. The work was performed in part under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract W-7405-ENG-48.