Geomorphologic evidence for the late Pliocene onset of hyperaridity in the Atacama Desert

Bulletin of the Geological Society of America

Volumn 124, Issue 7-8, 2012, Pages 1048-1070

  Amundson, Ronald ^a   Dietrich, William ^b   Bellugi, Dino ^b   Ewing, Stephanie ^c   Nishiizumi, Kunihiko ^d   Chong, Guillermo ^e   Owen, Justine ^a   Finkel, Robert ^b,f   Heimsath, Arjun ^g   Stewart, Brian ^h   Caffee, Marc ⁱ  

^a UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA   (United States)

^c MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^d UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA   (United States)

^e UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DEL NORTE   (Chile)

^f LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY   (United States)

^g ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^h UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH   (United States)

ⁱ PURDUE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ALLUVIAL FANS; ANNUAL PRECIPITATION; ATACAMA DESERT; CLIMATE SYSTEM; GRAVEL DEPOSIT; HILLSLOPE SOIL; HILLSLOPES; LANDSCAPE FEATURE; LARGE WATERSHEDS; LATE MIOCENE; LATE PLIOCENE; MEAN ANNUAL PRECIPITATION; OVERLAND FLOW; PLEISTOCENE; PLIOCENE; RIVER CHANNELS; RIVER DISCHARGE; RIVER PROFILE; SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES; SEDIMENT REMOVAL; SOIL CHEMISTRY; SOIL MANTLE; SOUTH AMERICA; TOPOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTION; WATER SPOUTS; WESTERN PACIFIC;

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE; CHLORINE COMPOUNDS; NICKEL COMPOUNDS; SILICATES; SOILS;

LANDFORMS;

ARIDITY; EL NINO-SOUTHERN OSCILLATION; ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE; FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY; GEOACCUMULATION; HILLSLOPE; PALEOCLIMATE; PLIOCENE; RECONSTRUCTION; RIVER CHANNEL; RIVER DISCHARGE; TOPOGRAPHY; WATERSHED;

ATACAMA DESERT; CHILE;

EID: 84865165939     PISSN: 00167606     EISSN: 19432674     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1130/B30445.1     Document Type: Article

References (83)

1. Allmendinger, R.W., González, G., Yu, J., Hoke, G., and Isacks, B., 2005, Trench parallel shortening in the northern Chilean forearc: Tectonic and climatic implications: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 117, p. 89-104, doi:10.1130/B25505.1.
2. Alpers, C.N., and Brimhall, G.H., 1988, Middle Miocene climatic change in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile: Evidence from supergene mineralization at La Escondida: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 100, p. 1640-1656, doi:10.1130/0016-7606 (1988)100<1640:MMCCIT>2.3.CO;2.
3. Basso, M., 2004, Carta Baquedono, Region de Antofagasta, Carta Geologica de Chile, Serie Geologoa Basica, No. 82.
4. Betancourt, J.L., Latorre, C., Rech, J.A., Quade, J., and Rylander, K.A., 2000, A 22,000-year record of monsoonal precipitation from northern Chile's Atacama Desert: Science, v. 289, p. 1542-1546, doi:10.1126 /science.289.5484.1542.
5. Bookhagen, B., and Strecker, M.R., 2008, Orographic barriers, high-resolution TRMM rainfall, and relief variations along the eastern Andes: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 35, doi:10.1029/2007GL032011.
6. Clark, A.H., Myers, A.E.S., Mortimer, C., Sillitoe, R.H., Cook, R.V., and Snelling, N.J., 1967, Implications of the isotopic ages of ignimbrite flows, southern Atacama Desert, Chile: Nature, v. 215, p. 723-724, doi:10.1038/215723a0.
7. Collins, R.E., and the CMIP Modelling Groups, 2005, El Niño- or La Niña-like climate change?: Climate Dynamics, v. 24, p. 89-104, doi:10.1007 /s00382-004-0478-x.
8. Cortés, J.A., 2000, Hoja Palestina. Region de Antofagasta: SERNAGEOMIN (Chile) Mapas Geologicos 19, scale 1:100,000.
9. Darwin, C., 1845, Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited during the Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle Round the World, under the Command of Capt. Fitz Roy, R.N., 2nd Ed.: London, John Murray, 536 p.
10. Dietrich, W.E., Reiss, R., Hsu, M.L., and Montgomery, D.R., 1995, A process-based model for colluvial soil depth and shallow landsliding using digital elevation data: Hydrological Processes, v. 9, p. 383-400, doi:10.1002 /hyp.3360090311.
11. Dunai, T.J., González López, G.A., and Juez-Larré, J., 2005, Oligocene-Miocene age of aridity in the Atacama Desert revealed by dating of erosion-sensitive landforms: Geology, v. 33, p. 321-324, doi:10.1130/G21184.1.
12. Dupont, L.M., Donner, B., Vidal, L., Pérez, E.L., and Wefer, G., 2005, Linking desert evolution and coastal upwelling: Pliocene climate change in Namibia: Geology, v. 33, p. 461-464, doi:10.1130/G21401.1.
13. Ericksen, G.E., 1981, Geology and Origin of the Chilean Nitrate Deposits: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1188, 37 p.
14. Ewing, S.A., Sutter, B., Owen, J., Nishiizumi, K., Sharp, W., Cliff, S.S., Perry, K., Dietrich, W., McKay, C.P., and Amundson, R., 2006, A threshold in soil formation at Earth's arid-hyperarid transition: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 70, p. 5293-5322, doi:10.1016 /j.gca.2006.08.020.
15. Ewing, S.A., Michalski, G., Thiemens, M., Quinn, R.C., Macalady, J.L., Kohl, S., Wankel, S.D., Kendall, C., McKay, C.P., and Amundson, R., 2007, Rainfall limit of the N cycle on Earth: Global Biogeochemical Cycles, v. 21, GB3009, doi:10.1029/2006GB002838.
16. Ewing, S.A., Macalady, J.L., Warren-Rhodes, K., McKay, C.P., and Amundson, R., 2008a, Changes in the soil C cycle at the arid-hyperarid transition in the Atacama Desert: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 113, G02S90, doi:10.1029/2007JG000495.
17. Ewing, S.A., Yang, W., DePaolo, D.J., Michalski, G., Kendall, C., Stewart, B.W., Thiemens, M., and Amundson, R., 2008b, Non-biological fractionation of stable Ca isotopes in soils of the Atacama Desert, Chile: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 72, p. 1096-1110, doi:10.1016/j.gca.2007.10.029.
18. Fujioka, T., Chappell, J., Honda, M., Yatsevich, I., Fifield K., and Fabel, D., 2005, Global cooling initiated stony deserts in central Australia 2-4 Ma, dated by cosmogenic 21Ne-10Be. Geology, v. 33, p. 993-996.
19. García, M., Gardeweg, M., Clavero, J., and Hérail, G., 2004, Hoja Arica: Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (Chile) Carta Geologica de Chile 84.
20. Garreaud, R.D., and Rutllant, J., 1996, Análisis meteorológico de los aluviones de Antofagasta y Santiago de Chile en el período 1991-1993: Atmósfera, v. 9, p. 251-271, scale 1:250,000.
21. Garreaud, R.D., Molina, A., and Farias, M., 2010, Andean uplift, ocean cooling and Atacama hyperaridity: A climate modeling perspective: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 292, p. 39-50, doi:10.1016/j.epsl .2010.01.017.
22. Gibbard, P.L., Head, M.J., and Walker, M.J.C., and The Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, 2009, Formal ratification of the Quaternary System/Period and the Pliestocene Series/Epoch with a base at 2.58 Ma: Journal of Quaternary Science, v. 25, p. 96-102.
23. González, G., and Niemeyer, H., 2005, Cartas Antofagasta y Punta Tetas. Región de Antofagasta: Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria (Chile) Carta Geologica de Chile, Serie Geologia Basica 89, scale 1:100,000.
24. González, G.L., Dunai, T., Carrizo, D., and Allmendinger, R., 2006, Young displacements on the Atacama fault system, northern Chile, from field observation and cosmogenic 21Ne concentrations: Tectonics, v. 25, TC3006, doi:10.1029/2005TC001846.
25. Hartley, A.J., and Chong, G., 2002, Late Pliocene age for the Atacama Desert: Implications for the desertification of western South America: Geology, v. 30, p. 43-46, doi: 10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0043:LPAFTA>2.0.CO;2.
26. Hartley, A.J., and Rice, C.M., 2005, Controls on supergene enrichment of porphyry copper in the Central Andes: A review and discussion: Mineralium Deposita, v. 40, p. 515-525, doi:10.1007/s00126-005-0017-7.
27. Hebbeln, D., Lamy, F., Mohtadi, M., and Echtler, H., 2007, Tracing the impact of glacial-interglacial climate variability on erosion of the southern Andes: Geology, v. 35, p. 131-134, doi:10.1130/G23243A.1.
28. Heimsath, A.M., Dietrich, W.E., Nishiizumi, K., and Finkel, R.C., 1999, Cosmogenic nuclides, topography, and the spatial variation of soil depth: Geomorphology, v. 27, p. 151-172, doi:10.1016/S0169-555X(98)00095-6.
29. Heimsath, A.M., Chappell, J., Dietrich, W.E., Nishiizumi, K., and Finkel, R.C., 2001, Late Quaternary erosion in southeastern Australia: Quaternary International, v. 83-85, p. 169-185, doi:10.1016/S1040-6182(01)00038-6.
30. Houston, J., 2006, Variability of precipitation in the Atacama Desert: Its causes and hydrological impact: International Journal of Climatology, v. 26, p. 2181-2198, doi:10.1002/joc.1359.
31. Hutchinson, M.F., 1989, A new procedure for gridding elevation and stream line data with automatic removal of spurious pits: Journal of Hydrology (Amsterdam), v. 106, p. 211-232, doi:10.1016/0022-1694(89)90073-5.
32. Hutchinson, M.F., 1996, A locally adaptive approach to the interpolation of digital elevation models, in Proceedings of the Third International Conference/Workshop on Integrating GIS and Environmental Modeling (Santa Fe, New Mexico, 21-26 January 1996): Santa Barbara, California, National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu /conf/SANTA_FE_CD-ROM/main.html.
33. Jordan, T.E., Nester, P.L., Blanco, N., Hoke, G.D., Davila, F., and Tomlinson, A.J., 2010, Uplift of the Altiplano-Puna Plateau: A view from the west: Tectonics, v. 29, doi:10/1029/2010TC002661.
34. Kohl, C.P., and Nishiizumi, K., 1992, Chemical isolation of quartz for measurement of in-situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 56, p. 3583-3587, doi:10.1016/0016-7037(92)90401-4.
35. Lal, D., 1991, Cosmic ray labeling of erosion surfaces: In situ nuclide production rates and erosion models: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 104, p. 424-439, doi: 10.1016/0012-821X(91)90220-C.
36. Lamb, S., and Davis, P., 2003, Cenozoic climate change as a possible cause for the rise of the Andes: Nature, v. 425, p. 792-797, doi:10.1038/nature02049.
37. Lamb, S., and Hoke, L., 1997, Origin of the high plateau in the Central Andes, Bolivia, South America: Tectonics, v. 16, p. 623-649, doi:10.1029/97TC00495.
38. Leonard, E.M., and Wehmiller, J.F., 1992, Low uplift rates and terrace reoccupation inferred from mollusk aminostratigraphy, Coquimbo Bay Area, Chile: Quaternary Research, v. 38, p. 246-259, doi:10.1016/0033-5894 (92)90060-V.
39. Le Roux, J.P., Gómez, C., Venegas, C., Fenner, J., Middleton, H., Marchant, M., Buchbinder, B., Frassinetti, D., Marquardt, C., Gregory-Wodzicki, K.M., and Lavenu, A., 2005, Neogene-Quaternary coastal and offshore sedimentation in north central Chile: Record of sealevel changes and implications for Andean tectonism: Journal of South American Earth Sciences, v. 19, p. 83-98, doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2003.11.003.
40. Maier, R.M., Drees, K.P., Neilson, J.W., Henderson, D.A., Quade, J., and Betancourt, J.L., 2004, Microbial life in the Atacama Desert: Science, v. 306, 1289c, doi:10.1126 /science.306.5700.1289c.
41. Marinovic, N., and García, M., 1999, Hoja Pampa Union. Region de Antofagasta: Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria (Chile) Mapas Geologicos 9, scale 1:100,000.
42. Marinovic, N., Smoje, I., Maksaev, V., Herve, M., and Mpodozis, C., 1992, Hoja Aguas Blancas: Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria (Chile) Carta Geologica de Chile 70, scale 1:250,000.
43. oS): Tectonophysics, v. 394, p. 193-219, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2004.07.059.
44. Mayer, L., McFadden, L.D., and Harden, J.W., 1988, Distribution of calcium carbonate in desert soils: A model: Geology, v. 16, p. 303-306, doi:10.1130 /0091-7613(1988)016<0303:DOCCID>2.3.CO;2.
45. McFadden, L.D., Wells, S.G., and Jercinovich, M.J., 1987, Influences of eolian and pedogenic processes on origin and evolution of desert pavements: Geology, v. 15, p. 504-508, doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<504: IOEAPP>2.0.CO;2.
46. Michalski, G., Bohlke, J.K., and Thiemens, M., 2004, Long term atmospheric deposition as the source of nitrate and other salts in the Atacama Desert, Chile: New evidence from mass-independent oxygen isotope compositions: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 68, p. 4023-4038, doi:10.1016/j.gca.2004.04.009.
47. Molnar, P., and Cane, M.A., 2002, El Niño's tropical climate and teleconnections as a blueprint for pre-Ice Age climates: Paleoceanography, v. 17, doi:10.1029 /2001PA000663.
48. Montgomery, D.R., Balco, G., and Willett, S.D., 2001, Climate, tectonics, and the morphology of the Andes: Geology, v. 29, p. 579-582, doi:10.1130/0091-7613 (2001)029<0579:CTATMO>2.0.CO;2.
49. Mortimer, C., 1973, The Cenozoic history of the southern Atacama Desert, Chile: Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 129, p. 505-526, doi:10.1144 /gsjgs.129.5.0505.
50. Mortimer, C., 1980, Drainage evolution in the Atacama Desert of northernmost Chile: Revista Geológica de Chile, v. 11, p. 3-28.
51. Nalpas, T., Dabard, M.-P., Ruffet, G., Vernon, A., Mpodozis, C., Loi, A., and Hérail, G., 2008, Sedimentation and preservation of the Miocene Atacama Gravels in the Pedernales-Chañaral area, northern Chile: Climatic or tectonic control?: Tectonophysics, v. 459, p. 161-173, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2007.10.013.
52. Naranjo, J.A., and Puig, A., 1984, Taltal y Chañaral. Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Carta Geológica de Chile, Nos. 62-63 (escala 1:250,000).
53. Navarro-González, R., Rainey, F.A., Molina, P., Bagaley, D.R., Hollen, B.J., de la Rosa, J., Small, A.M., Quinn, R.C., Grunthaner, F.J., Cáceres, L., Gomez-Silva, B., and McKay, C.P., 2003, Mars-like soils in the Atacama Desert, Chile, and the dry limit of microbial life: Science, v. 302, p. 1018-1021, doi:10.1126 /science.1089143.
54. Nishiizumi, K., 2003, Preparation of 26Al AMS standards: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, v. 223-224, p. 388-392.
55. Nishiizumi, K., Imamura, M., Caffee, M., Southon, J.R., Finkel, R.D., and McAninch, J., 2007, Absolute calibration of 10Be AMS standards: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, v. 258, p. 403-413, doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2007.01.297.
56. oS) during the last 330 ky: Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 15, p. 819-831, doi:10.1016 /S0277-3791(96)00066-2.
57. Ota, Y., Miyauchi, T., Paskoff, R., and Koba, M., 1995, Plio-Quaternary terraces and their deformation along the Altos de Talinay, north-central Chile: Revista Geológica de Chile, v. 22, p. 89-102.
58. Owen, J.J., 2009, Soil formation and geomorphology along a precipitation gradient in the Atacama Desert, Chile [Ph.D. dissertation]: Berkeley, California, University of California, 174 p.
59. Owen, J.J., Amundson, R., Dietrich, W.E., Nishiizumi, K., Sutter, B., and Chong, G., 2010, The sensitivity of hillslope bedrock erosion to precipitation: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, v. 36, p. 117-135, doi:10.1002/esp.2083.
60. Placzek, C.J., Matmon, A., Granger, D.E., Quade, J., and Niedermann, S., 2010, Evidence for active landscape evolution in the hyperarid Atacama from multiple terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 295, p. 12-20, doi:10.1016/j.epsl .2010.03.006.
61. Quade, J., Rech, J.A., Latorre, C., Betancourt, J.L., Gleeson, E., and Kalin, M.T.K., 2007, Soils at the hyperarid margin: The isotopic composition of soil carbonate from the Atacama Desert: Northern Chile: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 71, p. 3772-3795, doi:10.1016/j.gca.2007.02.016.
62. Quezada, J., Gonzalez, G., Dunai, T., Jensen, A., and Juez-Larre, J., 2007, Pleistocene littoral uplift of northern Chile: Ne-21 age of the upper marine terrace of Caldera-Bahia Inglesa area: Revista Geológica de Chile, v. 34, p. 81-96.
63. Ravelo, A.C., Andreasen, D.H., Lyle, M., Lyle, A.O., and Wara, M.W., 2004, Regional climate shifts caused by gradual global cooling in the Pliocene epoch: Nature, v. 429, p. 263-267, doi:10.1038/nature02567.
64. Ravelo, A.C., Dekens, P.S., and McCarthy, M., 2006, Evidence for El Niño-like conditions during the Pliocene: GSA Today, v. 16, no. 3, p. 4-11, doi:10.1130 /1052-5173(2006)016<4:EFENLC>2.0.CO;2.
65. Rech, J., Quade, J., and Hart, W.S., 2003, Isotopic evidence for the source of Ca and S in soil gypsum, anhydrite, and calcite in the Atacama Desert: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 67, p. 575-586, doi:10.1016 /S0016-7037(02)01175-4.
66. Rech, J.A., Currie, B.S., Michalski, G., and Cowan, A.M., 2006, Neogene climate change and uplift in the Atacama Desert, Chile: Geology, v. 34, p. 761-764, doi:10.1130/G22444.1.
67. oS: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, v. 35, p. 1516-1534, doi:10.1002/esp.1992.
68. Reich, M., Palacios, C., Vargas, G., Luo, S., Cameron, E.M., Leybourne, M.I., Parada, M.A., Zuniga, A., and You, C.-F., 2009, Supergene enrichment of copper deposits since the onset of modern hyperaridity in the Atacama Desert, Chile: Mineralium Deposita, v. 44, p. 497-504, doi:10.1007/s00126-009-0229-3.
69. oS): Geomorphology, v. 86, p. 283-306, doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.09.004.
70. Rutllant, J.A., Fuenzalida, H., and Aceituno, P., 2003, Climate dynamics along the arid northern coast of Chile: The 1997-1998 Dinámica del Clima de la Región de Antofagasta (DICLIMA) experiment: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 108, doi:10.1029/2002JD003357.
71. Sáez, A., Cabrera, L., Jensen, A., and Chong, G., 1999, Late Neogene lacustrine record and palaeogeography in the Quillagua-Llamara basin, Central Andean forearc (northern Chile): Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 151, p. 5-37, doi:10.1016 /S0031-0182(99)00013-9.
72. Saillard, M., Audin, L., Hérail, G., Carretier, S., Regard, V., Ortlieb, L., Hall, S., Farber, D., Martinod, J., and Macharé, J., 2007, 10Be and 26Al dating of marine terrace to quantify the uplift of Peruvian and Chilean coastal areas: Geophysical Research Abstracts, v. 9, 05013.
73. oS) inferred from 10Be dating: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 277, p. 50-63, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2008.09.039.
74. Soil Survey Manual, 1993, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey Manual: http://soils.usda.gov/technical/manual/ (last accessed March 2012).
75. Syvitski, J.P.M., and Milliman, J.D., 2007, Geology, geography, and humans battle for dominance over the delivery of fluvial sediment to the coastal ocean: The Journal of Geology, v. 115, p. 1-19, doi:10.1086/509246.
76. Urrutia, R., and Vuille, M., 2009, Climate change projections for the tropical Andes using a regional climate model: Temperature and precipitation simulations for the end of the 21st century: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 114, doi:10.1029/2008JD011021.
77. Van der Wateren, F.M., and Dunai, T.J., 2001, Late Neogene passive margin denudation history-Cosmogenic isotope measurements from the central Namib Desert: Global and Planetary Change, v. 30, p. 271-307, doi:10.1016/S0921-8181(01)00104-7.
78. Vecchi, G.A., Soden, B.J., Witeenberg, A.T., Held, I.M., Leetma, A., and Harrison, M.J., 2006, Weakening of tropical Pacific atmospheric circulation due to anthropogenic forcing: Nature, v. 441, p. 73-76, doi:10.1038 /nature04744.
79. von Huene, R., Weinrebe, W., and Heeren, F., 1999, Subduction erosion along the North Chile margin: Geodynamics. v. 27, p. 345-358, doi:10.1016/S0264-3707 (98)00002-7.
80. Wahba, G., 1990, Spline models for observational data, in CBMS-NSF Regional Conference Series in Applied Mathematics: Philadelphia, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, xii + 169 p.
81. Wara, M.W., Ravelo, A.C., and Delaney, M.L., 2005, Permanent El Niño-like conditions during the Pliocene Warm Period: Science, v. 309, p. 758-761, doi:10.1126/science .1112596.
82. Warren-Rhodes, K.A., Rhodes, K.L., Pointing, S.B., Ewing, S.A., Lacap, D.C., Gomez-Silva, B., Amundson, R., Friedman, E.I., and McKay, C.P., 2007, Hypolithic cyanobacteria, dry limit of photosynthesis, and microbial ecology in the hyperarid Atacama Desert: Microbial Ecology, v. 52, p. 389-398, doi:10.1007 /s00248-006-9055-7.
83. Whipple, K.X., and Tucker, G.E., 1999, Dynamics of the stream-power incision model: Implications for height limits of mountain ranges, landscape response timescales, and research needs: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 104, p. 17,661-17,674, doi:10.1029 /1999JB900120.