Chronology and Paleoclimate of Storm-Induced Erosion and Episodic Dune Growth across Cape Espenberg Spit, Alaska, U.S.A.
Mason OK, Hopkins DM, Plug L. 1997. Chronology and Paleoclimate of Storm-Induced Erosion and Episodic Dune Growth across Cape Espenberg Spit, Alaska, U.S.A.. Journal of Coastal Research (JCR). 13(3):770-797
The Cape Espenberg beach ridge plain is capped by a succession of primary and secondary dune and/or blowout ridges whose 5000 yr chronostratigraphy is based on landform evolution, peat formation, pedogenesis, tephro-chronology, and geological (n = 23) and archaeological (n = 32) radiocarbon ages. Landform evolution reflects several sets of conditions: beach ridges form under fair weather wave climates and/or following subsiding storm levels, dunes build in fall and winter in conjunction with onshore N or NW winds, while net offshore sediment transport and erosion predominates during fall storms. Inter-ridge swales foster peat and palsa growth atop driftwood in conjunction with thin snow cover. Dunes built during stormy intervals correlative with montane Alaska glacial expansions 3300-1700 14C yrs BP and from 1200-200 14C yrs BP.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Mason, Owen; Hopkins, David; Plug, Lawrence
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR
- Keywords
- Arctic, Beach, beach ridges, calibration, Central Brooks Range, Change, Climate, Coast, Coastal, Deposition, geoarchaeology coastal changes, Geomorphology, Hydrology, Island, Marine, morphodynamics, Ocean, paleo-climates, Record, Sea, Sea Level, southeastern australia, Topography