A well‐preserved Eemian incised‐valley fill in the southern North Sea Basin,Belgian Continental Shelf ‐ Coastal Plain: Implications for northwest European landscape evolution

This paper demonstrates that the Belgian Continental Shelf and coastal plain occupy a key position between the depositional North Sea Basin and the erosional area of the Dover Strait as it is an area where erosional landforms and fragmented sedimentary sequences provide new evidence on northwest European landscape evolution. The study area hosts 20–30 m thick penultimate to last glacial sand‐dominated sequences that are preserved within the buried palaeo‐Scheldt Valley. Here, we build on the results of previous seismo‐ and lithostratigraphical studies, and present new evidence from biostratigraphical analysis, OSL dating and depth‐converted structure maps, together revealing a complex history of deposition and landscape evolution controlled by climate change, sea‐level fluctuations and glacio‐isostasy. This study presents strong new supportive evidence on the development of the incised palaeo‐Scheldt Valley landform that became established towards the end of the penultimate glacial period (MIS 6; Saalian) as a result of glacio‐isostatic forebulge updoming, proglacial lake drainage and subsequent collapse of a forebulge between East Anglia and Belgium following ice‐sheet growth, disintegration and retreat in areas to the north. The majority of the incised‐valley fill is of estuarine to shallow marine depositional context deposited during the transgression and high‐stand of the last interglacial (MIS 5e: Eemian). A thin upper part of the valley fill consists of last glacial (MIS 5d‐2: Weichselian) fluvial sediments that show a gradual decrease and retreat of fluvial activity to inland, upstream reaches of the valley system until finally the valley ceases to exist as the combined result of climate‐driven aeolian activity and possibly also glacio‐isostatic adjustment. Thus, strong contrasts exist between the palaeo‐Scheldt Valley and estuary systems of the penultimate glacial maximum to Last Interglacial (Saalian, Eemian), the beginning of the Last Glacial (Weichselian Early Glacial and Early‐Middle Pleniglacial), and the Last Glacial Maximum to Holocene. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Holocene valley aggradation and gully erosion in headwater catchments,south-eastern highlands of Australia

Late Quaternary stratigraphy of a 50 km² catchment on the south-eastern highlands of Australia reveals processes and history of denudation, and helps resolve a long-standing debate about factors controlling episodic valley aggradation and degradation during Holocene times. Valley sedimentation occurred when swampy vegetation fully colonized valley floors and obliterated all channels, promoting aggradation for periods of several thousand years, with most incoming sediment being trapped in swampy meadows. Much of the sediment was reworked from late Pleistocene alluvial fan and valley fill deposits, and primary hillslope erosion was minor during the Holocene. Differing sedimentation patterns between the Late Pleistocene, Holocene and Post-European settlement periods reflect regional changes in sediment supply and transport capacity as a result of major environmental change. Within the Holocene, however, valley fill stratigraphy is controlled by massive, episodic gully erosion terminating aggradation. Gully initiation appears to be controlled more by thresholds of incision into vegetated valley floors than by changes to sediment supply. Whether the thresholds are exceeded because of climatic change, autonomous change or extreme events cannot yet be determined. Overall, the Holocene history represents continuing complex response to events of the Late Pleistocene, and does not support the K-cycle concept, which has strongly influenced late Quaternary geomorphology in Australia.     

MIS-3晚期以来乌伦古湖古湖相沉积记录的初步研究

通过对现代乌伦古湖附近出露的古湖相沉积剖面的AMS~(14)C测年,粒度、总有机碳、总有机氮以及碳酸盐等环境代用指标的分析及其与全新世钻孔沉积记录的对比研究,结果发现:乌伦古湖在MIS-3晚期的33600-22500 cal a BP以及冰后期至早中全新世的16500-6500 cal a BP期间,维持着湖相沉积环境,湖面约比现在湖面高40 m.33600-22500 cal a BP的MIS-3晚期,气候相对温暖,乌伦古湖呈现高湖面特征,湖泊沉积物来源以流水搬运为主;22500-16500 cal a BP的末次冰期冰盛期,气候寒冷干燥,湖泊沉积物来源以风力搬运为主;16500-6500 cal a BP的冰后期以及早、中全新世期间,气候回暖,湖泊沉积物主要来源于河流径流作用.6500-5500 cal a BP,受高温干旱事件的影响,湖面收缩、水位剧降,除沉积中心外的其它钻孔位置出现沉积中断.5500 cal a BP后气候转冷变湿,湖泊重新恢复到现在的状态.乌伦古湖MIS-3晚期以来的古湖相沉积环境变化及其反映的古气候万年尺度上的干湿变化与周边区域气候环境变化记录有很好的一致性,响应了区域环境变化和全球气候突变事件.季风和西风的强度消长变化及其引起的环流条件改变以及温度变化引起的蒸发效应可能是区域气候环境变化的主要原因.这一古湖相沉积记录的研究可为MIS-3晚期以来北疆地区的古湖泊演化以及长时间尺度上西风和季风环流相互关系及其影响区的气候环境演化提供地质证据.     

中国末次冰盛期以来湖泊水量变化及古气候变化机制解释

中国古湖泊数据库收录的42个湖泊,提供的湖泊水量每千年变化的空间信息,可以用来系统分析中国区域末次冰盛期以来大气环流变化的状况.研究结果表明:我国西部从末次冰盛期以来直至全新世中期均为较湿润的气候状况,推测冰期内的湿润条件主要与西风带的降水以及低温低蒸发密切相关,而全新世主要为夏季风降水增加所致;全新世晚期气候趋干明显.我国东部的大部分区域在冰盛期和晚冰期较为干旱;只是在全新世有效降水状况才有大幅度的改善,全新世中期夏季风降水的效应仍然相当显著,控制的范围可达整个中国西部,同时位于现代季风气候区的中国东部,有效降水的峰值区的变化似乎存在从北往南的穿时性,南方有效降水峰值出现在晚全新世.而西南季风区湿润状况的明显改善发生在晚冰期,比东南季风区发生的早,显然这与两个季风系统的相互消长有一定的关系.我国东北区的湿润状况改善的也较早,显示了独特的季风气候机制.     

Geomorphic evolution of small river–lake‐systems in northeast Germany during the Late Quaternary

This study investigates the post‐glacial development of four small river–lake systems in the Weichselian belt of northern central Europe. The valleys investigated are part of an immature drainage system characterized by frequent and abrupt changes in flow direction and the presence of numerous stagnant‐ice depressions in the valley course. The depressions contain thick sedimentary sequences which provide excellent archives for the reconstruction of the post‐glacial valley development. Study results indicate that the valleys reuse segments of former subglacial meltwater channels. During the Late Pleniglacial these channels carried meltwater streams. Stagnant‐ice melting occurred in stages from the Oldest Dryas to the early Holocene and was often followed by the formation of lakes in the valley course. Flow reversals occurred during the Late‐glacial–Holocene transition and were in response to general base‐level lowering caused by stagnant‐ice melting, headwater erosion and lake overspills. Lacustrine deposition typically started during the early Late‐glacial comprising mainly silicate gyttjas, whereas organic gyttjas and peats accumulated during the Allerød. The Younger Dryas is associated with a marked increase in fluvial and aeolian sedimentation, and lake‐level high stands. This was followed by early Holocene lake‐level low stands and a subsequent stabilization phase with decreasing silicate input and increasing organic lacustrine deposition. In general, dramatic changes in Late Pleniglacial to early Holocene sedimentation suggest that small‐scale catastrophic events played a more important role in triggering geomorphic changes then previously recognized. Infilling continued until peat accumulation and terrestrialization of lake basins became widespread during the mid‐ to late Holocene. Beginning in the late Holocene anthropogenic influences become important mainly involving an increase in sediment supply due to forest clearing and land use, followed by mill stowage, river course correction and anthropogenic lake‐level manipulations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ice cap erosion patterns from bedrock 10Be and 26Al,southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Quantifying glacial erosion contributes to our understanding of landscape evolution and topographic relief production in high altitude and high latitude areas. Combining in situ ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al analysis of bedrock, boulder, and river sand samples, geomorphological mapping, and field investigations, we examine glacial erosion patterns of former ice caps in the Shaluli Shan of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. The general landform pattern shows a zonal pattern of landscape modification produced by ice caps of up to 4000 km² during pre-LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) glaciations, while the dating results and landforms on the plateau surface imply that the LGM ice cap further modified the scoured terrain into different zones. Modeled glacial erosion depth of 0–0.38 m per 100 ka bedrock sample located close to the western margin of the LGM ice cap, indicates limited erosion prior to LGM and Late Glacial moraine deposition. A strong erosion zone exists proximal to the LGM ice cap marginal zone, indicated by modeled glacial erosion depth >2.23 m per 100 ka from bedrock samples. Modeled glacial erosion depths of 0–1.77 m per 100 ka from samples collected along the edge of a central upland, confirm the presence of a zone of intermediate erosion in-between the central upland and the strong erosion zone. Significant nuclide inheritance in river sand samples from basins on the scoured plateau surface also indicate restricted glacial erosion during the last glaciation. Our study, for the first time, shows clear evidence for preservation of glacial landforms formed during previous glaciations under non-erosive ice on the Tibetan Plateau. As patterns of glacial erosion intensity are largely driven by the basal thermal regime, our results confirm earlier inferences from geomorphology for a concentric basal thermal pattern for the Haizishan ice cap during the LGM. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cosmogenic 36Cl glacial chronologies of the Late Quaternary glaciers on Mount Geyikdağ in the Eastern Mediterranean

We report the timing of glaciations during the Late Quaternary in the central Taurus Mountains of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. Forty moraine samples from three glacial valleys on Mount Geyikdağ (36.53°N, 32.10^°E, 2877 m), near the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey, were dated with in-situ cosmogenic ³⁶Cl. These glacial valleys are located on the southern flank of the mountain and were filled with few km long glaciers that terminated at elevations of about 1750 m above sea level. Three glacial retreats/advances were determined in this study. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), glaciers reached their maximum positions at 20.6 ± 0.6 ka ago (±1σ). This date is in accordance with the timing of local maximum ice extent, represented by piedmont glaciers in the northern side of the mountain. Glaciers started to retreat after the LGM and shortly stabilized or re-advanced two times before they completely vanished out. The first stage ended before 13.7 ± 0.8 ka ago during the Late-glacial. The last glaciation occurred during the Holocene and ended between 9.6 ± 1.4 ka and 5.9 ± 0.5 ka ago. Later, glaciers mostly vanished from the study area, but a few rock glaciers developed during the Late Holocene. Glacial chronologies of Mount Geyikdağ are mostly comparable with the globally observed advances elsewhere.     

湖北江汉平原JZ-2010剖面沉积物粒度特征与环境演变

通过对江汉平原JZ-2010湖相沉积剖面AMS14C年代的精确测定与校正,以及代用指标粒度、磁化率的分析和研究,重建了研究区12.76 cal ka BP以来的环境演变过程:1)12.76-6.70 cal ka BP,区域环境处于偏干的晚冰期向湿润的早全新世发展阶段.2)6.70-4.47 cal ka BP,区域环境湿润,为湿度配置最佳的全新世适宜期,这是大溪文化向屈家岭文化转变时期自然背景.3)4.47-3.67 cal ka BP,区域气候环境偏干,其中经历了明显的4.2 cal ka BP干旱事件.4)3.67-1.22 cal ka BP时期,环境向湿润发展;在2.5 cal ka BP左右水动力条件明显变强,此时正对应于古云梦泽扩张时期.5)1.22 cal ka BP后,研究区处于湖泊面积减小的干旱时期;人类活动带来的影响达到高峰,围湖造田等农业活动也是江汉平原湖群趋于衰退的重要原因之一.     

A high-resolution climatic change since the Late Glacial Age inferred from multi-proxy of sediments in Qinghai Lake

The study of climatic changes since the Late Glacial Age has become one of the hotspots of the PAGES in recent years.Deep-sea cores from the high-latitude area show that the climate was very unstable during the transitional period from the Late Glacial Age to the Holocene[1,2],which has also been testified by the geological records from ocean sediments,ice cores and terrestrial sections in different latitudes of the earth[3—8].What’s more,climatic instability also ex-isted in the Holoce…     

ages of the recent two episodes of glacially dammed lakes along the upstream of the yarlung zangbo gorge

There are many episodes of multiple-level lacustrine terraces along the entrance of the Yarlung Zangbo Great Canyon. Besides, very thick fluvio-lacustrine sediments are buried beneath the cover of the riverbed. Optically stimulated luminescence and radiocarbon dating provide an approximate timeline of upper valley deposits and reveal at least two glacially dammed lake events (Ⅰ and Ⅱ) which have deposition ages of 7～9ka (Ⅰ) and 20～30ka(Ⅱ), respectively. The recent two episodes of glacially dammed lakes produced two steps of lacustrine terraces (T₁, T₂) correspondingly, which are of elevations 2906～2 956m and 3100～3 060m. The formation of paleo-dammed lakes reflects that the Zelunglung Glacier in the west slope of Mt. Namche Barwa had progressively advanced to block the Yarlung Tsangpo River during the early Holocene and the Last Glacial Maximum. The glacially dammed lake I has a relatively smaller extent. Its lacustrine sediments are distributed mainly from Datuoka to Mirui with maximum thickness about 5～8m. Its end is roughly at the south of Milin County. The glacially dammed lake Ⅱ occupies a large area with the end roughly nearby Lang County. Its sediments are exposed from Datuoka to Wolong with maximum thickness about 100m. After the later fluvial erosion, the lacustrine sediments of this lake formed 1～3 levels of secondary terraces.     

The East Asian Monsoon since the Last Glacial Maximum: Evidence from geological records in northern China

The impact of global warming on the climate of northern China has been investigated intensively, and the behavior of the East Asian monsoon during previous intervals of climatic warming may provide insight into future changes. In this study, we use paleovegetation records from loess and lake sediments in the marginal zone of the East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) to reconstruct the EASM during the interval of warming from the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM) to the Holocene. The results show that during the LGM, desert steppe or dry steppe dominated much of northern China; in addition, the southeastern margin of the deserts east of the Helan Mountains had a distribution similar to that of the present-day, or was located slightly further south, due to the cold and dry climate caused by a strengthened East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM) and weakened EASM. During the last deglaciation, with the strengthening of the EASM and concomitant weakening of the EAWM, northern China gradually became humid. However, this trend was interrupted by abrupt cooling during the Heinrich 1(H1) and Younger Dryas(YD) events. The EASM intensified substantially during the Holocene, and the monsoon rain belt migrated at least 300 km northwestwards, which led to the substantial shrinking of the desert area in the central and eastern part of northern China, and to the large expansion of plants favored by warm and humid conditions. Paleoclimatic records from the marginal zone of the EASM all show that the EASM reached its peak in the mid-Holocene, and past global climatic warming significantly strengthened the EASM, thereby greatly improving the ecological environment in northern China. Thus, northern China is expected to become wetter as global warming continues. Finally, high resolution Holocene vegetation records are sparse compared with the numerous records on the orbital timescale, and there is a need for more studies of Holocene climatic variability on the centennial-to-decadal scale.     

古ENSO的研究进展

本文对20世纪90年代后期逐渐在古气候学、古海洋学、地质学和古生物学等跨学科交叉领域中崭露头角的热点问题——古ENSO研究的前沿进展做了系统的总结和回顾.从观测和气候模拟两方面对集中于不同时间尺度的焦点问题进行展开,主要包括如下几个时段：早-中全新世的厄尔尼诺的减弱;末次冰期中的ENSO循环及其与高纬气候的联系;以及末次间冰期的ENSO现象.其中对早-中全新世时期的ENSO减弱的相对成熟的“岁差”机制做了详细总结,而对另两个时段的矛盾和问题做了简要整理和概括.建议在今后的古ENSO研究中,除观测外,要注意提高对古ENSO进行动力模拟研究的比重,两者相互配合来增加对ENSO循环和气候背景之间相互作用机理的理解,从而为今后全球变暖背景下的ENSO预测提供有意义的借鉴.     

What are the climate controls on δD in precipitation in the Zongo Valley (Bolivia)? Implications for the Illimani ice core interpretation

Controversy has surrounded the interpretation of the water isotopic composition (δD or δ¹⁸O) in tropical and subtropical ice cores in South America. Although recent modeling studies using AGCM have provided useful constraints at interannual time scales, no direct calibration based on modern observations has been achieved. In the context of the recent ice core drilling at Nevado Illimani (16°39′S-67°47′W) in Bolivia, we examine the climatic controls on the modern isotopic composition of precipitation in the Zongo Valley, located on the northeast side of the Cordillera Real, at about 55 km from Nevado Illimani. Monthly precipitation samples were collected from September 1999 to August 2004 at various altitudes along this valley. First we examine the local and regional controls on the common δD signal measured along this valley. We show that (1) local temperature has definitely no control on δD variations, and (2) local rainout is a poor factor to explain δD variations. We thus seek regional controls upstream the Valley potentially affecting air masses distillation. Based on backtrajectory calculations and using satellite data (TRMM precipitation, NOAA OLR) and direct observations of precipitation (IAEA/GNIP), we show that moisture transport history and the degree of rainout upstream are more important factors explaining seasonal δD variations. Analysis of a 92-yr simulation from the ECHAM-4 model (T30 version) implemented with water stable isotopes confirms our observations at seasonal time scale and emphasize the role of air masses distillation upstream as a prominent factor controlling interannual δD variations. Lastly, we focus on the isotopic depletion along the valley when air masses are lifted up. Our results suggest that, if the temperature gradient between the base and the top of the Andes was higher by a few degrees during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), less than 10% of the glacial to interglacial isotopic variation recorded in the Illimani ice core could be accounted for by this temperature change. It implies that the rest of the variation would originate from wetter conditions along air masses trajectory during LGM.     

Late-Quaternary miliolite (biogenic carbonate) deposits and their implications for sea-level fluctuations and climatic variability

The western coast of India (Kachchh) has ubiquitous preservations of Quaternary carbonate deposits popularly known as “miliolites”. Field-based detail documentation of the nature and distribution of miliolites supported by sedimentology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microtextural studies indicates that the miliolites were primarily deposited by wind as aeolinites and are termed “primary miliolites (PM)”. These were subsequently fluvially eroded and deposited and such deposits are termed “secondary miliolites (SM)”. The PM are dated between 28 ka to 16 ka largely clustering around the Last Glacial Maxima (LGM). In comparison, the fluvially reworked SM occurs as valley-fill deposits and were deposited episodically during 23 ka to 10 ka before present. Climatically, the deposition of PMs suggests enhanced aridity whereas SMs represent episodic strengthening of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). The bedding attitudes of the PMs indicate that they were deposited predominantly by the northeasterly winds whereas the presence of the deflation lag deposits suggests downwind migration of sands during the equilibrium condition (reduced sediment supply). The aeolian parameters (based on the grain size and wind velocities) for PMs indicate high shear velocity (~23 to 48 cm⁻¹) and high transport rate (< 0.1 to 0.2 g/cm s). The short average flying distance implies that the biogenic sands were transported in multiple pulses (from coast to inland) at rates varying from ~200 m/h to ~1 km/h. Comparing our data with related occurrences along the biologically productive coasts in the mid-latitudinal belt indicates that the regional/global aridity during the lowered sea level was responsible for inland occurrences of aeolinites, particularly during the LGM. The strengthened northeast monsoon winds during the LGM was conducive to upwelling and production of biogenic carbonates along the coasts. The subsequent reworking of the aeolinites were mainly the results of local variability in precipitation.     

10Be dating of boulders on moraines from the last glacial period in the Nyainqentanglha mountains,Tibet

Chronologies of glacial advances during the last glacial period in the Nyainqentanglha mountain range may provide constraints on the past climate in a transition zone of the Asian monsoon.We present 15 new10Be exposure ages from two moraines in the Payuwang valley,on the north slope of the range.The inner moraine has exposure ages ranging from 18.0±1.7 to 30.6±2.8 ka(n=10),with a mean age of 23.8±4.0 ka,corresponding to the global Last Glacial Maximum(LGM).The outer moraine yields exposure ages ranging from 18.0±1.6 to 39.9±3.7 ka(n=5).Evidence for weathering leads us to view the oldest age as a minimum age,placing moraine formation during MIS3.Chronologies from the last glacial period from south slope of the Nyainqentanglha support this interpretation.Thus,there appears to have been a local LGM(LLGM)during MIS3 and a more limited glacial advance during the global LGM.Glacial advances during MIS3 in the Nyainqentanglha may correlate with millennial-scale climate change(Heinrich events).     

Micro-hole and multigrain quartz luminescence dating of Paleodeltas at Lake Fryxell,McMurdo Dry Valleys (Antarctica), and relevance for lake history

Relict (perched) lacustrine deltas around the perennially ice-covered lakes in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica, imply that these lakes were up to 40 times larger in area than at present since the last glacial maximum (LGM). These deltas have been used to constrain ice-margin positions in Taylor Valley, and the boundaries of the proposed LGM ice-damned Glacial Lake Washburn. The timing of these high lake levels has depended on ¹⁴C chronologies of algal layers within relict lacustrine deltas. To provide additional geochronometric data for the post-LGM lake-level history, we applied photon-stimulated-luminescence (PSL) sediment dating to polymineral fine silt and sand-size quartz from 7 perched-delta and 3 active-delta sites of different elevations along 3 major meltwater streams entering Lake Fryxell. Our PSL dating of 4 quartz-sand samples from core tops in the seasonal ice-free moat of Lake Fryxell (elevation ∼18 m a.s.l.) and two core-top moat samples from the seasonal moat of Lake Vanda in nearby Wright Valley establish that adequate PSL clock zeroing (by daylight) occurs in regional, modern shoreline deposits. Minimum-age micro-hole PSL results from the moats are consistently near 100 a. Minimum-age micro-hole age estimates for the deltas range from ∼50 to 100 a near the present lake level up to 13.4 ± 1.3 ka at 240 m. These are systematically younger than the comparable, reservoir-uncorrected, ¹⁴C ages that range from 7 ka (cal yr BP) to 13 ka (cal yr BP) near lake level up to 20 ka (cal yr BP) at 220–240 m elevation. Our results indicate the occurrence of a dramatic discrepancy between PSL minimum-age and ¹⁴C age estimates that is presently unresolved.     

Simulations of LGM climate of East Asia by regional climate model

ClimateconditionsintheLastGlacialMaximum(LGM)wereremarkablydifferentfromthepresentones.LGMglobalmeantemperaturewas5℃-10℃dropbutprecipitationdecreasescommonly.LGMhasbecomethekeyphasetoreconstructtheearthenvironmentalfield,retrieveextremecoldclimatecondit…     

Ground surface temperature history in southern Canada: Temperatures at the base of the Laurentide ice sheet and during the Holocene

We use temperature profiles from 7 deep (≈ 2000 m) boreholes located in southern Canada to infer ground surface temperature histories (GSTH) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the Holocene. Visual inspection of the heat flow and of the reduced temperature depth profiles reveals significant regional differences with some sites showing conspicuous signs of post glacial warming, and other indicating only very small changes in ground surface temperature. These differences are confirmed by the inversions of the temperature profiles. The most prominent variations in GST are found at the Sudbury, Ontario, sites where the present ground surface temperature is high. With the exception of Sept-Iles, Quebec, the other sites only show moderate or no variation in GST. For all the sites, except possibly Sept-Iles, temperatures at the base of the ice sheet during the LGM were at or slightly below the melting point of ice. Temperatures might have been lower, a few degrees below 0 °C, at Sept-Iles. These results are consistent with field observations and model predictions suggesting high velocity basal flows in the ice sheet above the studied regions. These new data on basal temperatures will provide better quantitative constraints on glacier flow dynamics. The inversions give a chronology for the retreat of the ice sheet comparable to other proxies. Inversion and direct modeling show that, following the ice retreat, there was a warm period between 2 and 5 ka with temperatures 1–2 K higher than present. The inversion yields a time for this episode 1–2 kyr more recent than that inferred by other proxies for the Holocene climate optimum (HCO).     

Oblique aggradation: a novel explanation for sinuosity of low‐energy streams in peat‐filled valley systems

Low‐energy streams in peatlands often have a high sinuosity. However, it is unknown how this sinuous planform formed, since lateral migration of the channel is hindered by relatively erosion‐resistant banks. We present a conceptual model of Holocene morphodynamic evolution of a stream in a peat‐filled valley, based on a palaeohydrological reconstruction. Coring, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) data, and ¹⁴C and OSL dating were used for the reconstruction. We found that the stream planform is partly inherited from the Late‐Glacial topography, reflecting stream morphology prior to peat growth in the valley. Most importantly, we show that aggrading streams in a peat‐filled valley combine vertical aggradation with lateral displacement caused by attraction to the sandy valley sides, which are more erodible than the co‐evally aggrading valley‐fill. Owing to this oblique aggradation in combination with floodplain widening, the stream becomes stretched out as channel reaches may alternately aggrade along opposed valley sides, resulting in increased sinuosity over time. Hence, highly sinuous planforms can form in peat‐filled valleys without the traditional morphodynamics of alluvial bed lateral migration. Improved understanding of the evolution of streams provides inspiration for stream restoration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developing a protocol for selecting and dating sandy sites in East Central Texas: Preliminary results

Vast areas of East Central Texas are overlain by deep unconsolidated sands, previously assumed to have been formed by in situ weathering and pedoturbation of the bedrock. This hypothesis would imply that palaeoenvironmental and archaeological reconstructions are of limited value. However, recent research has hinted that some elements of the landscape may have undergone repeated phases of erosion and redeposition, suggesting firstly that a reliable record of past environmental conditions may be gleaned from these deposits, and secondly that optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) may provide the key to unlocking this record. This research examines the depositional history of sites shown to provide a reliable chronology. Dates from these sites show that aeolian deposition occurred in East Central Texas at a number of times during the Holocene and Late Glacial, whilst three episodes of gullying occurred between approximately 123,000 and 44,000 years ago. The concordance of some of these results indicates that some phases of deposition may be regional.