Chronology and Paleoclimate of Storm-Induced Erosion and Episodic Dune Growth Across Cape Espenberg Spit, Alaska, U.S.A.

Authors

  • Owen K. Mason
  • David M. Hopkins
  • Lawrence Plug

Keywords:

Beach ridges, geoarchaeology coastal changes, paleo-climates

Abstract

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 conjunct ion with onshore N or NW winds, while net offshore sediment transport and erosion predominates during fall storms. Inter-ridge swales foster peat and paIsa 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.

Downloads

Published

1997-07-05

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (1997): Journal of Coastal Research

Section

Articles

License

Authorization for personal use is granted by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation [CERF]. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright for their article is transferred to the publisher if the article is accepted for publication. Assignment of copyright is not required, however, from authors who work for organizations which do not permit such assignment, The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reprduce and distribute the article, inclduing reprints, photographic reproductions, microform, or any other reproductions of a similar nature, and translations.