Relict Late Wisconsinan Dune Fields of the Northern Great Plains, Canada

Late Wisconsinan dune activity is investigated within the present-day boreal forest and parkland regions of the northern Great Plains, Canada, to extend the understanding of the spatial and temporal eolian record. Optical ages from stabilized sand dunes document the timing of past activity. Eolian activity ranges from about 16 ka in west-central Alberta to 9 ka in northwestern Saskatchewan. Between about 16 and 13 ka, dune activity in central Alberta occurred in an ice-proximal tundra setting along the margins of the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets. Predominant dune-forming winds were from the west and northwest. Dune activity continued in this area between about 13 and 11 ka within parkland and grassland settings as the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated to the northeast. Winds continued to blow from the west and northwest, and the climate was likely influenced by an increasingly dominant Pacific air mass. Also beginning at about 13 ka, dune-forming winds along the margins of the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet were influenced by anticyclonic winds from the southeast that were maintained until about 9 ka. As the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated, these southeasterly anticyclonic winds were successively replaced by winds from the northwest associated with the Pacific air mass. Dune activity across the region terminated in a time-transgressive manner from the southwest, at about 11 ka, to the northeast, at about 9 ka, with the establishment of boreal forest vegetation and reduced wind strength.Les auteurs étudient l’activité dunaire au Wisconsinien tardif dans la forêt boréale et la prairie-parc actuelles des Grandes Plaines septentrionales du Canada, afin d’approfondir les connaissances sur l’évolution spatiotemporelle de l’activité éolienne. Les âges optiques mesurés sur des dunes de sable stabilisées permettent de reconstituer la chronologie de l’activité passée. Les âges de l’activité éolienne s’échelonnent entre 16 ka dans le centre-ouest de l’Alberta et 9 ka dans le nord-ouest de la Saskatchewan. Entre 16 et 13 ka, l’activité dunaire dans le centre de l’Alberta a eu lieu dans un environnement de toundra juxtaglaciaire le long des marges des inlandsis laurentidien et cordillérien. Les vents efficaces prédominants soufflaient de l’ouest et du nord-ouest. L’activité dunaire s’est poursuivie dans cette région entre 13 et 11 ka dans des environnements de prairie-parc et de prairie herbageuse, avec le recul de l’Inlandsis laurentidien vers le nord-est. Les vents ont continué de souffler de l’ouest et du nord-ouest, et le climat a probablement été influencé par une masse d’air du Pacifique de plus en plus dominante. Également au début de 13 ka, les vents efficaces le long des marges de l’Inlandsis laurentidien en recul ont été influencées par des vents anticycloniques du sud-ouest, qui ont duré jusqu’à 9 ka. Avec le retrait de l’Inlandsis laurentidien, ces vents ont été successivement remplacés par des vents du nord-ouest associés à la masse d’air du Pacifique. L’activité dunaire dans la région s’est terminée de façon diachrone à partir du sud-ouest, vers 11 ka, jusqu’au nord-est, vers 9 ka, par l’établissement d’une végétation forestière boréale et la diminution de la force des vents

Potential Aboriginal-Occupation-Induced Dune Activity, Elbow Sand Hills, Northern Great Plains, Canada

Geomorphological and archeological evidence indicates potential linkages between Plains aboriginal occupation and dune activity in the Elbow Sand Hills of southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Vegetation encroachment has rapidly outpaced migration of an active dune complex over the last 65 years. Optical ages of stabilized dune remnants indicate that dune activity predates Euro-Canadian settlement (ca. AD 1900). Early Euro-Canadian explorers observed local occupation and exploitation of the sand hills by aboriginal groups for herding and impounding bison. Mapping of archeological sites in relation to physiography reveals that sand dunes, in close proximity to permanent water resources, were preferred areas of occupation. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that aboriginal occupation disturbance may have perpetuated dune activity in the Elbow Sand Hills until the late 19th century, and that Euro-Canadian settlement and land use emphasizing conservation may have encouraged recent stabilization. We propose that similar aboriginal occupation disturbances may have been responsible for perpetuating dune activity in other dune fields in the Great Plains. To this end, climatic variability should not be considered exclusive of other drivers of dune activity in semivegetated inland dune fields of the Great Plains

Scale-dependent perspectives on the geomorphology and evolution of beachdune systems

Despite widespread recognition that landforms are complex Earth systems with process-response linkages that span temporal scales from seconds to millennia and spatial scales from sand grains to landscapes, research that integrates knowledge across these scales is fairly uncommon. As a result, understanding of geomorphic systems is often scale-constrained due to a host of methodological, logistical, and theoretical factors that limit the scope of how Earth scientists study landforms and broader landscapes. This paper reviews recent advances in understanding of the geomorphology of beach-dune systems derived from over a decade of collaborative research from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. A comprehensive summary of key findings is provided from short-term experiments embedded within a decade-long monitoring program and a multi-decadal reconstruction of coastal landscape change. Specific attention is paid to the challenges of scale integration and the contextual limitations research at specific spatial and/or temporal scales imposes. A conceptual framework is presented that integrates across key scales of investigation in geomorphology and is grounded in classic ideas in Earth surface sciences on the effectiveness of formative events at different scales. The paper uses this framework to organize the review of this body of research in a 'scale aware' way and, thereby, identifies many new advances in knowledge on the form and function of subaerial beach-dune systems. Finally, the paper offers a synopsis of how greater understanding of the complexities at different scales can be used to inform the development of predictive models, especially those at a temporal scale of decades to centuries, which are most relevant to coastal management issues. Models at this (landform) scale require an understanding of controls that exist at both ‘landscape’ and ‘plot’ scales. Landscape scale controls such as sea level change, regional climate, and the underlying geologic framework essentially provide bounding conditions for independent variables such as winds, waves, water levels, and littoral sediment supply. Similarly, an holistic understanding of the range of processes, feedbacks, and linkages at the finer plot scale is required to inform and verify the assumptions that underly the physical modelling of beach-dune interaction at the landform scale

Holocene Eolian Activity in South-central Saskatchewan and the Southern Canadian Prairies

The chronology and stratigraphy of eolian deposits at two sites in south-central Saskatchewan were studied in order to extend the spatial and temporal record of dune activity on the Canadian prairies. Optical ages document the timing of valley-infilling by sand dunes in the Qu’Appelle River area, and of cliff-top eolian deposition along the South Saskatchewan River. These ages, along with published radiocarbon and optical ages, are used to develop a chronology of eolian activity for south-central Saskatchewan. Optical ages of eolian sands ranging from 5.7 to 0.14 ka (before AD 2000), with intervening paleosols, indicate alternating periods of eolian activity and dune stability during the late Holocene, supported by published radiocarbon ages. Other published radiocarbon ages ranging from 11.3 to 8.4 cal ka BP indicate early Holocene eolian activity. Mid-Holocene ages are predominantly absent from the chronology and this is interpreted as being due to extensive eolian reworking during at least the latter part of the mid-Holocene. The chronology in south-central Saskatchewan is similar to other parts of the southern Canadian prairies. It is likely that preserved mid-Holocene eolian deposits occur within depositional basins in the southern Canadian prairies, and at sites near the southern boreal forest boundary with the prairie ecozone.La chronologie et la stratigraphie des dépôts éoliens ont été étudiées dans deux sites situés au centre-sud de la Saskatchewan afin de reconstituer l’histoire spatiale et temporelle de l’activité dunaire. Les âges optiques fournissent des renseignements sur la chronologie du comblement de la vallée de la rivière Qu’Appelle par des dunes de sable et de la mise en place de dépôts éoliens au sommet des falaises le long de la rivière Saskatchewan du Sud. Combinés aux dates optiques et au radiocarbone déjà publiées, ces âges ont servi à établir une chronologie de l’activité éolienne dans le centre-sud de la Saskatchewan. Les âges optiques des sables éoliens, situés entre 5,7 et 0,14 ka (avant 2000), ainsi que les paléosols intercalés, montrent qu’il y a eu alternance entre périodes d’activité éolienne et périodes de stabilité dunaire à l’Holocène supérieur, alternance confirmée par les dates au radiocarbone déjà publiées. D’autres dates au radiocarbone échelonnées entre 11,3 à 8,4 cal ka BP montrent qu’il y a aussi eu activité éolienne à l’Holocène inférieur. Il n’y a pour ainsi dire pas de dates de l’Holocène moyen dans la chronologie, probablement en raison d’importants remaniements éoliens survenus, tout au moins, à la fin de la période. La chronologie du centre-sud de la Saskatchewan est semblable à celle d’autres régions du sud des Prairies. Il est probable que des dépôts éoliens de l’Holocène moyen aient été préservés dans les zones d’accumulation du sud des Prairies et dans les régions situées à l’interface de la forêt boréale et des Prairies.La cronología y la estratigrafía de los depósitos eólicos provenientes de dos sitios del centro-sur de Saskatchewan fueron estudiadas a fin de determinar la variación espacio-temporal de la actividad de las dunas en las praderas canadienses. La datación óptica puso en evidencia las variaciones temporales de invasión del valle por parte arenas de las dunas del Qu’Appelle River y por depósitos eólicos en la cima del acantilado a lo largo del Saskatchewan River en la zona sur. Estos datos unidos a la datación con radiocarbono y edades ópticas publicadas anteriormente fueron utilizadas para establecer la cronología de la actividad eólica de la zona centro-sur de Saskatchewan. La edad óptica de dunas de origen eólico situada dentro del rango de 5700 a 1400 años anteriores al presente así como los paleosuelos intercalados, indica periodos donde se alternan la actividad eólica y la estabilidad de las dunas que se sitúan en el Holoceno tardío, y que coinciden con la datación de radiocarbono publicada con anterioridad. Otras datos de radiocarbono situados entre los 11 300 y 8400 anteriores al presente indican una actividad eólica durante el Holoceno temprano. La datación correspondiente a edades situadas en el Holoceno medio se encuentran ausentes en la cronología, probablemente como una consecuencia de un trabajo eólico extensivo ocurrido a finales de dicho periodo. La cronología de la región centro-sur de Saskatchewan es similar a la de otras partes de las praderas australes canadienses. Es probable que algunos depósitos datando del Holoceno medio existan en los sedimentos de la cuenca al sur de las praderas y en la interfase entre los bosques boreales australes y las praderas

Optical Dating of Modern and Late Holocene Dune Sands in the Brandon Sand Hills, Southwestern Manitoba

For any suite of optical dating samples two issues that must be considered are: do zero-age samples yield an optical age of zero, and are the optical ages consistent with independent stratigraphic and chronologic information? A test of the zero-age of dune sands was performed by dating samples from the crest, lee slope and stoss slope of an active dune in southwestern Manitoba. Three surface samples showed that, using 1.4 eV (infrared) excitation of K-feldspars, the equivalent dose, and hence “age”, depended on whether the bleach used for the thermal transfer correction was infrared/red or sunlight, leading to an age uncertainty of about ±40 years. Optical ages for samples 50 cm below these, and calculated relative to them, were 8 ± 8, 1 ± 7, and 38 ± 7 years, independent of the bleach used. These ages are consistent with expectations for the crest, lee slope and stoss slope, respectively. Optical ages of late Holocene dune sand units at the Brookdale Road section, southwestern Manitoba, were consistent with radiocarbon ages from organic matter within intervening buried soils. The suite of optical and radiocarbon ages from the Brandon Sand Hills provides a record of dune activity and stability for the region, and tentatively identifies periods of eolian activity at about 2 ka, 3.1 to 4.0 ka, and prior to 5.2 ka.En datation optique, on doit tenir compte de deux aspects : les échantillons d’âge zéro livrent-ils bien un âge optique de zéro ? Les âges optiques correspondent-ils aux autres données d’ordres stratigraphique et chronologique ? Un test a été réalisé sur des échantillons d’âge zéro provenant d’une dune de sable active. Les résultats obtenus sur trois échantillons de surface ont démontré qu’en soumettant des feldspaths potassiques à un rayonnement infrarouge de 1,4 eV, la dose équivalente nécessaire, et par conséquent l’âge, dépendait du type de transfert de correction thermique, radiation infrarouge/rouge ou solaire, ce qui entraînait une marge d’erreur possible de ±40 ans. Les âges optiques des échantillons situés à 50 cm sous ces derniers, calculés en fonction de ceux-ci, étaient de 8 ± 8, 1 ± 7, et 38 ± 7 ans, peu importe le type de remise à zéro. Ces âges correspondent aux valeurs attendues dans tous les cas. Les âges optiques de sables dunaires de l’Holocène supérieur obtenus à la coupe de Brookdale Road correspondaient aux âges au radiocarbone de la matière organique dans les sols enfouis. La série des âges optiques et au radiocarbone obtenus dans les Brandon Sand Hills révèle l’existence de périodes d’activité et de stabilité des dunes dans la région et indique l’existence probable de périodes d’activité éolienne vers 2 ka, de 3,1 à 4,0 ka et avant 5,2 ka BP.A fin de establecer la edad óptica de una muestra dos aspectos necesitan ser considerados: primero saber si muestras estimadas a una edad cero llevan a obtener una edad óptica cero y segundo si la edad óptica coincide con la información obtenida a partir de datos estratigráficos y cronológicos independientes. Durante el presente estudio una prueba de edad-cero de las dunas de arena fue realizada a partir de muestras provenientes de la cima, y de las laderas a sotavento y a barlovento de una duna activa situada al sudoeste de Manitoba. Tres muestras superficiales mostraron que usando un rango de excitación infrarrojo de 1,4 eV sobre feldespato potásico, la dosis equivalente y por lo tanto la “edad” depende de si el excitante empleado para obtener la corrección de transferencia térmica se sitúa en la región del rojo/infrarrojo o de la luz solar y proporciona un margen de error de ±40 años. La edad óptica de muestras de 50 cm situadas por debajo se estimaron respecto a las anteriores. Los resultados obtenidos las sitúan entre 8 ± 8, 1 ± 7, y 38 ± 7 años, independientemente del excitante empleado. Estas edades concuerdan con lo que se esperaba para la cima y las laderas a sotavento y a barlovento, respectivamente. La edad óptica correspondiente a dunas de arena datando del Holoceno superior en la sección de Brookdale Road al sudoeste de Manitoba coincidió con la edad estimada con carbono radioactivo obtenida a partir de la materia orgánica en diversos suelos sepultados. Los datos correspondientes a la edad óptica y la estimada con radiocarbono en la zona de Brandon Sand Hills proporcionan un registro de la actividad de las dunas e igualmente de la estabilidad de la región. Podemos además suponer que identifican periodos de actividad eólica que los sitúan entre 2000, 3100 a 4000 y 5200 años anteriores al presente, respectivamente

Rapid carbon accumulation following managed realignment on the Bay of Fundy

<div><p>Salt marshes are highly effective carbon (C) sinks and have higher rates of soil C burial (per square meter) than terrestrial ecosystems. Marsh reclamation and anthropogenic impacts, however, have resulted in extensive losses of salt marshes. Restoration of marshes drained and “reclaimed” for agriculture (referred to in Canada as dykelands) and degraded marshes can generate C credits, but only if C burial is reliably quantified. To date, studies reporting on C burial rates have been limited primarily to restored marshes which are more than 10 years old. Here we report on a study which assessed C burial six years after the return of tidal flooding to a section of dykeland in Aulac, New Brunswick on Canada’s Bay of Fundy. The C burial rate in the restored marsh averaged 1 329 g C m^-2 yr^-1, more than five times the rate reported for a nearby mature marsh. Carbon density in the recovering marsh was relatively consistent with depth and although salt marsh cordgrass (<i>Spartina alterniflora</i>) became established in 2012, the bulk of the C in the new marsh deposit is assumed to be allochthonous. Financial constraints are a barrier to marsh restoration projects and C markets could provide a considerable source of funding for restoration work in the future. For marsh restoration projects to be recognized in C crediting systems, however, it must also be demonstrated that the allochthonous C would not otherwise have been sequestered; the potential for this is discussed.</p></div

Areal C storage vs. core length in a recovering salt marsh.

<p>Areal C storage vs. core length in a recovering salt marsh.</p