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Pleistocene megafloods in the northeast Pacific

2009; Geological Society of America; Volume: 37; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/g25025a.1

1943-2682

C. Lopes, Alan C Mix,

Marine Biology and Ecology Research

Research Article| January 01, 2009 Pleistocene megafloods in the northeast Pacific C. Lopes; C. Lopes * 1Departamento de Geologia Marinha, Laboratório de Energia e Geologia, 2721-866 Amadora, Portugal 2College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5503, USA *E-mail: cris.lopes@softhome.net. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. C. Mix A. C. Mix 2College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5503, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2009) 37 (1): 79–82. https://doi.org/10.1130/G25025A.1 Article history received: 17 Apr 2008 rev-recd: 07 Sep 2008 accepted: 21 Sep 2008 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation C. Lopes, A. C. Mix; Pleistocene megafloods in the northeast Pacific. Geology 2009;; 37 (1): 79–82. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G25025A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Massive discharges of freshwater from the glacial lake Missoula to the northeast Pacific Ocean are thought to have sculpted the Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington and debouched via the Columbia River near 46°N. The dynamics and timing of these events and their impact on northeast Pacific circulation remain uncertain. Here we date marine records of anomalous freshwater inputs to the ocean based on freshwater diatoms, oxygen isotopes in foraminifera, and radiocarbon data. Low-salinity plumes from the Columbia River reduced sea-surface salinities by as much as 6 psu (practical salinity units) more than 400 km away between 16 and 31 cal (calendar) ka B.P. Anomalously high abundances of freshwater diatoms in marine sediments from the region precede generally accepted dates for the existence of glacial Lake Missoula, implying that large flooding or freshwater routing events were common during the advance of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and that such events require multiple sources. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.