Deglaciation and postglacial environmental changes in the Teton Mountain Range recorded at Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, WY

Darren J. Larsen; Matthew S. Finkenbinder; Mark B. Abbott; Adam R. Ofstun

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.02.024

Deglaciation and postglacial environmental changes in the Teton Mountain Range recorded at Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, WY

Darren J. Larsen, Matthew S. Finkenbinder, Mark B. Abbott, Adam R. Ofstun

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility

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24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sediments contained in lake basins positioned along the eastern front of the Teton Mountain Range preserve a continuous and datable record of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions. Here, we develop a multiproxy glacier and paleoenvironmental record using a combination of seismic reflection data and multiple sediment cores recovered from Jenny Lake and other nearby lakes. Age control of Teton lake sediments is established primarily through radiocarbon dating and supported by the presence of two prominent rhyolitic tephra deposits that are geochemically correlated to the widespread Mazama (~7.6 ka) and Glacier Peak (~13.6 ka) tephra layers. Multiple glacier and climate indicators, including sediment accumulation rate, bulk density, clastic sediment concentration and flux, organic matter (concentration, flux, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and C/N ratios), and biogenic silica, track changes in environmental conditions and landscape development. Sediment accumulation at Jenny Lake began centuries prior to 13.8 ka and cores from three lakes demonstrate that Teton glacier extents were greatly reduced by this time. Persistent ice retreat in Cascade Canyon was slowed by an interval of small glacier activity between ~13.5 and 11.5 ka, prior to the end of glacial lacustrine sedimentation ~11.5 ka. The transition to non-glacial sediments marks the onset of Holocene conditions at Jenny Lake and reflects a shift toward warmer summers, increased vegetation cover, and landscape stability in the Tetons. We discuss the Teton lake sediment records within the context of other regional studies in an effort to construct a comprehensive overview of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions at Grand Teton National Park.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	62-75
Number of pages	14
Journal	Quaternary Science Reviews
Volume	138
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.02.024
State	Published - Apr 15 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Whitney Doss, Diana Larsen, Kate Elkind, Sarah Crump, Lance Larsen, Sarah Spaulding, Marc Serravezza, and the LacCore staff for field and/or laboratory assistance. We also thank: Devin Hougardy for help performing the seismic survey and acquiring CHIRP data; National Park Service (NPS) personnel Kathy Mellander, Sue Consolo-Murphy, and Scott Guenther for logistical support; Gifford Miller and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for providing field equipment; Joe Licciardi for providing updated exposure ages; and Keck Carbon Cycle AMS Lab personnel John Southon, Guaciarra dos Santos, and Chanda Bertrand, for assistance with radiocarbon samples. This work was funded in part by a NPS Grand Teton Association Boyd Evison fellowship, an Explorers Club Eddie Bauer youth grant, a joint University of Wyoming-NPS Research Center grant, and funds from the University of Pittsburgh . Finkenbinder acknowledges support from a University of Pittsburgh Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship. We thank Kenneth L. Pierce and an anonymous reviewer for improving this manuscript through external reviews.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd.

Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Deglaciation
Glacier Peak tephra
Grand Teton National Park
Holocene climate change
Lake sediment
Teton fault
Western U.S.

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TETON

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@article{a37bcf1d965845168dd8767684ded575,

title = "Deglaciation and postglacial environmental changes in the Teton Mountain Range recorded at Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, WY",

abstract = "Sediments contained in lake basins positioned along the eastern front of the Teton Mountain Range preserve a continuous and datable record of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions. Here, we develop a multiproxy glacier and paleoenvironmental record using a combination of seismic reflection data and multiple sediment cores recovered from Jenny Lake and other nearby lakes. Age control of Teton lake sediments is established primarily through radiocarbon dating and supported by the presence of two prominent rhyolitic tephra deposits that are geochemically correlated to the widespread Mazama (~7.6 ka) and Glacier Peak (~13.6 ka) tephra layers. Multiple glacier and climate indicators, including sediment accumulation rate, bulk density, clastic sediment concentration and flux, organic matter (concentration, flux, δ13C, δ15N, and C/N ratios), and biogenic silica, track changes in environmental conditions and landscape development. Sediment accumulation at Jenny Lake began centuries prior to 13.8 ka and cores from three lakes demonstrate that Teton glacier extents were greatly reduced by this time. Persistent ice retreat in Cascade Canyon was slowed by an interval of small glacier activity between ~13.5 and 11.5 ka, prior to the end of glacial lacustrine sedimentation ~11.5 ka. The transition to non-glacial sediments marks the onset of Holocene conditions at Jenny Lake and reflects a shift toward warmer summers, increased vegetation cover, and landscape stability in the Tetons. We discuss the Teton lake sediment records within the context of other regional studies in an effort to construct a comprehensive overview of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions at Grand Teton National Park.",

keywords = "Deglaciation, Glacier Peak tephra, Grand Teton National Park, Holocene climate change, Lake sediment, Teton fault, Western U.S.",

author = "Larsen, {Darren J.} and Finkenbinder, {Matthew S.} and Abbott, {Mark B.} and Ofstun, {Adam R.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Whitney Doss, Diana Larsen, Kate Elkind, Sarah Crump, Lance Larsen, Sarah Spaulding, Marc Serravezza, and the LacCore staff for field and/or laboratory assistance. We also thank: Devin Hougardy for help performing the seismic survey and acquiring CHIRP data; National Park Service (NPS) personnel Kathy Mellander, Sue Consolo-Murphy, and Scott Guenther for logistical support; Gifford Miller and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for providing field equipment; Joe Licciardi for providing updated exposure ages; and Keck Carbon Cycle AMS Lab personnel John Southon, Guaciarra dos Santos, and Chanda Bertrand, for assistance with radiocarbon samples. This work was funded in part by a NPS Grand Teton Association Boyd Evison fellowship, an Explorers Club Eddie Bauer youth grant, a joint University of Wyoming-NPS Research Center grant, and funds from the University of Pittsburgh . Finkenbinder acknowledges support from a University of Pittsburgh Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship. We thank Kenneth L. Pierce and an anonymous reviewer for improving this manuscript through external reviews. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 Elsevier Ltd. Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.02.024",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "62--75",

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AU - Finkenbinder, Matthew S.

AU - Abbott, Mark B.

AU - Ofstun, Adam R.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Whitney Doss, Diana Larsen, Kate Elkind, Sarah Crump, Lance Larsen, Sarah Spaulding, Marc Serravezza, and the LacCore staff for field and/or laboratory assistance. We also thank: Devin Hougardy for help performing the seismic survey and acquiring CHIRP data; National Park Service (NPS) personnel Kathy Mellander, Sue Consolo-Murphy, and Scott Guenther for logistical support; Gifford Miller and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for providing field equipment; Joe Licciardi for providing updated exposure ages; and Keck Carbon Cycle AMS Lab personnel John Southon, Guaciarra dos Santos, and Chanda Bertrand, for assistance with radiocarbon samples. This work was funded in part by a NPS Grand Teton Association Boyd Evison fellowship, an Explorers Club Eddie Bauer youth grant, a joint University of Wyoming-NPS Research Center grant, and funds from the University of Pittsburgh . Finkenbinder acknowledges support from a University of Pittsburgh Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship. We thank Kenneth L. Pierce and an anonymous reviewer for improving this manuscript through external reviews. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2016/4/15

Y1 - 2016/4/15

N2 - Sediments contained in lake basins positioned along the eastern front of the Teton Mountain Range preserve a continuous and datable record of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions. Here, we develop a multiproxy glacier and paleoenvironmental record using a combination of seismic reflection data and multiple sediment cores recovered from Jenny Lake and other nearby lakes. Age control of Teton lake sediments is established primarily through radiocarbon dating and supported by the presence of two prominent rhyolitic tephra deposits that are geochemically correlated to the widespread Mazama (~7.6 ka) and Glacier Peak (~13.6 ka) tephra layers. Multiple glacier and climate indicators, including sediment accumulation rate, bulk density, clastic sediment concentration and flux, organic matter (concentration, flux, δ13C, δ15N, and C/N ratios), and biogenic silica, track changes in environmental conditions and landscape development. Sediment accumulation at Jenny Lake began centuries prior to 13.8 ka and cores from three lakes demonstrate that Teton glacier extents were greatly reduced by this time. Persistent ice retreat in Cascade Canyon was slowed by an interval of small glacier activity between ~13.5 and 11.5 ka, prior to the end of glacial lacustrine sedimentation ~11.5 ka. The transition to non-glacial sediments marks the onset of Holocene conditions at Jenny Lake and reflects a shift toward warmer summers, increased vegetation cover, and landscape stability in the Tetons. We discuss the Teton lake sediment records within the context of other regional studies in an effort to construct a comprehensive overview of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions at Grand Teton National Park.

AB - Sediments contained in lake basins positioned along the eastern front of the Teton Mountain Range preserve a continuous and datable record of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions. Here, we develop a multiproxy glacier and paleoenvironmental record using a combination of seismic reflection data and multiple sediment cores recovered from Jenny Lake and other nearby lakes. Age control of Teton lake sediments is established primarily through radiocarbon dating and supported by the presence of two prominent rhyolitic tephra deposits that are geochemically correlated to the widespread Mazama (~7.6 ka) and Glacier Peak (~13.6 ka) tephra layers. Multiple glacier and climate indicators, including sediment accumulation rate, bulk density, clastic sediment concentration and flux, organic matter (concentration, flux, δ13C, δ15N, and C/N ratios), and biogenic silica, track changes in environmental conditions and landscape development. Sediment accumulation at Jenny Lake began centuries prior to 13.8 ka and cores from three lakes demonstrate that Teton glacier extents were greatly reduced by this time. Persistent ice retreat in Cascade Canyon was slowed by an interval of small glacier activity between ~13.5 and 11.5 ka, prior to the end of glacial lacustrine sedimentation ~11.5 ka. The transition to non-glacial sediments marks the onset of Holocene conditions at Jenny Lake and reflects a shift toward warmer summers, increased vegetation cover, and landscape stability in the Tetons. We discuss the Teton lake sediment records within the context of other regional studies in an effort to construct a comprehensive overview of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions at Grand Teton National Park.

KW - Deglaciation

KW - Glacier Peak tephra

KW - Grand Teton National Park

KW - Holocene climate change

KW - Lake sediment

KW - Teton fault

KW - Western U.S.

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SN - 0277-3791

VL - 138

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JO - Quaternary Science Reviews

JF - Quaternary Science Reviews

ER -

Deglaciation and postglacial environmental changes in the Teton Mountain Range recorded at Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, WY

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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