Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T18:52:58.534Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Geochemical Variations in Peoria Loess of Western Iowa Indicate Paleowinds of Midcontinental North America during Last Glaciation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Daniel R. Muhs  and
E. Arthur Bettis III
Daniel R. Muhs
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 980, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado, 80225
E. Arthur Bettis III
Affiliation:
Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Peoria Loess deposited in western Iowa during the last glacial maximum (LGM) shows distinct geochemical and particle-size variations as a function of both depth and distance east of the Missouri River. Geochemical and particle-size data indicate that Peoria Loess in western Iowa probably had two sources: the Missouri River valley, and a source that lay to the west of the Missouri River. Both sources indicate that LGM paleowinds in western Iowa had a strong westerly component, similar to interpretations of previous workers. A compilation of loess studies in Iowa and elsewhere indicates that westerly winds were dominant during loess transport over much of the midcontinent south of the Laurentide ice sheet, which is not in agreement with paleowinds simulated by atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). AGCMs consistently generate a glacial anticyclone with easterly or northeasterly winds over the Laurentide ice sheet and the area to the south of it. Loess deposition in the midcontinent during the LGM may be a function of infrequent northwesterly winds that were unrelated to the presence of the glacial anticyclone.

Keywords

loessIowaNorth American midcontinentlast glacial maximumpaleowindsclimate models
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 53 , Issue 1 , January 2000 , pp. 49 - 61
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aleinikoff, J.N., Muhs, D.R., Fanning, C.M., (1998). Isotopic evidence for the sources of late Wisconsin (Peoria) loess, Colorado and Nebraska: Implications for paleoclimate. Busacca, A.J., Dust Aerosols, Loess Soils and Global Change 124–127.Google Scholar
Aleinikoff, J.N., Muhs, D.R., Sauer, R., Fanning, C.M., (1999). Late Quaternary loess in northeastern Colorado, II. Pb isotopic evidence for the variability of loess sources. Geological Society of America Bulletin 111, 1876–1883.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bartlein, P.J., Anderson, K.H., Anderson, P.M., Edwards, M.E., Mock, C.J., Thompson, R.S., Webb, R.S., Webb, T. III, Whitlock, C., (1998). Paleoclimate simulations for North America over the past 21,000 years: Features of the simulated climate and comparisons with paleoenvironmental data. Quaternary Science Reviews 17, 549–585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beavers, A.H., Fehrenbacher, J.B., Johnson, P.R., Jones, R.L., (1963). CaO–ZrO2 molar ratios as an index of weathering. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 27, 408–412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bettis, E.A. III, (1990). Holocene Alluvial Stratigraphy and Selected Aspects of the Quaternary History of Western Iowa.Google Scholar
Branham, C. E., (1989). Soil Survey of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, U.S.. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Broccoli, A.J., Manabe, S., (1987). The effects of the Laurentide ice sheet on North American climate during the last glacial maximum. Géographie Physique et Quaternaire 41, 291–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Busacca, A.J., McDonald, E.V., (1994). Regional sedimentation of late Quaternary loess on the Columbia Plateau: Sediment source areas and loess distribution patterns. Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Bulletin 80, 181–190.Google Scholar
COHMAP Members (1988). Climatic changes of the last 18,000 years: Observations and model simulations.. Science 241, , 1043–1052.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curry, B.B., Follmer, L.R., (1992). The last interglacial–glacial transition in Illinois: 123–25 ka. Clark, P.U., Clark, P.D., The Last Interglacial–Glacial Transition in North America 71–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniels, R.B., Handy, R.L., (1959). Suggested new type section for the Loveland loess in western Iowa. Journal of Geology 67, 114–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniels, R.B., Rubin, M., Simonson, G.H., (1963). Alluvial chronology of the Thompson Creek watershed, Harrison County, Iowa. American Journal of Science 261, 473–487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ebens, R.J., Connor, J.J., (1980). Geochemistry of loess and carbonate residuum.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eden, D.N., Qizhong, W., Hunt, J.L., Whitton, J.S., (1994). Mineralogical and geochemical trends across the Loess Plateau, North China. Catena 21, 73–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fehrenbacher, J.B., Olson, K.R., Jansen, I.J., (1986). Loess thickness in Illinois. Soil Science 141, 423–431.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fehrenbacher, J.B., White, J.L., Ulrich, H.P., Odell, R.T., (1965). Loess distribution in southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 29, 566–572.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Follmer, L.R., (1983). Sangamon and Wisconsinan pedogenesis in the Midwestern United States. Wright, H.E., Porter, S.C., Late Quaternary Environments of the United States: Volume 1, The Late Pleistocene Univ. of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.138–144.Google Scholar
Forman, S.L., Bettis, E.A. III, Kemmis, T.J., Miller, B.B., (1992). Chronologic evidence for multiple periods of loess deposition during the late Pleistocene in the Missouri and Mississippi River valley, United States: Implications for the activity of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 93, 71–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frazee, C.J., Fehrenbacher, J.B., Krumbein, W.C., (1970). Loess distribution from a source. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 34, 296–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frye, J. C, Leonard, A. B., (1952). Pleistocene geology of Kansas. Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 99..Google Scholar
Frye, J.C., Glass, H.D., Willman, H.B., (1968). Mineral zonation of Woodfordian loesses of Illinois. Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 427, 1–44.Google Scholar
Grimley, D.A., Follmer, L.R., McKay, E.D., (1998). Magnetic susceptibility and mineral zonations controlled by provenance in loess along the Illinois and central Mississippi River valleys. Quaternary Research 49, 24–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hallberg, G.R., (1979). Wind-aligned drainage in loess in Iowa. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science 86, 4–9.Google Scholar
Hallberg, G. R, Lineback, J. A, Mickelson, D. M, Knox, J. C, Goebel, J. E, Hobbs, H. C, Whitfield, J. W, Ward, R. A, Boellstorf, J. D, Swinehart, J. B, Dreeszen, V. H., (1991). Quaternary geologic map of the Des Moines 4° × 6° quadrangle, United States.. U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1420 (NK-15), scale 1: 1,000,000. .Google Scholar
Handy, R.L., (1976). Loess distribution by variable winds. Geological Society of America Bulletin 87, 915–927.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hobbs, W.H., (1943). The glacial anticyclone and the continental glaciers of North America. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 86, 368–402.Google Scholar
Hovan, S.A., Rea, D.K., Pisias, N.G., Shackleton, N.J., (1989). A direct link between the China loess and marine δ18O records: Aeolian flux to the north Pacific. Nature 340, 296–298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutton, C.E., (1947). Studies of loess-derived soils in southwestern Iowa. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 12, 424–431.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Isarin, R.F.B., Renssen, H., Koster, E.A., (1997). Surface wind climate during the Younger Dryas in Europe as inferred from aeolian records and model simulations. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 134, 127–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, R.L., Ray, B.W., Fehrenbacher, J.B., Beavers, A.H., (1967). Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of soils in loess overlying shale in northwestern Illinois. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 31, 800–804.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jury, W. M, Dideriksen, R. I, Fisher, C. S., (1969). Soil survey of Cass County, Iowa, U.S.. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Kleiss, H.J., (1973). Loess distribution along the Illinois soil-development sequence. Soil Science 115, 194–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kutzbach, J.E., Guetter, P.J., Behling, P.J., Selin, R., (1993). Simulated climatic changes: Results of the COHMAP climate-model experiments. Wright, H.E., Global Climates Since the Last Glacial Maximum Univ. of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.24–93.Google Scholar
Kutzbach, J.E., Gallimore, R., Harrison, S.P., Behling, P., Selin, R., Laarif, F., (1998). Climate simulations for the past 21,000 years. Quaternary Science Reviews 17, 473–506.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leigh, D.S., Knox, J.C., (1994). Loess of the Upper Mississippi Valley Driftless Area. Quaternary Research 42, 30–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, G.C., Fosberg, M.A., (1982). Distribution and character of loess and loess soils in southeastern Idaho. Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 26, 705–716.Google Scholar
Lewis, G.C., Fosberg, M.A., McDole, R.E., Chugg, J.C., (1975). Distribution and some properties of loess in southcentral and southeastern Idaho. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 39, 1165–1168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lineback, J. A, Bleuer, N. K, Mickelson, D. M, Farrand, W. R, Goldthwait, R. P., (1983). Quaternary geologic map of the Chicago 4° × 6° quadrangle, United States. U.S.. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1420 (NK-16), scale 1: 1,000,000. .Google Scholar
Maat, P.B., Johnson, W.C., (1996). Thermoluminescence and new 14C age estimates for late Quaternary loesses in southwestern Nebraska. Geomorphology 17, 115–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mandel, R.D., Bettis, E.A. III, (1995). Late Quaternary landscape evolution and stratigraphy in eastern Nebraska. Flowerday, C.A., Geologic Field Trips in Nebraska and Adjacent Parts of Kansas and South Dakota 77–90.Google Scholar
Martin, C.W., (1993). Radiocarbon ages on late Pleistocene loess stratigraphy of Nebraska and Kansas, central Great Plains, U.S.A. Quaternary Science Reviews 12, 179–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, J.A., Nater, E.A., Hobbs, H.C., (1994). Transport direction of Wisconsinan loess in southeastern Minnesota. Quaternary Research 41, 44–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
May, D.W., Holen, S.R., (1993). Radiocarbon ages of soils and charcoal in late Wisconsinan loess, south-central Nebraska. Quaternary Research 39, 55–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
May, D., Swinehart, J.B., Loope, D., Souders, V., (1995). Late Quaternary fluvial and eolian sediments: Loup River Basin and the Nebraska Sand Hills. Flowerday, C.A., Geologic Field Trips in Nebraska and Adjacent Parts of Kansas and South Dakota 13–31.Google Scholar
McCauley, J.F., Breed, C.S., Grolier, M.J., MacKinnon, D.J., (1981). The U.S. dust storm of February 1977. Geological Society of America Special Paper 186, 123–147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKay, E.D., (1979). Wisconsinan loess stratigraphy of Illinois. Follmer, L.R., McKay, E.D., Lineback, J.A., Gross, D.L., Wisconsinan, Sangamonian, and Illinoian Stratigraphy in Central Illinois 95–108.Google Scholar
Muhs, D.R., Aleinikoff, J.N., Stafford, T.W. Jr., Kihl, R., Been, J., Mahan, S.A., Cowherd, S.D., (1999). Late Quaternary loess in northeastern Colorado, I: Age and paleoclimatic significance. Geological Society of America Bulletin 111, 1861–1875.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Péwé, T. L., (1975). Quaternary geology of Alaska.. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 835. .Google Scholar
Pierce, K. L, Covington, H. R, Williams, P. L, McIntyre, D. H., (1983). Geologic map of the Cotterel Mountains and the northern Raft River Valley, Cassia County, Idaho. U.S.. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1450, scale 1:48,000. .Google Scholar
Putman, B.R., Jansen, I.J., Follmer, L.R., (1988). Loessial soils: Their relationship to width of the source valley in Illinois. Soil Science 146, 241–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodbell, D.T., Forman, S.L., Pierson, J., Lynn, W.C., (1997). Stratigraphy and chronology of Mississippi Valley loess in western Tennessee. Geological Society of America Bulletin 109, 1134–1148.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruhe, R.V., (1954). Relations of the properties of Wisconsin loess to topography in western Iowa. American Journal of Science 252, 663–672.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruhe, R.V., (1969). Quaternary Landscapes in Iowa. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames.Google Scholar
Ruhe, R.V., (1983). Depositional environment of late Wisconsin loess in the midcontinental United States. Wright, H.E. Jr., Porter, S.C., Late-Quaternary Environments of the United States Univ. of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.130–137.Google Scholar
Ruhe, R.V., Miller, G.A., Vreeken, W.J., (1971). Paleosols, loess sedimentation and soil stratigraphy. Yaalon, D.H., Paleopedology—Origin, Nature and Dating of Paleosols Israel Universities Press, Jerusalem.41–59.Google Scholar
Rutledge, E.M., Holowaychuk, N., Hall, G.F., Wilding, L.P., (1975). Loess in Ohio in relation to several possible source areas: I. Physical and chemical properties. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 39, 1125–1132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simonson, R.W., Hutton, C.E., (1954). Distribution curves for loess. American Journal of Science 252, 99–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, G.D., (1942). Illinois loess: Variations in its properties and distribution, a pedologic interpretation. University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 490, 139–184.Google Scholar
Snowden, J.O., Priddy, R.R., (1968). Geology of Mississippi loess. Mississippi Geological Survey Bulletin 111, 13–203.Google Scholar
Swineford, A., Frye, J.C., (1951). Petrography of the Peoria Loess in Kansas. Journal of Geology 59, 306–322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swinehart, J. B, Dreeszen, V. H, Richmond, G. M, Tipton, M. J, Bretz, R, Steece, F. V, Hallberg, G. R, Goebel, J. E., (1994). Quaternary geologic map of the Platte River 4° × 6° quadrangle, United States. U.S.. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1420 (NK-14), scale 1:1,000,000. .Google Scholar
Thorp, J, Smith, H. T. U., (1952). Pleistocene eolian deposits of the United States, Alaska, and parts of Canada.. National Research Council Committee for the Study of Eolian Deposits, Geological Society of America, scale 1:2,500,000. .Google Scholar
Whitfield, J. W, Ward, R. A, Denne, J. E, Holbrook, D. F, Bush, W. V, Lineback, J. A, Luza, K. V, Jensen, K. M, Fishman, W. D., (1993). Quaternary geologic map of the Ozark Plateau 4° × 6° quadrangle, United States. U.S.. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1420 (NJ-15), scale 1:1,000,000. .Google Scholar
Zeeberg, J., (1998). The European sand belt in eastern Europe—and comparison of Late Glacial dune orientation with GCM simulation results. Boreas 27, 127–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, X.Y., Arimoto, R., An, Z.S., (1999). Glacial and interglacial patterns for Asian dust transport. Quaternary Science Reviews 18, 811–819.CrossRefGoogle Scholar