Morphologic and stratigraphic evidence for Allerød and Younger Dryas age glacier fluctuations of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, British Columbia, Canada and Northwest Washington, U.S.A.

2002/06/01 by Dori J. Kovanen · 4 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Cryospheric studies and observations #Climate change and permafrost

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1502-3885.2002.tb01064.x

openalex publication_date 2002/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

The late Wisconsin deglaciation of the Fraser Lowland is reconstructed by integrating surficial mapping, stratigraphic, palynological, oceanographic (from previous studies), radiocarbon, and shaded digital topographic data Moraines associated with glacier fluctuations along the southwestern margin of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet are recognized for the first time and their chronology is established from 70 radiocarbon dates secured by morphologic and stratigraphic evidence. Following emergence of the lowland at c. 11.6 14 C kyr BP, three periods of glacier readvance occurred 11.6–11.4 and 10.9–10.2 14 C kyr BP during the Sumas interval. The spatial and temporal relationships of Sumas Drift indicate four recognizable phases, which unifies and extends the surficial geology across the U.S.‐Canadian border.

Citations

• INTCAL98 Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 24,000–0 cal BP
• Abrupt increase in Greenland snow accumulation at the end of the Younger Dryas event
• Evidence for Younger Dryas-age cooling on the North Pacific coast of America
• Quaternary stratigraphy of Norden, a proposal for terminology and classification

Cited by

• A record of post-glacial moraine deposition and tephra stratigraphy from Otokomi Lake, Rose Basin, Glacier National Park, Montana
• Younger Dryas readvance in Squamish river valley, southern Coast mountains, British Columbia
• The deglaciation of the Americas during the Last Glacial Termination
• Younger Dryas [wikipedia]