Synthesis on Quaternary aeolian research in the unglaciated eastern United States

Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) Mammalian Assemblage from Paw Paw Cove, Tilghman Island, Maryland

“…These complications are commonly the by-product of the localized geology, sources of parent material, and wind velocity. For example, Markewich et al (2015: fig. 1) provided a broad range of ages affiliated with loess deposits (86,000-55,000 calbp [calibrated year before present], 40,000-30,000 calbp, and 13,000-11,000 calbp) and dune field formations (35,000-16,000 calbp) at sites on the Delmarva Peninsula.…”

“…Recent research has shown that the chronological timing of the pre-24,000 calbp aeolian sequences recognized by Markewich et al (2015) is further complicated by the accumulation of mixed old carbon within the regionally recognized paleosols situated beneath the overlying Paw Paw loess (Lowery et al, 2010). It would seem that cooler Late Pleistocene climatic conditions resulted in the long-term preservation of vitrified "old" charcoal.…”

Geochronology and Depositional History of the Sandy Springs Aeolian Landscape in the Unglaciated Upper Ohio River Valley, United States

“…Possible links between aeolian processes and past climatic or environmental conditions such as drought also have been explored (e.g., Muhs and Zárate, 2001;Booth et al, 2005;Willard et al, 2005;Li et al, 2007). Most aeolian research in the eastern United States has focused either on deglaciated landscapes including alluvial valleys, paleochannels, lake plains, and outwash plains (e.g., Arbogast et al, 2002;Arbogast and Packman, 2004;Rawling et al, 2008;Miao et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2011;Hanson et al, 2015) or coastal settings such as the Gulf Coastal Plain or the Atlantic Coastal Plain (e.g., Ivester et al, 2001;Ivester and Leigh, 2003;Kilibarda et al, 2014b;Forman, 2015;Markewich et al, 2015;Swezey et al, 2016). Aeolian landforms also occur in many unglaciated interior alluvial valleys (e.g., Bettis et al, 2003;Busacca et al, 2004;Markewich et al, 2015) and have the potential to yield paleoenvironmental data, help assess valley sensitivity to climate change, and reveal archeological evidence of past human activity (e.g., Wagner and McAvoy, 2004;Feathers et al, 2006;Lothrop and Cremeens, 2010;Daniel et al, 2013;Purtill and Kite, 2015).…”

“…Most aeolian research in the eastern United States has focused either on deglaciated landscapes including alluvial valleys, paleochannels, lake plains, and outwash plains (e.g., Arbogast et al, 2002;Arbogast and Packman, 2004;Rawling et al, 2008;Miao et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2011;Hanson et al, 2015) or coastal settings such as the Gulf Coastal Plain or the Atlantic Coastal Plain (e.g., Ivester et al, 2001;Ivester and Leigh, 2003;Kilibarda et al, 2014b;Forman, 2015;Markewich et al, 2015;Swezey et al, 2016). Aeolian landforms also occur in many unglaciated interior alluvial valleys (e.g., Bettis et al, 2003;Busacca et al, 2004;Markewich et al, 2015) and have the potential to yield paleoenvironmental data, help assess valley sensitivity to climate change, and reveal archeological evidence of past human activity (e.g., Wagner and McAvoy, 2004;Feathers et al, 2006;Lothrop and Cremeens, 2010;Daniel et al, 2013;Purtill and Kite, 2015). Although aeolian sediments for some unglaciated valleys in eastern United States have been described in detail including the lower Mississippi Valley (e.g., Saucier, 1977;Rodbell et al, 1997;Rittenour et al, 2007;Markewich et al, 2015), aeolian landforms in other drainages such as the upper Ohio Valley have received less attention and remain largely undated (Rutledge et al, 1975;Chappell, 1988;Simard, 1989).…”

“…Aeolian landforms also occur in many unglaciated interior alluvial valleys (e.g., Bettis et al, 2003;Busacca et al, 2004;Markewich et al, 2015) and have the potential to yield paleoenvironmental data, help assess valley sensitivity to climate change, and reveal archeological evidence of past human activity (e.g., Wagner and McAvoy, 2004;Feathers et al, 2006;Lothrop and Cremeens, 2010;Daniel et al, 2013;Purtill and Kite, 2015). Although aeolian sediments for some unglaciated valleys in eastern United States have been described in detail including the lower Mississippi Valley (e.g., Saucier, 1977;Rodbell et al, 1997;Rittenour et al, 2007;Markewich et al, 2015), aeolian landforms in other drainages such as the upper Ohio Valley have received less attention and remain largely undated (Rutledge et al, 1975;Chappell, 1988;Simard, 1989). To achieve a better understanding of past aeolian transport and deposition cycles for the eastern North America, additional geochronology and geomorphic histories are required for interior valleys, especially ones that have received limited attention.…”