Doctoral Dissertation Research: Reconstruction of Late Quaternary Climate Patterns from Lacustrine, Aeolean, and Alluvial Deposits of the Salt Basin in West Texas

博士论文研究：根据德克萨斯州西部盐盆地的湖泊、风和冲积沉积物重建晚第四纪气候模式

• 批准号: 9405247
• 负责人: Donald Currey
• 金额: $ 0.8万
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1994
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1994-07-01 至 1996-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9405247&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Reconstruction; Late

9405247 CURREY In order to better understand the possible direction and consequences of future climate changes, geographers and other earth scientists must first identify and understand the dynamics of climatic changes that have occurred in the past. Paleoclimatic changes can be analyzed through examination of the responses of geomorphic systems, records of which are preserved in stratigraphic records and other characteristics of different landforms. This doctoral dissertation research project will examine environmental change during the late Quaternary Period in the Salt Basin of western Texas. Deposits from a number of different sites in and near playa basins that once were lakebeds will be gathered and analyzed using a variety of dating procedures. Stratigraphic sections beneath the floor of the playa will be examined to identify materials contained within lake sediments, thereby providing evidence of short-term climatic shifts. Peripheral sections beside the playas contain evidence of aeolian activity in gypsum dune deposits. Other features along the playa margin, such as spits and beach ridges, permit interpretation of deep-water lacustrine processes. Further away from the playas, landforms produced by wind and running water record variability of formative environments. Among the research techniques that will be used to analyze materials derived from sample sites are thermoluminescence and optically simulated luminescence (TL/OSL) dating, radiocarbon dating, and stable isotope rate analysis. This research will provide valuable new insights about the chronology of climate and landscape change in the southern Great Plains. In doing so, it will further the comprehensive picture of environmental change in North America in the wake of the last major glaciation, thereby advancing understandings of Earth system history, a major facet of the U.S. Global Change Research Program. As a doctoral dissertation improvement award, this award also will pr ovide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.

小行星9405247 为了更好地了解未来气候变化的可能方向和后果，地理学家和其他地球科学家必须首先确定和了解过去发生的气候变化的动态。 古气候变化可以通过检查地貌系统的响应来分析，地貌系统的记录保存在地层记录和不同地貌的其他特征中。 这个博士论文研究项目将研究在得克萨斯州西部的盐盆地第四纪晚期的环境变化。 来自曾经是湖床的干盐湖盆地及其附近的许多不同地点的沉积物将被收集起来，并使用各种测年程序进行分析。 将检查干盐湖底部以下的地层剖面，以确定湖泊沉积物中所含的物质，从而提供短期气候变化的证据。 干盐湖旁边的外围部分含有石膏沙丘沉积物中风成活动的证据。 其他功能沿着干盐湖边缘，如沙嘴和海滩脊，允许深水湖泊过程的解释。 在远离干盐湖的地方，由风和流水形成的地貌记录了形成环境的变化。 将用于分析来自样品点的材料的研究技术包括热释光和光学模拟发光（TL/OSL）测年、放射性碳测年和稳定同位素速率分析。 这项研究将为南部大平原气候和景观变化的年表提供有价值的新见解。 在这样做的过程中，它将进一步在北美环境变化的最后一次大冰川之后的全面画面，从而推进地球系统的历史，美国的一个主要方面的理解全球变化研究计划。 作为博士论文改进奖，该奖项还将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的独立研究生涯。