Vol. 43 (2020)
Research Project Geology

Quantifying rates of Quaternary landscape evolution in Grand Teton National Park using in situ cosmogenic 10Be, 14C, and 36Cl dating

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Alia Lesnek
Department of Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Queens College, CUNY, Queens, NY
Joseph Licciardi
Department of Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
a grassy meadow and trees in front of Jackson Lake, with a large cloud at the foot of the teton mountains
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13001/uwnps.2020.6781

Published 2020-12-15

Abstract

In Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), both glacial and tectonic activity have played major roles in shaping the landscape. Here, we evaluate the impacts of late Quaternary Teton Fault slip and subglacial erosion in GTNP. We are in the process of using 10Be surface exposure dating to generate records of time-integrated Teton Fault slip at multiple locations throughout GTNP, which will allow us to assess spatial and temporal patterns tectonic activity over the past ~15 ka. We are also working to determine rates of subglacial erosion through 10Be-14C-36Cl triple isotope dating. The results obtained through this novel combination of cosmogenic nuclide techniques will contribute toward a unified view of landscape evolution in alpine environments.

 

Featured photo by Bonnie Robinson, taken from the AMK Ranch photo collection.

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