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Use of Tephrochronology in the Quaternary Geology of the United States

  • Conference paper
Tephra Studies

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series ((ASIC,volume 75))

Abstract

The most extensive volcanic ash units of western United States that are important for tephrochronologic studies include the Pearlette-type ash layers (0.6, 1.2, and 1.9 x 106 years old), the Bishop ash (0.7 x 106 years old), Glacier Peak tephra (ca. 12,500–11,250 years old), Mazama ash (6700 years old), several layers from Mt. St. Helens (3400, 450, and 180 years old), two lobes of White River ash in eastern Alaska and Yukon Territory (1890 and 1250 years old), and the Katmai tephra of southern Alaska (A.D. 1912). These and other tephra layers of western United States have been used to assess the age of Pleistocene and Holocene glacial, pluvial, and alluvial records, to estimate the relative magnitude and character of eruptive events, and to infer prevailing wind direction(s) at times of major eruptions. Pollen influx and pollen types have been employed to determine the duration and season(s) of deposition of certain ancient ash layers. Potential applications include use of tephra layers to evaluate rates of geologic processes, to correlate marine and terrestrial stratigraphic sequences, to determine rates of reforestation at the end of the last glaciation, and to assess the extent to which volcanic ash in the atmosphere can contribute to climatic change.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences and Quaternary Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Stephen C. Porter

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  1. Stephen C. Porter
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA

    S. Self

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, England

    R. S. J. Sparks

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© 1981 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Porter, S.C. (1981). Use of Tephrochronology in the Quaternary Geology of the United States. In: Self, S., Sparks, R.S.J. (eds) Tephra Studies. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 75. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8537-7_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8537-7_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8539-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8537-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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