Evidence of active dune sand on the Great Plains in the 19th century from accounts of early explorers
Quaternary Research
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Abstract
Dune fields are found in several areas of the Great Plains, and though mostly stabilised today, the accounts of early explorers show that they were more mobile in the last century. Using an index of dune mobility and tree ring data, it is found that these periods of mobility were related to temperature-induced drought, the high temperatures increasing evapotranspiration. Explorers also record that rivers upwind of these dune fields had shallow braided channels in the 19th century, and these would have supplied further aeolian sand. It is concluded that these dunes are extremely susceptible to climate change and that it may not need global warming to increase their mobility again. -K.Clayton
Suggested Citation
Muhs, D., and Holliday, V., 1995, Evidence of active dune sand on the Great Plains in the 19th century from accounts of early explorers: Quaternary Research, v. 43, no. 2, p. 198-208, https://doi.org/10.1006/qres.1995.1020.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Evidence of active dune sand on the Great Plains in the 19th century from accounts of early explorers |
| Series title | Quaternary Research |
| DOI | 10.1006/qres.1995.1020 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication Date | January 20, 2017 |
| Year Published | 1995 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Publisher location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Quaternary Research |
| First page | 198 |
| Last page | 208 |