thumbnail

Quaternary uplift history of Wingham Island, south-central Alaska

Professional Paper 1760-B
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1760B

Links

Abstract

Marine terraces cut into Pleistocene deposits on Wingham Island in the Gulf of Alaska provide new constraints on the position of sea level, ice thickness and total glacioisostatic rebound at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. A radiocarbon age of 13.9 +- 0.15 ka on the most prominent terrace is coincident with the end of meltwater pulse 1A, possibly suggestive of a link between changes in relative sea level and terrace formation. Isostatic modeling suggests a local ice thickness of 600 to 700 m with high (~10 cm/yr) initial rates of postglacial rebound. In addition to the unique ties to meltwater pulse 1A, the timing of emergence for Wingham Island following the Last Glacial Maximum has implications for the early migration of humans into North America.

Suggested Citation

Chapman, J.B., Haeussler, P.J., Pavlis, T.L., 2009, Quaternary uplift history of Wingham Island, south-central Alaska (Version 1.0): U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1760, iv, 13 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1760B.

ISSN: 2330-7102 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Quaternary uplift history of Wingham Island, south-central Alaska
Series title Professional Paper
Series number 1760
Chapter B
DOI 10.3133/pp1760B
Edition Version 1.0
Year Published 2009
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center
Description iv, 13 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2007 (Professional Paper 1760)
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Wingham Island
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details