CHANGE in Soutaeastern ALBERTA, CANADA
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UNVERSITY OF ALBERTA POSTGLACIAL GEOMORPHK RESPONSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN SOUTaEASTERN ALBERTA, CANADA CELINA CAMPBELL A THESIS SüBMITTED TO TEE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPW DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES EDMONTOK, ALBERTA SPRING, 1997 The author bas granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une ficenct non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibiiothèque nationale du Crmada de reprduce, loan, distribute or seli reprodube,preter, distnbuaou copies of hismer thesis by any meam vmdn des copies de sa thèse & and in any form or format, making cpelqye manière et sous quelque this thesis available to interested fome que ce soit pour mettre des persons. exemplaires de cette thèse à la disposition des personnes intéressées- The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in merthesis. Neither &oit d'autcur qui protège sa thèse. Ni the thesis nor substantial extracts la thèse ni âes extraits substantieis de fiom it may be p~tedor othenivise celle-ci ne doivent être imprimes ou reproduced with the author's autrem~ptreproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT This thests tests the hypothesis that the tempo and pattern of geomorphic changes in southeastem Alberta over the postglacial pend reflects the nature and intensity of climatic forcing as expresseci principally through hydroIogica1 response. In order to test this hypotbesis, five separate midies were conducteà in different geomorphic settings to investigate a wide range of dominant geomorphic proceaesses which operated through the varying climates of the postglacial pend This first Chapter intmduces the study and study area, and develops an opriori empiricai mode1 through a synthesis of published and unpublished calibrated radiocarbon dates of postglacial geomorphic events from southeastem Alberta and smunding plains. Chapter 2 examines the variability of lake area - a simple indicator of hydrolog - across a climatic transect extending through the study area and Mernorth. Chapter 3 is a study of the sediments retrieved from the Tide Lake basin, a playa in the south of the study area Chapter 4 examines the Klassen Site, an alluvial fadeveloped on an abandoned meander of the Red Deer river. Chapter 5 develops a 4000+ year paleohydrology from the sediments of Pine Lake, in the nonhemmost part of the study area, and uses it for an examination of the pattern of tenace formation in stteams triiutary to the Red Deer River. Chapter 6 studies the aeolian deposits of the area- FinalIy, in Chapter 7, the regional chronology developed in Chapter 1 is revised and refined in light of the knowledge and understanding gained in this study. The thesis culminates with the proposal of a synthetic paleohydrology cwefor the past 20,000 years developed from al1 the available information from the study area and surrounding regions. In addition to testing the thesis hypothesis, this research yields two principle by- products: the first, is a refined and more accurate interpretation of the existing spatial and temporal models of the pattern of geomorphic response to climatic forcing during the postglacial in the plains of southeastern Alberta; the second, is an improved basis for identifjing the nature of these geomorphic responses in the context of &ta ftom a variety of previously unreporteci, and selected sites in the region. Perhaps the most interesting results of this research are: (1) the close association of geomorphic patterns when dated in cal yr with insolation; (2) the brevity and timing of ice-cover in this region; (3) the importance of the Younger Dryas aged climatic reversal; (4) the emergence of a coherent pattern of geomorphic activity fiom a synthesis of seemingly disparate studies, im plying a regional forcing mechanism, most 1ikel y variations in effective moisture, and; (5) the identification of where geomorphic activiy seems to reflect climate, where it doesn't and why. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I can never adequately thank my advisor, mentor, niend and dnnking buddy Ian A- Campbell for what he bas given me, except to Say that my iife has been very much ncher for having known h.lm's research in Dinosaur Provincial Park for the last 30 yean laid the foundation both intellectual1y and spiritually on which this thesis is based- Marty of the ideas expessed in this thesis are a direct extension of this foundation, 1 feel deeply honoured for having had the opportwiity to study and work with Ian who has not only been a formidable advisor, but took the time and effort to teach me personai lessons that took years to genninate and grow- 1 hope that one &y 1 can be half the advisor and friend that Ian has been to me! 1 thank my conmittee members Bruce Raias, Alwynne Beaudoin, Charles Schwegec, Edward Lozowski and David Sauchyn for their advice, direction, kindness and putting up with me! I also thank Nat Rutter, John Shaw, Ed Jackson, Steven Zoltai and RobYoung for investing their tirne and effort in addressing my endless Stream of questions. 1 would also like to express my appreciation to Andrei Sama-Wojcicki,Yash Karla, Frank Radford, Aileen Rhodes, Me1 Reasoner, Monique Mcgillarghy, Dianne Chad, Paul Wagner, John Paterson, Darren Sojgen and Ewen Campbell for technical assistance. Access to my core sites was made possible by permission from Paul Klassen (Klassen site) and Beau Canada Exploration Ltd. (Tide Lake). The field and lab work was supported by operating gant no. 174438 fiom Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Geological Suwey of Canada's Palliser Triangle Global Change Project gant to Ian A- Campbell, Canada's Green Plan, and Forestry Canada for the use of laboratory facilities. My fiends Laurel, Melodie, Darren, Claire, Anna, Pam, Mandy, David, Elizabeth, Nancy, Mark and John forced me to laugh, taught me how to hold my booze. wiped my tears and toasted my successes and coffee, coffee, coffee - I owe a debt of gratitude that 1know I cm never repay. To the ïhursday Night Gang: Janet, Mike, Karen, Solly, Robin, Lei and Jean - they were the best of times. To the memory of Kent Holden. Ian, my parnier in life, has contributed to this work through endless hours of child care, drafting several of the figures and putting up with me (despite my best efforts).Our wondefil children Jacob and Avery bave been real troupers. 1owe hem al1 big-time, and 1dedicate this thesis to them with love. TABLE OF CONTENTS POSTGLACIAL GEOMORPmC IWSPONSE TO CUMATIC CWGEIN SOUTHEASTERI!ALBERTA. CANADA CEAPTER 1 PAGE 1.1 uitroduction and statement of objectives............................................................ 1 1.2 General descnption of the study ;uea ............................................................... ..4 1 2.1 Geology and physïography.............................. .. .................................. ...J 1.2.2 Climate.................................................................................................. 5 1.2.3 Vegetatio n. .................................................................. ... .....titi..........-6 1 -3 Postglacial geomorphic / environmental cbange models in southeastem Alberta. .............................................................................................................. 7 1.3.1 Reglacial .................................................................................................. 7 1 -32 Glacial .............................. .-. ................................................................. 8 1.3.3 Deglacial ............................................................ ... .......................... 9 1.3.4 Postglacial............................................................................................ 11 1 .4 Calibration, review and geomorphic implications of postglacial radiocarbon ages in southeastem Alberta, Canada. ........................................................ 1 2 14 1 O ........................................................................................ 1 2 1.4.2 Smdy area .................. ... ................................................................. 13 1 .4.3 Postglacial geomorphic chronology and regional coirelations........ .... 14 1 .4.4 Discussion.......................................................................................... 16 1-5 Chapter 1 - Figures ................................................................................................ 19 1 -6 Chapter 1 - References ......................................................................................... 25 4 Appendix 1-1 : Radiocarbon dates used in Figure 1-3 ................................................. -38 CHAPTER 2 LAKE AREA VARIABLLITY ACROSS A CLIMATIC AND VEGETATIONAL TR4NSECT IN SOUTELEASTERN ALBERTA, CANADA 2.1 htroductioIL .........~....~~.~.~~~..~~.~....~.........~...........................................................~.. 42 1.2 Theoiy .............................................-.........................................................*.........43 2.3* Methods............................................................................................................ -44 2.4 Results and discussion........................... ,,.,. ....................................................... -45 . 2.5 Apphcation........................................................................................................ 46 2.6 Chapter 2 O Figures .........................................................................................