Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Geological Society of America
Résumé : International audience
Because of its essential role in coupling climate and tectonics, denudation is a key parameter when constraining the history of Earth’s surface. This is particularly true at the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition, and the potential impact of the onset of Quaternary glaciations remains strongly debated. In the present study, we measured in situ cosmogenic 10Be within continuous late Cenozoic sedimentary sections that had already been dated using magnetostratigraphy. The new data were obtained from four sedimentary basins in the northern and southern Tianshan range (Central Asia). We first thoroughly discuss how in situ cosmogenic 10Be concentrations can be corrected for radioactive decay and for the contribution of postdepositional cosmogenic accumulation to derive the paleo–denudation rates. Our analysis shows that, in the four sedimentary records, the potential bias remains low enough to consider the derived denudation rates reliable. The four records, although likely influenced by local particularities due to lithological heterogeneity and local tectonics, display similar trends of continuously increasing denudation between ca. 9 Ma and the present. These rates have remained relatively high but steady since 4 Ma, ∼1.5 m.y. before the onset of the Quaternary glacial cycles. Though the rejuvenation of the Tianshan range since 11 Ma may explain most of the progressive increase (×5) in denudation, our data suggest that the Quaternary glaciations had only a limited impact on denudation in the Tianshan. Our data, however, indicate an increase in the spatial and high-frequency variability (<1 m.y.) of the denudation rates between 3 and 1 Ma. This may correspond to a transient readjustment of the landscape in response to the onset of Quaternary glacial cycles.
ISSN: 0016-7606

hal-01685766
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01685766
DOI : 10.1130/B31475.1

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
This work describes the history of late Pleistocene glaciations in the central Sayan-Tuva Upland (southern Siberia). Geological and geomorphological analysis as well as 10Be surface-exposure dating revealed the glacier fluctuations in this continental area. The available published data show that the glaciers were formed in the MIS 6 and probably survived in the MIS 5. Data are also available concerning glacial advances in different periods of MIS 4, MIS 3 and MIS 2. ELAs were 2030-2230 m. Two distinct 10Be exposure ages groups are highlighted reflecting the time of formation of glacial deposits in the MIS 2 associated to the Big Sayan Ridge outlet glaciers. The Sentsa - Sailag group (terminal moraine) has a mean exposure age of 16.44 ± 0.38 ka. The Jombolok (terminal moraine) - Jombolok (outwash plain) group has a mean exposure age of 22.80 ± 0.56 ka. The last glaciation that occurred at MIS 2 is characterized by the absence of ice cap on the Azas volcanic Plateau and of ice field in the Todza Basin. The thickness of the valley glacier was 300-400 m. At MIS 2, the terminal moraines were ∼1300-1400 m a.s.l. in the Tissa, Sentsa, Jombolok and Sailag river valleys.
ISSN: 0277-3791

hal-00758082
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00758082
DOI : 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.06.005

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Pollen records, marine faunal associations and stable isotope compositions of sediments from Rhodes, Greece, have been determined to track environmental changes in the eastern Mediterranean during the Early and Middle Pleistocene. A detailed chronostratigraphic curve, based on magnetostratigraphic data, was obtained by correlating pollen spectra with the Mediterranean oxygen isotopic curve of Ocean Drilling Program Site 975. Five sedimentary sequences that correspond to marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 31–27 and to MIS 20–17 have been investigated in the confined Tsampika microbasin. High-amplitude Pinus variations confirm glacio-eustatic changes deduced from changes in marine faunal associations and sedimentary depositional environments. Reflecting climatic cycles identified in the marine carbonate oxygen isotope record, eight vegetation successions (characterized by the dominance first of mesothermic elements, then of mid- and high-altitude elements with Pinus, and ending with maxima in herb and steppe elements) have been documented. Most of them were probably driven by changes in insolation occurring in high northern latitudes (obliquity impact) during the late Early Pleistocene and early Middle Pleistocene.
Journal of the Geological Society, London

hal-00470360
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00470360

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
The stratigraphy of the last deglaciation sequence is investigated in Lake Saint-Jean (Québec Province, Canada) based on 300 km of echo-sounder two dimensional seismic profiles. The sedimentary archive of this basin is documented from the Late Pleistocene Laurentidian ice-front recession to the present-day situation. Ten seismic units have been identified that reflect spatio-temporal variations in depositional processes characterizing different periods of the Saint-Jean basin evolution. During the postglacial marine flooding, a high deposition rate of mud settling, from proglacial glacimarine and then prodeltaic plumes in the Laflamme Gulf, produced an extensive, up to 50 m thick mud sheet draping the isostatically depressed marine basin floor. Subsequently, a closing of the water body due to glacio-isostatic rebound occurred at 8.5 cal. ka BP, drastically modifying the hydrodynamics. Hyperpycnal flows appeared because fresh lake water replaced dense marine water. River sediments were transferred towards the deeper part of the lake into river-related sediment drifts and confined lobes. The closing of the water body is also marked by the onset of a wind-driven internal circulation associating coastal hydrodynamics and bottom currents with sedimentary features including shoreface deposits, sediment drifts and a prograding shelf-type body. The fingerprints of a forced regression are well expressed by mouth-bar systems and by the shoreface-shelf system, the latter unexpected in such a lacustrine setting. In both cases, a regressive surface of lacustrine erosion (RSLE) has been identified, separating sandy mouth-bar from glaciomarine to prodeltaic muds, and sandy shoreface wedges from the heterolithic shelf-type body, respectively. The Lake Saint-Jean record is an example of a regressive succession driven by a glacio-isostatic rebound and showing the transition from late-glacial to post-glacial depositional systems.
ISSN: 0300-9483

hal-00984683
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00984683
DOI : 10.1111/bor.12039

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Blackwell Publishing
Résumé : International audience
Differentiating between forced regressive deposits from deglacial periods inhigh latitude domains and forced regressive deposits from the onset of glacialperiods in low latitude domains is fundamental for the accurate interpretationof glacial cycles within the geological record and then for thereconstruction of palaeogeography and palaeo-climate. A forced regressivedeglacial sequence is documented from the Lake Saint-Jean basin (Quebec,Canada). In this area, the Late Pleistocene to Holocene sediments haverecorded the Laurentide ice sheet retreat accompanied by the invasion ofmarine waters (Laflamme Gulf) from ca 129 cal kyr BP. Subsequently, fluviodeltaicand coastal prograding wedges were deposited; they followed thebase-level fall due to glacio-isostatic rebound. This succession, representinga transition from glacial to post-glacial periods within a previously glaciatedarea, was investigated through recent mapping, preserved landforms, faciesanalysis, and new optical stimulated luminescence and radiocarbon dates.Three basin-scale geological sections share a common lower part made ofisolated ice-contact fan deposits overlying bedrock. Throughout the entirebasin, ice-contact fans are capped by glacimarine muds. Above, fluvial andcoastal prograding systems were deposited and evolved through four steps:(i) deltaic systems progressively increased in width; (ii) coastal influence onsedimentation increased; (iii) hydrographic drainage systems became moreorganised; and (iv) deltas graded from steep (Gilbert delta) to low-angle foresets(mouth-bar delta). Deposited during the base-level fall from glacioisostaticrebound, the complete succession has been designated as a singlefalling stage system tract referred to as a deglacial falling stage system tract.It is representative of a deglaciation sequence in areas previously covered byice during glacial periods (i.e. medium to high latitude domains). Diagnosticcriteria are provided to identify such a deglacial falling stage system tract inthe geological record, which may aid identification of previously unknownglacial cycles.
ISSN: 1469-3496

insu-01184731
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01184731
DOI : 10.1111/sed.12196