Late Quaternary history of colluvial deposition and erosion in hollows, central California Coast Ranges

Research Article| July 01, 1990 Late Quaternary history of colluvial deposition and erosion in hollows, central California Coast Ranges STEVEN L. RENEAU; STEVEN L. RENEAU 1Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, M.S. D462, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar WILLIAM E. DIETRICH; WILLIAM E. DIETRICH 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar DOUGLAS J. DONAHUE; DOUGLAS J. DONAHUE 3National Science Foundation Regional Facility for Radioisotope Analysis, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. J. TIMOTHY JULL; A. J. TIMOTHY JULL 3National Science Foundation Regional Facility for Radioisotope Analysis, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MEYER RUBIN MEYER RUBIN 4U.S. Geological Survey, National Center 971, Reston, Virginia 22092 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information STEVEN L. RENEAU 1Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, M.S. D462, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 WILLIAM E. DIETRICH 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 DOUGLAS J. DONAHUE 3National Science Foundation Regional Facility for Radioisotope Analysis, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 A. J. TIMOTHY JULL 3National Science Foundation Regional Facility for Radioisotope Analysis, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 MEYER RUBIN 4U.S. Geological Survey, National Center 971, Reston, Virginia 22092 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1990) 102 (7): 969–982. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1990)102<0969:LQHOCD>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation STEVEN L. RENEAU, WILLIAM E. DIETRICH, DOUGLAS J. DONAHUE, A. J. TIMOTHY JULL, MEYER RUBIN; Late Quaternary history of colluvial deposition and erosion in hollows, central California Coast Ranges. GSA Bulletin 1990;; 102 (7): 969–982. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1990)102<0969:LQHOCD>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Colluvial deposits in hollows are the predominant source of debris flows in many mountainous areas, and the depositional history of hollows can provide insight into land-slide frequency and long-term hillslope processes. Detailed study of colluvial deposits in 20 hollows in the northern San Francisco Bay area, California, reveals diverse histories of erosion and deposition. Basal radiocarbon ages range from 1 to 29 ka and document deposition of colluvium throughout this period at different sites. Ages from multiple stratigraphic levels confirm that the deposits are cumulative and have thickened through the Holocene. Radiocarbon dates and stratigraphic observations document unconformities in hollows, reflecting incomplete evacuation of colluvium during both Pleistocene and Holocene events and providing evidence for a cycle of alternating accumulation and evacuation of colluvium. This cycle has apparently been affected by major climatic changes, and the common occurrence of basal ages at ca. 9 to 14 ka may record widespread slope instability during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. By analogy with modern landsliding, the increased erosion may have been caused by an increased frequency of high-intensity storms during extended periods of meridional flow in the upper atmosphere. The accelerated discharge of colluvium from hillslopes may have contributed to stream aggradation in diverse parts of California. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.