Rapid response of alpine timberline vegetation to the Younger Dryas climate oscillation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA

Research Article| January 01, 2000 Rapid response of alpine timberline vegetation to the Younger Dryas climate oscillation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA Mel A. Reasoner; Mel A. Reasoner 1Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Campus Box 450, Boulder, Colorado 80039-0450, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Margret A. Jodry Margret A. Jodry 2Paleoindian/Paleoecology Program, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, NMNH 304, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Mel A. Reasoner 1Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Campus Box 450, Boulder, Colorado 80039-0450, USA Margret A. Jodry 2Paleoindian/Paleoecology Program, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, NMNH 304, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Jun 1999 Revision Received: 17 Sep 1999 Accepted: 24 Sep 1999 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (1): 51–54. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)282.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 01 Jun 1999 Revision Received: 17 Sep 1999 Accepted: 24 Sep 1999 First Online: 02 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 Mel A. Reasoner, Margret A. Jodry; Rapid response of alpine timberline vegetation to the Younger Dryas climate oscillation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA. Geology 2000;; 28 (1): 51–54. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)282.0.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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Paleobotanical records from two high-altitude (>3300 m) sites in Colorado show a clear and immediate response to the Younger Dryas climate oscillation. The Black Mountain Lake and Sky Pond records indicate that alpine timberline migrated upslope to near-modern elevations during the late Bølling-Allerød (13.6–12.9 ka). Subsequent declines in arboreal pollen percentages and accumulation rates during the Younger Dryas interval (12.9–11.7 ka) reflect a downslope displacement of the alpine timberline ecotone of 60–120 m in elevation. This change translates to a cooling of summer temperature by ∼0.4–0.9 °C and is consistent with proposed Younger Dryas advances of alpine glaciers in the Rocky Mountains to positions close to Little Ice Age maxima. Alpine timberline readvanced upslope to elevations above both sites between 11.7 and 11.4 ka. The concomitant response of temperature-sensitive alpine timberline vegetation in Colorado and late-glacial changes in North Atlantic thermohaline circulation implicates a rapid, widespread atmospheric transmission of the Younger Dryas climate oscillation. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.