Paleochannels indicating wet climate and lack of response to lower sea level, southeast Georgia

Research Article| August 01, 1995 Paleochannels indicating wet climate and lack of response to lower sea level, southeast Georgia David S. Leigh; David S. Leigh 1Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2502 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Thomas P. Feeney Thomas P. Feeney 1Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2502 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information David S. Leigh 1Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2502 Thomas P. Feeney 1Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2502 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1995) 23 (8): 687–690. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0687:PIWCAL>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation David S. Leigh, Thomas P. Feeney; Paleochannels indicating wet climate and lack of response to lower sea level, southeast Georgia. Geology 1995;; 23 (8): 687–690. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0687:PIWCAL>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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Large meandering paleochannels on the flood plain of the middle Ogeechee River in southeast Georgia represent wet paleoclimate during late Pleistocene and early Holocene time and show no indication of downcutting in response to eustatically lower sea level. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the paleomeanders were active at ∼31–28 ka and ∼8.5–4.5 ka. Bivariate regression models that correlate modern channel dimensions to the discharge of low-magnitude floods (1–5 yr recurrence interval) indicate that paleodischarge of floods during those times was at least double that of modern floods, thus suggesting a wetter paleoclimate. These data corroborate independent studies of pollen and paleoclimate simulations that indicate wet early to middle Holocene (9–3 ka) conditions that were characterized by intensified monsoonal circulation. Paleoclimate conditions at ∼31–28 ka are less well known. Our analysis of the middle Ogeechee River flood plain indicates the absence of base-level response (downcutting) to eustatic sea-level lowering because the beds of the paleochannels are at approximately the same elevation as the bed of the modern channel. This supports recent arguments that the geomorphic response of coastal-plain streams to sea-level lowering is most apparent in deltaic and shelf environments and may not be recognized very far upstream from the coast. 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.