Evidence for Late-Pleistocene permafrost in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (latitude 39°N), eastern USA

Auteurs :
FRENCH, H.M.
DEMITROFF, M.
FORMAN, S.L.

Description :
Relict sand wedges, up to 2.5 m deep and 0.4 m wide, are present in the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. They indicate the previous existence of permafrost. The wedges are composed predominantly of sand that shows evidence of wind transport and abrasion. Optically-stimulated-luminescence dating of infill material indicates that thermal-contraction-cracking and emplacement of the sand infill must have occurred during 2 separate periods during the Late Pleistocene. The presence of soil (ground) wedges in southern New Jersey and adjacent Delaware also suggest conditions of deep seasonal frost, probably when the most recent permafrost degraded.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2003, vol. 14, n°. 3, p. 259-274, nombre de pages : 16, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 68 ref.

Date :
2003

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley