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Palynological Evidence for Early Holocene Aridity in the Southern Sierra Nevada, California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Owen K. Davis ,
R. Scott Anderson ,
Patricia L. Fall ,
Mary K. O'Rourke  and
Robert S. Thompson
Owen K. Davis
Affiliation:
Geosciences Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
R. Scott Anderson
Affiliation:
Geosciences Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
Patricia L. Fall
Affiliation:
Geosciences Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
Mary K. O'Rourke
Affiliation:
Geosciences Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
Robert S. Thompson
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
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Abstract

Sediments of Balsam Meadow have produced a 11,000-yr pollen record from the southern Sierra Nevada of California. The Balsam Meadow diagram is divided into three zones. (1) The Artemisia zone (11,000–7000 yr B.P.) is characterized by percentages of sagebrush (Artemisia) and other nonarboreal pollen higher than can be found in the modern local vegetation. Vegetation during this interval was probably similar to the modern vegetation on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada and the climate was drier than that of today. (2) Pinus pollen exceeded 80% from 7000 to 3000 yr B.P. in the Pinus zone. The climate was moister than during the Artemisia zone. (3) Fir (Abies, Cupressaceae, and oak (Quercus) percentages increased after 3000 yr B.P. in the Abies zone as the modern vegetation at the site developed and the present cool-moist climatic regime was established. Decreased fire frequency after 1200 yr B.P. is reflected in decreased abundance of macroscopic charcoal and increased concentration of Abies magnifica and Pinus murrayana needles.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , November 1985 , pp. 322 - 332
Copyright
University of Washington

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