1. A primer on Quaternary Stratigraphy and Terrestrial Sedimentology

2. Concerns for Q stratigraphy
Rapid fluctuations of climate, thus rapid and complex stratigraphy
Time-transgressive units are the rule
Dating and correlation limitations: correlation of records is the key
Complexities of terrestrial stratigraphy

3. Stratigraphy and correlation
At one site: temporal dimension: stratigraphy
At one time: spatial dimension: correlation
If the Q record were complete and well dated everywhere, a time-stratigraphic framework of environmental change could be developed
But that framework is hampered by:
few long, continuous records,
fragmented terrestrial records,
dating challenges

4. Stratigraphic approaches
Lithostratigraphy
Chronostratigraphy
Biostratigraphy
Chemostratigraphy (incl. Oxygen isotope stratigrapy)
Magnetostratigraphy
Climatostratigraphy (geologic-climatic units)
Morphostratigraphy (allostratigraphic units)

5. Lithostratigraphy
A very important first step in any stratigraphic sequence
Forms the basis for interpreting stratigraphy in terms of processes and history
Descriptive vs. genetic terminology
e.g., diamicton vs. till

6. Time-transgressive sequences
Lowe and Walker, 1997

7. Bedsmembersformations Lithofacieslithofacies associations
Lithostratigraphy
Bedsmembersformations
Lithofacieslithofacies associations
Lowe and Walker, 1997

8. Lowe and Walker, 1997

10. LithofaciesLithofacies associations

11. Biostratigraphy
Lowe and Walker, 1997

13. Marine oxygen isotope stratigraphy
SC Porter
Oxygen isotope stratigraphy has proven one of the best means of subdividing the Q, and has been formalized in recent years, see

14. Magnetostratigraphy

18. Morphostratigraphy
Lowe and Walker, 1997

19. (50 x 60 km)

20. Lyman Rapids advance
ca. 60 ka? (between 54 and 115 ka) SL (Heusser, 1972) :
(27 X 48 km)

21. Hoh Oxbow 1 advance 33-30 cal ka ∆T~4ºC @ SL (Heusser, 1972) :
I also need to make the point that this one advanced and retreated within 3 ka--very tight dating and rapid growth and shirnkage for a big glacier.
(27 X 48 km)

22. Twin Creeks 1 advance
22-21 ka (LGM equivalent; 27 km retreat from maximum) SL (Heusser, 1972) :
The poor, poor LGM. Note that the delta T is greater, but the ice extent way less
(27 X 48 km)

23. Climatostratigraphy
Lowe and Walker, 1997

24. Chamberlin’s glacial stages
Wisconsin glaciation
Sangamon interglaciation
Illinoian glaciation
Yarmouth interglaciation
Kansan (Independence) glaciation
Nebraskan (Albertan) glaciation
USGS

25. Correlation issues: time/space-transgressive climatic changes
Lowe and Walker, 1997

26. Chronostratigraphy
Lowe and Walker, 1997

27. Lowe and Walker, 1997

28. Examples of multi-proxy Quaternary records

29. Lowe and Walker, 1997

30. Lowe and Walker, 1997

31. Lowe and Walker, 1997

32. Lowe and Walker, 1997

33. Lowe and Walker, 1997

35. Rocky Mountain glacial stratigraphy
Lundeen, 2001