16 Understanding the Past and Present Cryosphere of the Rocky Mountains

Alpine snow and ice play seminal roles in the environmental, geomorphic, and hydrologic processes. This session welcomes abstracts on scientific studies of the past and present cryosphere in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.

Monday, 18 May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Alvarado C

Dust in the Caldera: Glacial-Interglacial Sediment Transport in Northern New Mexico

Paper number: 16-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 4:20 PM – 4:40 PM

Authors

Abstract

Understanding variations in past atmospheric dust fluxes plays a vital role in the study of paleoclimatology by providing insight into how terrestrial environments respond to global climate systems. In Southwestern North America (SWNA), a study has shown that dust deposition varies with climate, with higher fluxes during an interglacial period and lower fluxes during glacial periods. Such changes can be driven by fluctuations in wind strength, aridity, vegetation cover, and sediment availability. This project utilizes an 81-meter sediment core from the Valles Caldera in northern New Mexico to investigate dust deposition patterns across Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 11 & 12, a mid-Pleistocene interglacial-glacial cycle (480 ka to 400 ka). The primary objective is to evaluate climatic and geomorphic controls on dust flux in Northern New Mexico and assess whether there is a consistent signal across SWNA. This study will use a combination of grain size analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) geochemistry, and geomorphic interpretations to reconstruct sediment transport pathways and depositional processes. This research project will contribute to a broader understanding of dust dynamics in SWNA during the Quaternary Period. The results will allow further discussion on climate variability in semi-arid regions and how for future climate change may impact dust fluxes changes in this region.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 4

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026RM-410612

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