Late Quaternary depositional history, Holocene sea-level changes, and vertical crustal movement, southern San Francisco Bay, California

Atwater, Brian F.; Hedel, Charles W.; Helley, E.J.

doi:10.3133/pp1014

Cited by 68 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Increased salinity would be caused by either a gradual increase in sea level, increased evaporation in the marsh, or decreased in freshwater inflow. Sea level reconstructions in San Francisco Bay indicate a rise of ϳ1-2 mm/yr between 6,000 14 C yr and the present, allowing the salt marshes surrounding the bay to expand (Atwater, 1977). Sedimentation rates at Petaluma Marsh based on 14 C and pollen dating indicate that the rate of marsh accretion is constrained by sea level rise (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sea-level rise over the past 10,000 yr is the primary variable determining wetlands development in San Francisco Bay (Atwater et al, 1977), but variations in river inflow cause shorter timescale variations in estuarine salinity (Peterson et al, 1989) and associated changes in wetland communities. An understanding of natural variability in the wetlands environment over long timescales (hundreds to thousands of years) is important for understanding how humans have altered natural inflow, salinity, and estuarine ecosystems (Nichols et al, 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Holocene sea level has been reconstructed with radiocarbon dating of inter-tidal organic matter from cores recovered from south San Francisco Bay (Atwater et al, 1977(Atwater et al, , 1979. Atwater's sea level curve indicates that the sea entered the Golden Gate 10,000 -11,000 years ago and for the next 2,000 years rose about 2 cm/yr.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Stable isotopes, Sr/Ca, and Mg/Ca in biogenic carbonates from Petaluma Marsh, northern California, USA

Ingram

Deckker

Chivas

et al. 1998

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract-Stable isotope ( 18 O/ 16 O and 13 C/ 12 C) and minor-element compositions (Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca ratios) of ostracodes and gastropods separated from marsh sediments from San Francisco Bay, Northern California, were used to reconstruct paleoenvironmental changes in Petaluma Marsh over the past 700 yr. The value of ␦ 18 O in the marsh carbonates reflects changes in freshwater inflow, evaporation, and temperature. Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca in ostracode calcite reflect changes in both freshwater inflow and temperature, although primarily reflect temperature changes in the salinity range of about 10 -35‰. Ostracode ␦ 18 O values show a gradual increase by 5‰ between 500 yr BP and the present, probably reflecting rising sea level and increased evaporation in the marsh. Superimposed on this trend are higher frequency Mg/Ca and ␦ 18 O variations (3-4‰), probably reflecting changes in freshwater inflow and evaporation. A period of low Mg/Ca occurred between about 100 -300 cal yr BP, suggesting wetter and cooler conditions during the Little Ice Age. Higher Mg/Ca ratios occurred 600 -700 cal yr BP, indicating drier and warmer conditions during the end of the Medieval Warm Period. Both ostracode and gastropod ␦ 13 C values decrease up-core, reflecting decomposition of marsh vegetation, which changes from C 4 (␦ 13 C ϳ Ϫ12‰) to CAM (␦ 13 C ϭ Ϫ26‰)-type vegetation over time.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Stable isotopes, Sr/Ca, and Mg/Ca in biogenic carbonates from Petaluma Marsh, northern California, USA

Ingram

Deckker

Chivas

et al. 1998

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The rapid rise in sea level after glacial melting led to the flooding of SF Bay, reaching approximately its current extent~5000 Years Before Present (Y.B.P.) [16], and slowing to a rate of about 20 cm/century. The estuary began slowly filling with sediment (from tributaries and the mainstem Sacramento), resulting in the fixation and slow expansion of wetlands from around 4700 Y.B.P.…”

Section: The San Francisco Baymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also drew upon reconstructions of past geography and bathymetry [6,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22], which provided information on the patterns of post-glacial flooding of the estuary, and the emergence and expansion of wetlands. For the Tagus estuary, we analyzed prior studies of historical change and paleostratigraphy, especially the exceptional work of Vis [23] and others [24][25][26][27][28][29], and complemented them with the abundant information provided by historical maps [9,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] and historical documentation of land-use [40][41][42][43].…”

Section: Reconstruction and Mapping Of Environmental Historiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Two Urbanized Estuaries: Environmental Change, Legal Framework, and Implications for Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability

Pinto

Kondolf

2016

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The San Francisco Bay (CA, USA) and the Tagus Estuary (Lisbon, Portugal) share striking similarities in terms of morphology and urban development. A finer analysis of development patterns reveals crucial differences in the extent of shoreline alteration and types of land use that now encroach upon natural estuarine habitat. Through historical map analysis and prior stratigraphic and historical research, we reconstruct in GIS environment the evolution of both estuaries over the last millennia and the relative distribution of different classes of land cover. We also discuss the legal frameworks that accompanied this evolution, and how they have influenced the process of wetland reclamation and landfilling. We compared the legal history and synchronous patterns of development by compiling historical mapping information and resorting to GIS analysis to explore spatial patterns over time. This method was useful in isolating events and decisions that were unique to each of the case studies. The Tagus Estuary has experienced disruption of natural environments for over two millennia. Yet, the State has been able to keep estuarine lowlands under public control, even if vast areas have been transformed into farmland. Public control could allow wetland migration with rising seas and restoration efforts. The San Francisco Bay was affected by several decades of elevated sediment loads in the 19th century, which induced rapid wetland expansion, but virtual cutoff of sediment supply by dams in the 20th century now impairs their ability to accrete. Meanwhile, tidal wetlands were subject to extremely fast and poorly regulated development. Artificially filled and/or drained wetlands were transferred to local governments and private landowners, in violation of the Public Trust Doctrine. The transformation of wetlands into salt ponds, industrial zones and even residential neighborhoods created extensive developed areas at or below sea level, which are vulnerable to even modest rises in sea level. Remaining wetlands are now heavily encroached on their landward side by urban development, which prevents their landward migration. Different legal interpretations of comparable definitions of public trusts and jurisdictions over shorelines may have significant implications for the ability to adapt to sea-level rise.

show abstract

Temporal and spatial variation in population structure among brooding sea stars in the genus Leptasterias

Melroy

Cohen

2021

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Late Quaternary depositional history, Holocene sea-level changes, and vertical crustal movement, southern San Francisco Bay, California

Cited by 68 publications

References 2 publications

Stable isotopes, Sr/Ca, and Mg/Ca in biogenic carbonates from Petaluma Marsh, northern California, USA

Stable isotopes, Sr/Ca, and Mg/Ca in biogenic carbonates from Petaluma Marsh, northern California, USA

Evolution of Two Urbanized Estuaries: Environmental Change, Legal Framework, and Implications for Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability

Temporal and spatial variation in population structure among brooding sea stars in the genus Leptasterias

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About