Geology Reports⌕ Search

SEARCH · Geology Reports

Results for “Atmosphere - Ocean”

Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,693 records · Page 94Linked to original sources
USGS1982

Holocene sedimentation in the shallow nearshore zone off Nauset Inlet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Present conditions and sedimentary evolution of the shallow offshore region near Nauset Inlet on Cape Cod, Massachusetts were clarified using high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles, sidescan-sonar records, surface grab samples and current meter measurements. The study area contains three provinces: (1) a nearshore province (shallower than 18 m) with a relatively steep slope (0.6°) and a cover of medium sand; (2) a northern offshore province covered with coarse sand, gravel, and boulders, interpreted to be glacial drift; and (3) a southern offshore province with a gentle seaward-dipping slope (0.3°) and a surface sediment of coarse sand. The glacial drift exposed in the northern offshore province can be traced southward under the coarse sand province. The overlying fill is comprised of either outwash sediment derived from the Pleistocene South Channel ice lobe to the east or Holocene-aged marine sediments eroded from seacliffs to the north. Latest Holocene sediment appears to be limited to the zone shoreward of 18 m where the medium sand occurs. Near-bottom mean flows (measured over two winter months in 10 m water depth) average 6 cm sec −1 to the south. Mean flows exceeded 20 cm sec −1 approx. 23% of the time. Ninety percent of the flows exceeding 20 cm sec −1 were directed to the south, reflecting the dominant atmospheric forcing during these winter months. Waves had an average variance of 650 cm 2 with variance exceeding 5000 cm 2 , 3% of the time, indicating moderate wave activity. Present processes are actively reshaping the nearshore province, which is characterized by many east to northeast-trending shore-oblique channels that do not extend seaward of the 18-m contour. Coarse sand in the floors of these channels suggests they may be erosional features, and the presence of megaripples oriented perpendicular to the channel axes indicates active transport in these channels. Megaripple orientation and the current and wave regime of the study area support a rip-current origin for these channels.

Massachussetts↗
USGS1988

An isotopic study of a fluvial-lacustrine sequence: The Plio-Pleistocene koobi fora sequence, East Africa

Stable isotopic analyses of Plio-Pleistocene and modern sediments in the fluvial-lacustrine system occupying the Turkana Basin, East Africa provide constraints on the paleoenvironmental and diagenetic histories of the Pliocene through the Recent sediments in the basin. The δ 13 C values for carbonates in lacustrine sediments range from −15 to +22‰ relative to PDB, depending on the varying proportions of CO 2 from the atmospheric reservoir and from various metabolic sources. The δ 18 O values of carbonates in lacustrine sediments indicate that the isotopic composition of paleolake water varied by over 10‰ from the Pliocene to the present. The δ 13 C values for pedogenic carbonates record paleoccologic variations and suggest that C 4 plants did not become well established in the preserved depositional parts of the basin until about 1.8 myr ago. The δ 18 O values pedogenic carbonates suggest a range of over 10‰ for the isotopic composition of soil water during this interval. They also suggest a period of major climatic instability from about 3.4 to 3.1 myr and at about 1.8 myr. Together, the δ 13 C and δ 18 O values of pedogenic carbonates indicate that the present conditions are as arid and hot as any that had prevailed during deposition of these Plio-Pleistocene sediments.

Lake Turkana Basin↗
USGS1990

Expression of seasonal and ENSO forcing in climatic variability at lower than ENSO frequencies: Evidence from Pleistocene marine varves off California

Upper Pleistocene marine sediments along the upper continental slope off northern and central California contain alternations of varved and bioturbated sediments and associated changes in biota and sediment composition. These alternations can be related to conditions that accompany El Niño and anti-El Niño (ENSO) circulation. Anti-El Niño conditions are characterized by increased upwelling and productivity and by low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the oxygen minimum zone that resulted in varve preservation. El Niño conditions are characterized by little or no upwelling, low productivity, and higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen that resulted in zones of bioturbation. Alternations of varves and zones of bioturbation, that range from decades to millennia, occur through the upper Pleistocene section. The inferred long-term alternations in El Niño and anti-El Niño conditions appear to be a re-expression of ENSO's primary 3–7 year cycle. Decadal to millennial cycles of productivity associated with El Niño and anti-El Niño conditions may have served as a “carbon pump” and transferred atmospheric CO 2 to the marine reservoir. Changes in sediment composition and organisms associated with El Niño or anti-El Niño conditions can be related to both seasonal and ENSO phenomena. Expression of these changes at lower-than-ENSO frequencies may be partly explained by adding the effects of seasonal variability to effects produced by a self-oscillating ENSO system. However, deterministic mechanisms, including solar modulation of ENSO, may also contribute to long-term alternations of El Niño and anti-El Niño conditions.

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology↗
USGS1992

Chronologic evidence for multiple periods of loess deposition during the Late Pleistocene in the Missouri and Mississippi River Valley, United States: Implications for the activity of the Laurentide ice sheet

The loess stratigraphy of the mid-continental U.S. is an important proxy record for the activity of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in North America. One of the most outstanding problems is deciphering the age of loess deposits in this area during the late Pleistocene. Radiocarbon dating of snails and thermoluminescence dating of the fine-silt fraction (4–11 μm) from loess at the Loveland Loess type section, Loveland, Iowa and a recent excavation at the Pleasant Grove School section. Madison County, Illinois provide new chronologic control on loess deposition in the Mississippi/Missouri River Valley chronology indicates that the Loveland Loess is Illinoian in age (135±20 ka) but is not correlative with the Teneriffe Silt which is dated to 77 ± 8 ka. Concordant radiocarbon and thermoluminescence age estimates demonstrate that the Roxana Silt and a correlative loess in Iowa, the Pisgah Formation, is probably 40-30 ka old. These age estimates in conjunction with previous results indicate that there were four periods of loess deposition during the last 150 ka at 25-12 ka, 45-30 ka, 85-70 ka and at ca. 135 ± 20 ka. This chronology of loess deposition supports the presence of both a late Illinoian and early Wisconsinan loess and associated soils. Thus, there may be more than one soil in the loess stratigraphy of the mid-continental U.S. with morphologies similar to the Sangamon Soil. The last three periods of loess deposition may be correlative with periods of elevated dust concentrations recorded in the Dye 3 ice core from southern Greenland. This is particularly significant because both areas possibly had the same source for eolian particles. Reconstructions of atmospheric circulation for glacial periods show a southerly deflected jet stream that could have transported dust from the mid-continental USA to southern Greenland. Lastly, the inferred record of loess deposition is parallel to a chronology for deglaciation of the Laurentide Ice Sheet deciphered from chronologic and stratigraphic studies of raised glacial and marine sediments in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Canada. These chronologies indicate that the Laurentide Ice Sheet was quite dynamic during the late Pleistocene, advancing and retreating across North America at least four times during the last 150 ka.

Missouri and Mississippi River Valley↗
USGS1989

Large-scale magnetic field perturbation arising from the 18 May 1980 eruption from Mount St. Helens, Washington

A traveling magnetic field disturbance generated by the 18 may 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens at 1532 UT was detected on an 800-km linear array of recording magnetometers installed along the San Andreas fault system in California, from San Francisco to the Salton Sea. Arrival times of the disturbance field, from the most northern of these 24 magnetometers (996 km south of the volcano) to the most southern (1493 km S23?? E), are consistent with the generation of a traveling ionospheric disturbance stimulated by the blast pressure wave in the atmosphere. The first arrivals at the north and the south ends of the array occurred at 26 and 48 min, respectively, after the initial eruption. Apparent average wave velocity through the array is 309 ?? 14 m s-1 but may have approached 600 m s-1 close to the volcano. The horizontal phase and the group velocity of ??? 300 m s-1 at periods of 70-80 min, and the attenuation with distance, strongly suggest that the magnetic field perturbations at distances of 1000-1500 km are caused by gravity mode acoustic-gravity waves propagating at F-region heights in the ionosphere. ?? 1989.

Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors↗
USGS1989

Review of magnetic and electric field effects near active faults and volcanoes in the U.S.A.

Synchronized measurements of geomagnetic field have been recorded along 800 km of the San Andreas fault and in the Long Valley caldera since 1974, and during eruptions on Mount St. Helens since 1980. For shorter periods of time, continuous measurements of geoelectric field measurements have been made on Mount St. Helens and near the San Andreas fault where moderate seismicity and fault slip frequently occurs. Significant tectonic and volcanic events for which nearby magnetic and electric field data have been obtained include: (1) two moderate earthquakes (ML > 5.8) for which magnetometers were close enough to expect observable signals (about three source lengths), (2) one moderate earthquake (MS 7.3) for which magnetometers were installed as massive fluid outflow occurred during the post-seismic phase, (3) numerous fault creep events and moderate seismicity, (4) a major explosive volcanic eruption and numerous minor extrusive eruptions, and (5) an episode of aseismic uplift. For one of the two earthquakes with ML > 5.8, seismomagnetic effects of -1.3 and -0.3 nT were observed. For this event, magnetometers were optimally located near the epicenter and the observations obtained are consistent with simple seismomagnetic models of the event. Similar models for the other event indicate that the expected seismomagnetic effects are below the signal resolution of the nearest magnetometer. Precursive tectonomagnetic effects were recorded on two independent instruments at distances of 30 and 50 km from a ML 5.2 earthquake. Longer-term changes were recorded in one region in southern California where a moderate ML 5.9 earthquake has since occurred. Surface observations of fault creep events have no associated magnetic or electrical signature above the present measurement precision (0.25 nT and 0.01%, respectively) and are consistent with near-surface fault failure models of these events. Longer-term creep is sometimes associated with corresponding longer-term magnetic field perturbations. Correlated changes in gravity, magnetic field, areal strain, and uplift occurred during episodes of aseismic deformation in southern California primarily between 1979 and 1983. Because the relationships between these parameters agrees with those calculated from simple deformation and tectonomagnetic models, the preferred explanation appeals to short-term strain episodes independently detected in each data set. An unknown source of meteorologically generated noise in the strain, gravity, and uplift data and an unknown, but correlated, disturbance in the absolute magnetic data might also explain the data. No clear observations of seismoelectric or tectonoelectric effects have yet been reported. The eruption of Mount St. Helens generated large oscillatory fields and 9 ?? 2 nT offset on the only surviving magnetometer. A large-scale traveling magnetic disturbance passed through the San Andreas array from 1 to 2 h after the eruption. Subsequent extrusive eruptions generated small precursory magnetic changes in some cases. These data are consistent with a simple volcanomagnetic model, magneto-gas dynamic effects, and a blast excited traveling ionospheric disturbance. Traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), also generated by earthquake-related atmospheric pressure waves, may explain many electromagnetic disturbances apparently associated with earthquakes. Local near-fault magnetic field transients rarely exceed a few nT at periods of a few minutes and longer. ?? 1989.

Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors↗
USGS1981

Arid land monitoring using Landsat albedo difference images

The Landsat albedo, or percentage of incoming radiation reflected from the ground in the wavelength range of 0.5 [mu]m to 1.1 [mu]m, is calculated from an equation using the Landsat digital brightness values and solar irradiance values, and correcting for atmospheric scattering, multispectral scanner calibration, and sun angle. The albedo calculated for each pixel is used to create an albedo image, whose grey scale is proportional to the albedo. Differencing sequential registered images and mapping selected values of the difference is used to create quantitative maps of increased or decreased albedo values of the terrain. All maps and other output products are in black and white rather than color, thus making the method quite economical. Decreases of albedo in arid regions may indicate improvement of land quality; increases may indicate degradation. Tests of the albedo difference mapping method in the Desert Experimental Range in southwestern Utah (a cold desert with little long-term terrain change) for a four-year period show that mapped changes can be correlated with erosion from flash floods, increased or decreased soil moisture, and increases or decreases in the density of desert vegetation, both perennial shrubs and annual plants. All terrain changes identified in this test were related to variations in precipitation. Although further tests of this method in hot deserts showing severe "desertification" are needed, the method is nevertheless recommended for experimental use in monitoring terrain change in other arid and semiarid regions of the world.

Utah↗
USGS1982

A relation between landsat digital numbers, surface reflectance, and the cosine of the solar zenith angle

A method for estimating the reflectance of ground sites from satellite radiance data is proposed and tested. The method uses the known ground reflectance from several sites and satellite data gathered over a wide range of solar zenith angles. The method was tested on each of 10 different Landsat images using 10 small sites in the Walker Lake, Nevada area. Plots of raw Landsat digital numbers (DNs) versus the cosine of the solar zenith angle (cos Z) for the the test areas are linear, and the average correlation coefficients of the data for Landsat bands 4, 5, 6, and 7 are 0.94, 0.93, 0.94, and 0.94, respectively. Ground reflectance values for the 10 sites are proportional to the slope of the DN versus cos Z relation at each site. The slope of the DN versus cos Z relation for seven additional sites in Nevada and California were used to estimate the ground reflectances of those sites. The estimates for nearby sites are in error by an average of 1.2% and more distant sites are in error by 5.1%. The method can successfully estimate the reflectance of sites outside the original scene, but extrapolation of the reflectance estimation equations to other areas may violate assumptions of atmospheric homogeneity.

Nevada↗
USGS1988

Pennsylvanian to Jurassic eolian transportation systems in the western United States

The direction of sediment transport in eolian sandstones of Pennsylvanian to Jurassic age was interpreted from crossbedding resultants (vector means) obtained from studies of eolian rocks in the western U.S., supplemented by data from the few eolian units of eastern North America. These were compiled from the published or unpublished (theses) literature, from unpublished field data contributed by colleagues, or from measurements made for this study. In addition, new paleogeographic maps were compiled to evaluate the influence of geographic features on the atmospheric circulation patterns that are inferred from the crossbedding studies. Regionally, the crossbedding indicates northeasterly, northerly, or northwesterly winds (present coordinates) from Pennsylvanian through most of Middle Jurassic time. A rather abrupt change in wind directions occurred in late Middle Jurassic time (late part of the Callovian Age) when westerly wind patterns developed. By the Late Jurassic the winds shifted to southwesterly. Calculations of the consistency factor (vector mean strength) made from region-wide analyses of the resultants indicate fairly unidirectional winds from the Pennsylvanian through the Early Jurassic. Middle Jurassic circulation was more varied, judging from crossbedding studies in the lower part of the Entrada Sandstone. Crossbedding in Upper Jurassic eolian rocks of Wyoming and South Dakota yielded a random pattern but Upper Jurassic rocks farther south on the Colorado Plateau and adjoining areas show a return to a fairly unidirectional pattern. Comparing the resultants with their reconstructed paleogeographic setting shows surprisingly little influence of major geographic features on overall circulation patterns. However, the greatest amount of local variation occurred at or near highly indented shorelines where the temperature contrast between land and water produces local wind currents that may vary appreciably from regional circulation patterns. Although they do not cause noticeable horizontal deflections in wind patterns, small and low topographic highs appear to be able to promote the development of a dune field if a source of sand is available and if streams do not enter the growing dune field.

western United States↗
USGS1979

Preliminary results from comparisons of redundant tiltmeters at three sites in central California

The U.S. Geological Survey has been operating a network of shallow-borehole tiltmeters in central California since June 1973. At six sites redundant instruments have been installed as a check on data coherency. These include the Sage Ranch, Tres Pinos, New Idria, Aromas, Bear Valley and San Juan Bautista tiltmeter sites. Preliminary results from the comparison of redundant data from the Aromas, Bear Valley and San Juan Bautista sites for periods of eight, three and seven months respectively, suggest that short period tilt signals in the range 5 min < T < 3–5 h and ranging in amplitude from 5 · 10 −8 to 10 −6 rad, but not including step offsets, show excellent agreement on closely spaced instruments. Agreement is not as good in this period range for instruments at San Juan Bautista with a separation of 200 m. Signals of interest observed in this period range include coseismic tilts, teleseisms and tilts associated with creep events. Tilt signals in the period range 3–5 h < T < 2– 5 weeks are not always coherent at all three of the redundant tilt sites studied. Tilt signals in this period range have amplitudes up to 5 · 10 −6 rad and wavelengths down to at least the instrument separation at the closely spaced sites (~several meters). Regarding longerterm coherency, the instruments at San Juan Bautista with 200-m spacing, agree within 0.5 μrad for the N-S component and 0.7 jurad for the E-W component for a period of two months. The closely spaced redundant instruments at Aromas agree within 2 μrad for the N-S component and 1 μrad for the E-W component for the eight-month period of operation. Data from the three sites have been checked for effects of temperature, atmospheric pressure and rainfall. The latter appears to be critically site dependent. The worst case tilts for 1 inch of rainfall can be more than 1 jurad with a duration of a few days to a week. Typical rain-induced tilts are less than 0.3 μrad for 1 inch of rain. The two instruments at the Sage Ranch site have been in operation for the longest period. However, they have shown local site or ground instability, high drift and lack of coherency since installation. Data are not yet available from the Tres Pinos or New Idria instruments. Deeper installation appears necessary for these instruments and two alternative methods of tiltmeter emplacement are currently being tested in an attempt to evaluate the depth, spatial and temporal dependency of surface tilt sources.

California↗
USGS1989

Calorimetry of heterogeneous systems: H+ binding to TiO2 in NaCl

A simultaneous calorimetric and potentiometric technique has been developed for measuring the thermodynamics of proton binding to mineral oxides in the presence of a supporting electrolyte. Modifications made to a commercial titration calorimeter to add a combination pH electrode and maintain an inert atmosphere in the calorimeter reaction vessel are described. A procedure to calibrate potentiometric measurements in heterogeneous systems to correct for the suspension effect on pH is given. The enthalpy change for proton dissociation from TiO 2 in aqueous suspension as a function of pH is reported for 0.01, 0.1, and 0.5 M NaCl. The enthalpy change for proton dissociation is endothermic, ranging from 10.5 ± 3.8 to 45.0 ± 3.8 kJ mol −1 over the pH range from 4 to 10.

Thermochimica Acta↗
USGS1993

Application of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive air samplers

The semipermeable membrane device (SPMD), consisting of a neutral lipid (triolein) enclosed in polyethylene layflat tubing, is demonstrated to be a highly efficient passive air sampler. These devices readily sequester lipophilic organic contaminants from the vapor phase. Specifically, the SPMDs are shown to concentrate polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues from a laboratory atmosphere in a linear manner through 28 days. Under the conditions of this study, a three device composite (1.4 g triolein) extracted PCB residues from ≈ 7 m 3 of air per day.

Chemosphere↗
USGS1990

Modeling the effects of serial off-gas reuse on the performance of a hooded surface oxygen obsorption system

A numerical model was used to evaluate the performance of a surface agitation system designed to contact commercial oxygen with water. The modeled system was unique in that oxygen-rich off-gas, normally discharged to the atmosphere, was directed in serial reuse through additional contact stages receiving untreated water. A correlation between the agitator mass-transfer coefficient and power demand, needed to calibrate the model, was established using a single-stage (37 W) contactor of 1·18 m 3 capacity. Additional tests, conducted with both single and three-stage equipment, verified model assumptions and performance predictions. Simulation runs indicated oxygen flow or power input required to meet a given effluent dissolved gas criterion can be substantially reduced by the off-gas reuse step; for example, to achieve an effluent dissolved oxygen of 24·1 mg/litre with a single stage agitator the oxygen feed rate needed was 61·5% greater than that required by a six-stage system receiving the same total power input (standard aeration efficiency, 0·5 kg/kW h; water flow rate, 100 litre/min; influent dissolved oxygen, 9·08 mg/litre at 15°C). The savings achieved increased with (1) greater target effluent dissolved oxygen concentrations, (2) lower oxygen feed rates, (3) higher input power levels, and (4) number of contact stages.

Aquacultural Engineering↗
USGS1980

Hydraulic fracturing in granite under geothermal conditions

The experimental hydraulic fracturing of granite under geothermal conditions produces tensile fracture at rapid fluid injection rates and shear fracture at slow injection rates and elevated differential stress levels. A sudden burst of acoustic emission activity accompanies tensile fracture formation whereas the acoustic emission rate increases exponentially prior to shear fracture. Temperature does not significantly affect the failure mechanism, and the experimental results have not demonstrated the occurrence of thermal fracturing. A critical result of these experiments is that fluid injection at intermediate rates and elevated differential stress levels increases permeability by more than an order of magnitude without producing macroscopic fractures, and low-level acoustic emission activity occurs simultaneously near the borehole and propagates outward into the specimen with time. Permeability measurements conducted at atmospheric pressure both before and after these experiments show that increased permeability is produced by permanent structural changes in the rock. Although results of this study have not demonstrated the occurrence of thermal fracturing, they suggest that fluid injection at certain rates in situ may markedly increase local permeability. This could prove critical to increasing the efficiency of heat exchange for geothermal energy extraction from hot dry rock. ?? 1980.

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining↗
USGS1985

Global geologic mapping of Mars: The western equatorial region

Global geologic mapping of Mars was originally accomplished following acquisition of orbital spacecraft images from the Mariner 9 mission. The mapping program represented a joint enterprise by the U.S. Geological Survey and other planetary scientists from universities in the United States and Europe. Many of the Mariner photographs had low resolution or poor albedo contrast caused by atmospheric haze and high-sun angles. Some of the early geologic maps reflect these deficiencies in their poor discrimination and subdivision of rock units. New geologic maps made from higher resolution and better quality Viking images also represent a cooperative effort, by geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona State University, and the University of London. This second series of global maps consists of three parts: 1) western equatorial region, 2) eastern equatorial region, and 3) north and south polar regions. These maps, at 1:15 million scale, show more than 60 individual rock-stratigraphic units assigned to three Martian time-stratigraphic systems. The first completed map of the series covers the western equatorial region of Mars. Accompanying the map is a description of the sequence and distribution of major tectonic, volcanic, and fluvial episodes as recorded in the stratigraphic record. ?? 1985.

Advances in Space Research↗
USGS1987

The inventory and distribution of water on Mars

Terrain softening, fretted channels, debris flows, and closed depressions indicate that at least the upper 2 km of the cratered uplands at high latitudes (>30??) contain ice in amounts that exceed the porosity, estimated to be 10-20 percent. Theoretical studies, and lack of these features in the cratered uplands at low latitudes, suggest that the upper 1 km of the uplands at low latitudes is ice poor. However, valley networks indicate that water was present near the surface early in the planet's history, although in amounts smaller than at high latitudes. On the basis of these observations, the entire upper 1 km, planet-wide is estimated to have contained 75-125 meters of water at the end of heavy bombardment. From the volume of water needed to cut the circum-Chryse channels, and assuming uniform planet-wide distribution of water, the deep megaregolith is estimated to have contained at least 350 meters of water at the end of heavy bombardment, thereby giving a total minimum inventory of 425-475 meters planet-wide. Most of the water lost from the low latitude uplands by diffusion and in cutting the valley networks is now believed to be in the polar layered terrains. Most of the water involved in cutting the outflow channels is in the low-lying northern plains where a variety of features that have been attributed to ground ice is present. Since the end of heavy bombardment, a large fraction of the planet's surface has been overplated with water-poor volcanics, of which we have samples in the SNC meteorites. The younger volcanics have reacted extensively with the old volatile-rich basement. Part of the 10-20 bars of CO2 and 0.1 to 0.3 bars of N2 outgassed with the water was lost during heavy bombardment by impact erosion of the atmosphere and other processes. The remaining was fixed carbonates and nitrates and folded deep into the megaregolith during heavy bombardment. ?? 1987.

Advances in Space Research↗
USGS1991

Pliocene-climate history of the western United States derived from lacustrine ostracodes

Pliocene sediments from several sites in western North America contain ostracodes indicating deposition in lacustrine and wetland settings. The ostracodes offer a means of reconstructing the aquatic paleoenvironment. Because water temperature, chemistry, and lake volume are coupled to climate, reconstruction of these parameters provides a direct insight into Pliocene climate. The site ages were determined from tephrochronology, paleomagnetics, and associated mammals. The morphology of many ostracode species also provides direct information about the paleoenvironment in which they lived. During the Pliocene (about 3.5-2.5 Ma) some species have unusually ornate carapace morphology indicative of large geologically stable lakes, which must have required a stable climate to sustain them. North American Pliocene climate changed from a modern-like state 4.5-3.5 Ma to a period with greater precipitation and less evaporation than today, 3.5-2.5 Ma. This wetter period, inferred from the large geologically long-lived lakes, implies a stable atmospheric circulation pattern. The stable circulation pattern collapsed around 2.5 Ma and climate returned to a modern-like situation.

western United States↗